The protester whose display of a doll with a noose around its neck prompted an altercation at the Michigan Capitol Thursday is a candidate for state representative with a criminal record.
Multiple sources confirmed to MLive the man is James Chapman, who on April 21 filed to run for the 21st state House district as a Republican with a $100 filing fee. He is one of seven candidates - five Republicans and two Democrats - running for the seat, which is currently held by term-limited Rep. Kristy Pagan, D-Canton.
On Thursday, Chapman attended a protest against the state’s stay-at-home order organized by the group Michigan United for Liberty, carrying an American flag attached to a fishing rod with an unclothed, brown-haired doll hanging from a noose. He told a reporter with Sinclair Broadcast Group the doll was meant to identify Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
A brief fight broke out when another protester attempted to take the doll. Lt. Brian Oleksyk, public information officer for the Michigan State Police, declined to identify Chapman, but said he spoke with police after the incident and that no one involved was injured or arrested.
Kevin English, a longtime acquaintance of Chapman, and Rosemary Otzman, editor of the local newspaper The Belleville-Area Independent, both identified Chapman as the protester carrying the doll on a noose Thursday.
Chapman was also previously photographed and identified with the doll at an April 15 rally by the Detroit Free Press.
MLive reporters attempted to contact Chapman at two addresses affiliated with him. At one address, a man answered the door and said that no James Chapman lived there. No one was home at the other residence.
A number listed on Chapman’s campaign finance filings was not accepting calls.
Chapman has had several run-ins with the criminal justice system over the last few decades, according to law enforcement records and local news reports reviewed by MLive.
In 1990, Chapman was found guilty of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and a firearms charge and was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records. He was also put on probation for a stalking charge in 2015.
Chapman was sentenced to six months in jail in 2018 after being found guilty of resisting a police officer, according to The Belleville-Area Independent. A Michigan Court of Appeals opinion summarized the incident, noting Chapman argued with and attempted to stab an acquaintance at a house in Van Buren Township, and eventually dove into Belleville Lake in an attempt to evade police.
Chapman has also run unsuccessfully for several local and state political offices, Otzman said. She described Chapman as an extremely intelligent person, but said that "his emotions get away from him.”
English, 59, of Sumpter Township, said he has known Chapman for more than 40 years. The two attended high school together, and English still sees Chapman on a regular basis at the township hardware store where English is a manager.
English said he instantly recognized Chapman from the photos of the scene at Thursday’s protest. Having been in the area for so long, English is also aware of Chapman’s troubled past and issues with local law enforcement.
“He’s been in quite a bit of trouble around here in Belleville,” English said, later adding, “Personally, I would keep my distance from him.”
The addresses affiliated with some of his runs for office were in nearby Van Buren Township, where he ran for township trustee in 2016, according to the Belleville-Area Independent.
Van Buren Township is divided by Belleville Lake. On one end, you drive past vibrant “Stay Home, Stay Safe” signs by the water until you reach the flat farm area that houses the township’s water tower and Willow Run Airport.
On the other end, where Chapman’s previously listed addresses were, some houses feature faded and chipped paint, unkempt lawns and dirt driveways with rounds of potholes.
Chapman has consistently been involved in local politics, according to English, but English said he’s not aware of a solid platform or consistent arguments from Chapman. English referred to Chapman as a “perpetual politician” who is still around town making statements.
“It’s like he’s got to be the center of attention,” English said.
The noose display was denounced by Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox in a Thursday press call, who said MRP has not been involved in organizing any of the protests.
“I’ve seen that some of the protesters have turned violent, and that is something that we denounce in the strongest terms," she said, adding that while she understands frustrations over the stay-at-home order and Whitmer’s leadership, “resorting to violence is never acceptable.”
“It’s wrong," she said. “It’s wrong to threaten people, I don’t support anybody threatening anybody and I absolutely support people being safe, respecting law enforcement, making sure that they can do their job safely.”
Thursday’s protest was the fourth time in a month people gathered at Michigan’s Capitol building to express their concerns over the stay-at-home order that bars most in-person business and social gatherings. Other than the fight over the noose display, the protest was largely peaceful.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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