- A Michigan county health board meeting turned chaotic after a man tried to place the board leader under citizen's arrest.
- Adam Heikkila faces a misdemeanor charge of disturbance of a lawful meeting, according to a police report.
- Heikkila was upset about the board's mask mandate for local schools, according to the report.
A Michigan man is facing a criminal charge after police say he tried to place a county health board leader under citizen's arrest during a meeting about the county's school mask mandate.
Adam Heikkila, of Hastings, Michigan, was charged on December 2 with disturbance of a lawful meeting, according to a police report obtained by Insider.
Heikkila had gone to the Barry-Eaton District Health Department's board meeting on September 23 to protest the district's mask mandate for public schools, according to the police report. During the meeting, police say Heikilla stood at the podium meant for the public comments and told Barry-Eaton District Health Officer Collette Scrimger that he was placing her under citizen's arrest for a "federal felony."
After Heikkila tried to arrest Scrimger, the report says the crowd "became disorderly and began chanting in a mob-like fashion and screaming profanities" at police officers and board members in the room.
Heikkila livestreamed a video of the meeting on Facebook, according to the police report, and could be seen on that video looking at his cellphone before saying he was just made aware of "an investigation that has been underway."
"So we are going to release her (Collette) under her own free will at this time barring that investigation," Heikkila said in the video, as quoted in the police report. He added: "Based on what (Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf) is saying (inaudible). Dar told me (inaudible). I don't know what's going on. Dar's gonna be my (inaudible)."
The Barry County Sheriff's Office told Insider that it could not confirm whether it was investigating Scrimger or the Barry-Eaton District Health Department. The Hastings Police Department told Insider that it was not investigating either Scrimger or the health department.
After Heikkila tried to arrest Scrimger, another man approached the board "yelling and becoming more angry," according to the police report. The man yelled at officers who tried to come between him and the board members, the report says, and told them to "stop intimidating" him because he was "allowed" to yell at the officials.
"It's the law! Do your job! It's your job to go arrest her!" the man said, according to the police report.
Police said the man also yelled at Scrimger, "I hope you enjoy making kids cry all day. Cunt!!!"
Hastings police granted protection orders against Heikkila for the entire Barry-Eaton Health Department board after the incident.
When reached via Facebook Messenger, Heikkila responded, "I'm sorry, what is Insider," and provided no further comment. He is expected to first appear in court on Tuesday.