Ex-Warren councilman, Macomb sheriff candidate arraigned on gun charge

A former Warren councilman and Republican candidate for Macomb County sheriff was arraigned Thursday on a gun charge following a traffic stop over the weekend, police said.

Edward Kabacinski was arraigned in 37th District Court before Judge Suzanne Faunce on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, police said in a news release. He turned himself in Thursday after the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office issued the charge Monday, police said.

Bond was set at $5,000 and he was barred from possessing firearms. He is due back in court May 14.

Kabacinski is one of three Republican candidates vying for the office of Macomb County sheriff in the Aug. 6 primary. Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, a Democrat, is running for reelection. The general election is Nov. 5.

Kabacinski was pulled over at about 1:20 p.m. Sunday near Hoover and Common roads after officers spotted his Dodge van with an expired license plate from October 2019 and a cracked windshield, police said.

Kabacinski told police he was a retired law enforcement officer and informed them he was carrying a gun after officers noticed the revolver in a holster on Kabacinski's right hip, according to the release.

He produced his driver’s license, a silver badge that said "United States Army," "Military Retired Police" and an expired U.S. Army Reserve Military identification card, police said. Kabacinski told police he did not have a concealed pistol license and did not need one "because of his retired military status," police said.

The loaded revolver, which was registered to Kabacinski, was seized and he was placed in a patrol vehicle. He also had more ammunition the for gun, handcuffs and handcuff keys, police said.

Police could not immediately verify if Kabacinski was illegally carrying a concealed handgun. His van was impounded, he was issued a civil infraction for expired plates and a cracked windshield, and he was released at the scene.

A Warren detective was assigned to the case and a file was submitted to the Prosecutor's Office, police said.

Kabacinski turned himself in on Thursday, wearing a full military uniform, police said.

He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Reached Friday, sheriff candidate Terence Mekoski said he hopes the incident is "resolved without criminal prosecution."

"I know he open carries all the time, so that's a lawful act," Mekoski said of Kabacinski openly carrying a pistol registered in his name. "He may have unfortunately went into his vehicle and whatever he did, he did; I wasn't there, I don't know what happened."

"God bless him ... I believe (Kabacinski) is a good man (who's) trying to do the right thing, I don't think he has any criminal intent in his heart," Mekoski added.

Scott Budnick, the remaining GOP contender for the county's sheriff post, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.

A former councilman for Warren's 5th district, Kabacinski was named in two criminal warrants in 2020 for allegedly assaulting and handcuffing a 24-year-old Eastpointe woman after she put "Black Lives Matter" stickers on a Trump campaign lawn sign in Eastpointe. He also was charged with impersonating a police officer. He pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace in 2022, the Associated Press reported.

He also was arrested in Utica on a misdemeanor ordinance violation during a Trump rally in 2021.

"Further investigation is being conducted into Mr. Kabacinski’s military service claims and status," police said.

jaimery@detroitnews.com