Patrol car stolen in Robinson Twp. was deputy's who was involved in GVSU shooting

Wed, Oct 14, 2009    to del.icio.us

A rough year for Ottawa County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Huizenga got a little rougher on Friday.

Click to enlarge
Ottawa County Undersheriff Greg Steigenga confirmed Tuesday that Huizenga's police cruiser was the one stolen by 26-year-old James Zalsman in Robinson Township.

Huizenga — who was placed on probation for shooting a Grand Valley State University student during a drug raid earlier this year — was the deputy who responded to a domestic violence call Friday afternoon near Unicorn Drive and 144th Avenue made by Zalsman's girlfriend, 46-year-old Kelly Lawless.

While Huizenga was working to secure Zalsman, the suspect ran off, jumped in the patrol car and took off. Police chased the cruiser for nearly 6 miles until Zalsman used it to ram several other police vehicles on 120th Avenue near M-45.

Lt. Mike Brookhouse of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department was injured in the incident. Brookhouse was treated and released from North Ottawa Community Hospital and is back on the job, Steigenga said.

Huizenga was placed on administrative duties after shooting GVSU student Derek Copp in the chest during a March 11 drug raid at Copp's off-campus apartment in Allendale. Huizenga pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm in July.

Copp was later sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours community service, and fined $300, for delivery/manufacture of marijuana.

This time, Huizenga will not be punished, Steigenga said, saying that the deputy followed protocol on Friday.

"We looked at the details of Deputy Huizenga's involvement and feel he acted appropriately," Steigenga said.

Although Huizenga was placed on administrative duties following the shooting incident in March, he had been back on road patrol for a few months before Friday, Steigenga said.

Zalsman was arraigned on nine counts in 58th District Court on Monday and is scheduled from a preliminary examination on Oct. 20.