Former DeWitt cop sentenced in 2021 incident with Black news carrier
Jakkar AimeryA former DeWitt police officer was sentenced this week on two misdemeanors in connection with drawing a gun on a Black newspaper delivery man in 2021, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
Chad Vorce, 46, was sentenced in the 29th Circuit Court in Clinton County by Judge Cori Barkman to one year of probation and is required to attend anger management class as well as volunteer community service, Nessel said in a statement Monday.
Vorce was barred from having contact with the victim, possessing a weapon, badge or anything else identifying him as a police officer. He also was sentenced to 30 days in jail held in suspension upon successful completion of probation, according to the release.
In September, he pleaded no contest to the willful neglect of duty of a public officer and aggravated assault.
Vorce ― who most recently resigned from his position as a police officer with DeWitt after initially being fired, then reinstated months later ― has since relinquished his MCOLES certification, a requisite for employment as a police officer in Michigan, as a condition of the state prosecution accepting his plea, Nessel said.
"We prioritized the victim’s wishes along with the officer’s resignation and the surrender of his MCOLES certification," the attorney general said. "The city and township of DeWitt are safer communities because of this plea."
On Jan. 14, 2021, just after 7 a.m., Vorce twice drew his firearm while off duty in an area outside his jurisdiction after approaching a van he described as driving erratically in his neighborhood, officials said.
A lawsuit was filed in 2022 through U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids alleging Vorce used excessive force and discriminated against a Lansing State Journal delivery man, identified as Alexander Hamilton.
According to the investigation, Vorce followed the van out of the neighborhood near Airport Road and Interstate 69. He allegedly first drew his weapon on Driftwood Drive near Airport Road; he drew his weapon a second time in a gas station parking lot where the van driver eventually stopped, Nessel said.
An 18-year veteran of the city's police department, Vorce told investigators he thought Hamilton was a suspect in recent break-ins, according to police reports.
When Vorce asked Hamilton if he needed help or directions, the 19-year-old, who had been placing newspapers in bags, responded, “No, I’m just doing me,” the lawsuit and police reports said.
Unsatisfied, Vorce continued watching him from his pickup, tried to retrieve Hamilton's license plate number and called 911, according to the lawsuit and police reports. Hamilton told authorities Vorce wouldn't move from behind his van and backed up when he did, the filings stated.
On-duty authorities from DeWitt police and Michigan State Police ultimately arrived on scene at the gas station, where Hamilton was briefly handcuffed, according to the police reports and the lawsuit.
Vorce was fired in May 2021 for using excessive force and violating other departmental policies and regulations. An internal investigation report said he had no authority to pursue Hamilton and his "tone and demeanor was excessive and his inability to de-escalate the situation brought discredit to himself and the department."
Following an appeal, he was reinstated months later.
"Today’s sentencing ensures that Vorce will not wear another badge in another town without considerable scrutiny from The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards," Nessel said.
jaimery@detroitnews.com
The Associated Press contributed.