Deputy expected in court today for shooting

Wed, Jul 1, 2009

Ottawa County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Huizenga was scheduled to appear in court this afternoon for a preliminary hearing on a charge that he misused his firearm in the March shooting of a college student, Derek Copp.

Huizenga has been on paid administrative leave as his case stalled in court.

Prosecutors agreed to postpone a May preliminary exam date, saying they were waiting to see how drug charges against Copp and his roommate, Connor Bardallis, played out in court.

Copp, 20, pleaded guilty to a four-year felony count of manufacture or delivery of marijuana in Ottawa County Circuit Court last week. Bardallis is awaiting trial, but has not entered a plea.

Authorities say an investigation showed that when Huizenga approached Copp's apartment on the night of March 11, his finger was on the trigger, not on the outside of the trigger guard of his firearm, as is protocol.

Copp suffered two fractured ribs, liver and lung damage from the shooting.

An internal investigation into the shooting continues at the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, which will help determine whether Huizenga remains employed, Undersheriff Greg Steigenga said.

If convicted of his charge, Huizenga could face a maximum of two years in prison.

— From The Holland Sentinel