HOLT- Entrapment operations are never a good thing. But during the past weekend (11-12 June 2004) the Michigan State Police (MSP) chose a very peculiar time and place to revive the practice of targeting and profiling gay men in the Lansing area: it was Pride weekend.

At least a dozen men were arrested and others were detained at a rest area near Holt on northbound M-127, just outside Lansing, including Mid-Michigan activist and Triangle Foundation operative Todd Heywood.

According to Heywood, he had stopped at the public facility to use the rest room. As he attempted to leave the scene and continue his drive home his car was blocked and a plainclothes officer attempted to arrest him. A second officer, with whom Heywood had a previous conversation, approached and told his fellow officer: “No, that’s the wrong fag, he’s cool,” whereupon Heywood was told to leave the area immediately.