Ottawa County, Michigan Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Scott Huizenga facing two years for shooting Derek Copp in his home

Ottawa County (Michigan) Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Scott Huizenga, facing maximum two years for shooting unarmed pot smoker point-blank in the chest.

Deputy facing charges in student shooting at GVSU

An arrest warrant was issued last week for Ottawa County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Scott Huizenga in connection with the shooting of a Grand Valley State University student while Huizenga was executing a search warrant on March 11 with the West Michigan Enforcement Team.

There’s an old street axiom that if you shoot a man above the waist, you will most likely be charged with attempted murder. If you’re a cop and you shoot a citizen squarely in the chest there is no attempted murder, only this:

The State Police investigation focused on whether or not Huizenga should have had his finger on the trigger of his department-issued Glock .40-caliber handgun or on the outside of the trigger guard as he approached the apartment.

During the warrant hearing last week with Judge Knoll, Michigan State Police Lt. Curt Schram said that, in his opinion, Huizenga should not have had his finger on the trigger. “Based on my investigation, Derek Copp posed no threat to the officers, including Ryan Huizenga, and that his finger should’ve been on the outside of the trigger guard, not on the trigger unless he was intending to shoot,” Schram said.

District Court Judge Bradley Knoll issued the warrant to charge Huizenga with one count of careless discharge of a firearm after an eight-minute review of the investigation of the case.

Huizenga was out of the state on a planned vacation when the warrant was issued, according to the court documents, and has told Michigan State Police officers he will turn himself in as soon as he returns. A personal recognizance bond was set at $10,000.

Derek Copp, age 20, shot point-blank by Deputy Huizenga, might have faced two years if he smoked pot in the park.

Officer Huizenga is simply charged with not exercising control of his index finger. Since his state issued Glock 40 cal (one of the most lethal handguns in the world and is widely hailed for it’s intense “stopping power” that shreds organs) has a safety that is located inside the trigger, that’s all it took for Huizenga to nearly end Derek’s life.

Have you ever heard of a pot smoker — much less an attempted murderer — getting to finish his vacation before turning himself in? The account of the failed military styled raid is more damming than anything you could imagine.

The incident took place as the WEMET team went to an off-campus apartment of Derek Copp, 20, to serve a warrant for drug possession. According to court records, the team approached the ground floor apartment from the back and was about to open a sliding glass door. Another deputy was shining a flashlight into the dark apartment when Copp approached the door, pulled back the curtains, and raised his arm to shield his eyes from the light, according to the report. It was at that point that Huizenga discharged his weapon, according to State Police investigators who talked to several witnesses who were at the scene. Copp was struck with a single round to the chest from Huizenga’s weapon.

Huizenga wasn’t startled, since Derek had time to “pull back the curtains and raise his arm to shield his eyes”. Officer Huizenga deliberately decided to shoot Derek in the chest after seeing him for a few seconds through a full length glass door. This is no rookie cop either, Huizenga, 37, has been with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department for 12 years and for the last two years was assigned to the West Michigan Enforcement Team.

Here’s the kick in the gut..

If found guilty of the charge, Huizenga faces up to two years in prison.

Law enforcement officials say that if Huizenga receives more than a year in jail, he will automatically be decertified to work as a police officer.

This is the same possible sentence as a marijuana user faces for simple possession in a public or private park (thanks NORML for the state laws). He can also get another job as a police officer if he gets a lenient sentence and parole. This is the nature of our Drug War.  Pot smokers are the most hunted minority in the United States. We are given draconian sentences for minor infractions and if our rights and lives are threatened those who exert terror and brutality against us are given praise and sympathy.

Derek isn’t any different than you or me, the only difference is that they came to his door a few weeks ago. They will eventually come to your door unless you decide to do something now.