DETROIT – A well-known Detroit pastor and member of the police board said a Detroit officer pulled a gun on him during a traffic stop.
Bishop Edgar Vann said he was pulled over on June 15 in Downtown Detroit and ended up fearing for his life.
"I was leaving the police meeting, our police commission meeting last Thursday, and I was just coming down Larned going east and I attempted to make a turn at Woodward, going toward Campus Martius," Vann said.
Vann said there were hundreds of people walking in the streets because it was around 5:30 p.m. and they were getting off of work.
"I was into the intersection, but of course allowing the pedestrians to cross over, and then I completed my turn, for which the officer said that I ran a red light," Vann said.
When he completed his turn, he said the officer asked him over the loudspeaker to pull over and roll down his windows. Vann said he stopped right in front of the City Council building.
"I rolled down the windows to my car, I pulled over politely, in full compliance, and he got out of the car, pulled his gun and brandished it on his chest with his finger in the trigger," Vann said.
Vann said he had just learned about the acquittal of the officer who shot and killed Philando Castile after a traffic stop in St. Anthony, Minnesota.
"In seeing that, this was probably the first time that I've ever felt any kind of a fear with a police stop," Vann said.
As a member of the police commission for almost 10 years, Vann said he's a supporter of police officers, but he didn't think the officer's actions were warranted.
"I didn't say anything," Vann said. "The officer was very short and curt with me."
Vann said he handed over his license, registration and proof of insurance, but the officer gave him a ticket for no proof of insurance. Vann said the officer refused to accept his proof of insurance.
"I said, 'Sir, I did not run the red light. Can I give you an explanation?'" Vann said. "He said, 'Have a good day,' and went back to his car."
Photos and names of all the police commissioners are posted on the wall at the police precinct, but Vann said even if the officer didn't know who he was, he shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable.
"I wanted to see what his natural order of procedure was," Vann said. "And I found out."
Vann hopes to hear from Detroit police Chief James Craig or Mayor Mike Duggan about the incident. He said this is one of the reasons tensions are high between officers and residents in cities.
"I understand," Vann said. "I know that there have been a lot of policemen who have also been victims of violence, as well. We live in a violent world. Everything is happening everywhere. It's just that, a part of building the bridge between the police and the community has to be not only how citizens act when police are around, but also how police act when citizens are around."
Craig said high-risk stops can be aggressive and sometimes guns are drawn for officer safety. In this case, Craig said the officer pulled Vann over for the red light and for having tinted windows. The officer was not looking for a violent offender, Craig said.
You can watch Shawn Ley's full interview with Vann in the video below.