Officer Sentenced for Shooting GVSU Student

July 1, 2009 - 2:46 PM

An Ottawa County sheriff's deputy accused of shooting an unarmed Grand Valley State University student during the execution of a search warrant at the student's off-campus apartment has been sentenced to six months' probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.

Holland District Court Judge Bradley Knoll also ordered 37-seven-year-old Ryan Huizenga to pay a $400 fine and serve 80 hours of community service as part of a plea agreement.

Huizenga was charged with careless discharge of a firearm causing injury during a March 11 raid in which 20-year-old Derek Copp was shot in the chest. Huizenga is on administrative leave.

Copp faces up to four years in prison for selling marijuana to an undercover officer.