Deputy enters plea in shooting of unarmed student

HOLLAND, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Ottawa County Sheriff's deputy accused of shooting an unarmed Grand Valley State student during a drug raid reached a plea agreement Wednesday.

Deputy Ryan Huizenga was charged with careless discharge of a firearm, he was part of a multi-agency drug enforcement agency that raided Derek Copp's off-campus apartment on March eleventh.

Copp has since returned to school and is recovering from being shot.

Huizenga was in court to answer to his charges Wednesday, and in quite a twist, the case ended abruptly. The book has been closed on the criminal case and the plea agreement opens the door for the deputy to keep his job.

A district court judge in Holland accepted a guilty plea for a lesser charge. Huizenga also apologized to Copp Wednesday.

"He has deep regret about this situation, he didn't go there that night intending to do this," said George Mertz, Huizenga's attorney.

Huizenga is on probation, he also has to pay a small fine and perform community service, but he won't be spending any time in jail.

While the court case is done, there are still questions about whether Huizenga will be a deputy or perhaps be participating in raids with a drug enforcement team.

Huizenga's certification as a deputy is safe, even with the conviction on his record. On Wednesday leaders at the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office told Newschannel 3 that the department's internal investigation is nearly complete.

Investigators determined that Huizenga had his finger in the wrong position when he entered Copp's apartment on that night in March, and later shot him when the student made a move.

The incident sparked protests from students who wanted answers and justice.

In the weeks following the shooting, Copp returned to school and is recovering. His attorney told Newschannel 3 that his family supports the plea agreement.

The judge in the case told Huizenga that he was thankful the situation turned out the way it did, allowing both lives to move on and end a dark chapter.

"We looked into Deputy Huizenga's background, and as far as we know he had no negative complaints or problems whatsoever administratively in the past, so far all the reasons it was an appropriate disposition of the case," said special prosecutor Stuart Fenton.

Huizenga has been working with the Sheriff's Department through all this and wants to stay on despite the conviction. He had no comment on Wednesday.

Copp pleaded guilty to delivery or manufacture of marijuana. He's scheduled to be sentenced on August tenth and faces up to four years in prison.