8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS YPSILANTI On May 22, an announcement from Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown was posted on Facebook that read: “As many in our community are aware, there was an incident involving the Ypsilanti Police Department yesterday that has understandably raised concern and questions. The matter is currently being reviewed, and I want residents to know that transparency, accountability, and community trust remain important throughout this process. I know situations like this can create frustration, emotion, and uncertainty. I encourage everyone to allow the review process to move forward while we continue to seek facts and clarity. We will share updates as appropriate and remain committed to ensuring our community’s concerns are heard and taken seriously.” — Mayor Nicole A. Brown The incident was caught on camera. On Thursday May 21 in the parking lot behind the YDL-Michigan and Bridge Cafe, a woman (whose name is omitted for privacy) was arrested for carrying drug paraphernalia. A video was released on social media showing two officers wrestling the woman to the ground and struggling to put handcuffs on her. There was a plainclothes officer in the video, two arresting officers and two members of the Sheriff’s department. In spite of the existence of the Sheriff Department’s Co-Response Unit and Mobile Crisis team, there was no Community Mental Health or mental health professional presence of any kind. The video showed that the woman, petite and in her early 30s, had a cast on her arm that appeared to be bleeding as two large policemen were forcing her arms behind her back while she was lying face down in the dirt. Both policemen appeared to be twice her size. She can be heard pleading facility or syringe service program is not to be considered paraphernalia. It says that — as clear as day.” Williams added, “They could have JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 allowed me to take the person to the LEAF facility so that she could have a safe place to recover and be away from Bridge Cafe, since that was obviously the point. However, to me, the only person who could have made that call is the owner of Bridge Cafe.” In fact, it is unknown whether or not with the police saying her arm was bleeding and her chest hurt. The police refused to acknowledge her wounds or the fact that they were potentially committing an illegal arrest. The person who took the video, Corn Williams, director of LEAF harm reduction program in Ypsilanti, was heard informing the policemen that they were (potentially) committing an illegal arrest. (Editor’s Note: harm reduction refers to public health programs that strive to improve well-being for people with substance use disorders, meeting them where they are.) Williams described what happened that led him to recording the video: “Officer Edwards made a beeline to the back of Bridge Community Cafe. This [meant it] was in the parking lot of the library. I went out to see what was going on, and they already had one person in handcuffs. There was another officer attempting to detain [the woman], and Edwards immediately jumped in and assisted in physically restraining her. “I asked them both what she was being detained for, and they said possession of paraphernalia. I immediately informed them that the city council had recently passed an ordinance amendment to align with state law; MCL 333.7451 states that anything distributed from a harm reduction the police observed the harm reduction device or if they were called. Community members Sheri Wander and Pastor Anna Taylor-McCants of Fed Up Ministries went to the police station to file a complaint. They were told there was no police officer available to take their statement but the police chief would call them back. When the chief finally did, he said there was no reason for him to believe a complaint against the arresting officer was legitimate. The arrest was discussed at the June 2 Ypsilanti city council meeting. Several community members spoke and were appalled by the incident and concerned that the city is allowing police violence to escalate. Leah Mills Chapman, Ypsilanti Township resident and downtown Ypsi business owner, had this to say: “I am standing before you today, yet again, to address the violence against Black women that appears to be escalating in the City of Ypsilanti. “The first time I raised this issue was after the incident at the Beer Cooler. I am raising it again because of the incident that occurred on the 21st, approximately two weeks ago. My concern is simple: Am I safe as a Black woman who lives, works, and invests in this community? Are Black women safe in Ypsilanti at all? “Does owning a business change how a person is treated compared to someone who does not? That question is deeply concerning to me. JUNE 12, 2026 Was Ypsi Police Department use of force excessive? “When I watched the video and saw the level of force used by officers from the Ypsilanti Police Department against a woman, it struck me as excessive and entirely disproportionate. The following day, the City of Ypsilanti released a statement. The chief's name was not attached to it. That is concerning because these officers report to the chief, yet there was no direct acknowledgment from police leadership regarding what had occurred. There was also no indication of what actions, if any, had been taken regarding the officers involved. Were they placed on administrative leave pending an investigation? Are they still on patrol? “Do I have to worry about my safety, and the safety of other Black women in this community? “I am asking for a meaningful investigation. I understand that the police chief reports to the city manager, and I am asking city leadership to examine what is happening within this police department. What I saw that day — a woman being tripped, pinned with a knee to her back, and forced face-first into the dirt — was absolutely unacceptable.” Andrew Hellenga, the Ypsilanti city manager, said he thought the force used during the arrest was excessive. City council member Amber Fellows commented that the staff have been weak on police accountability to the public and that the council will have to take action. Following are the questions that remain in the absence of a response from the Ypsilanti Police Department. (I called the police department and asked for Officer Edwards and he was unavailable. The Police Chief never called me back.) What was the officers' stated reason for the arrest? Was she charged? Does YPD believe the paraphernalia exemption applied? Is there an internal review? Has any officer been reassigned or placed on leave? We plan to follow-up in future editions.
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