Deputy Ryan Huizenga Arraigned for Shooting Unarmed Student During Raid

Ottawa County Sheriff's Dept. Deputy Ryan Huizenga has been arraigned in Holland District Court in the shooting of an unarmed Grand Valley State University student during a drug raid at his off-campus apartment.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Holland District Court on April 29th.

The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor authorized criminal charges against Huizenga on April 6th. Huizenga is charged with Careless Discharge of a Firearm causing Injury or Death. The charge is punishable by possible jail time, probation, or fines and other monetary charges.

Huizenga is on unpaid suspension pending the outcome of the Ottawa County internal revue.

On March 11th, Huizenga, along with other law enforcement officers, was conducting a search warrant for drugs at GVSU student Derek Copp's off-campus apartment.

According to the investigator of the case, Michigan State Police Det. Lt. Curt Schram, Copp answered the door. Lt. Schram said that, "When Mr. Copp opened the glass door, he indicated that there was a flashlight that was shown (sic) into his face and in his eyes." Lt. Schram says Copp shielded his face from the light, but did not have a weapon in his hand. Huizenga then shot Copp in the chest.

Copp has since returned to school.

Officer in '07 Shooting is Arrested at Mental Facility

A former Tempe police officer, accused of opening fire in a Scottsdale hospital last year, was to walk out of a mental-health facility Tuesday a free man.

But as Gilbert Tuffli, 55, left the Mesa outpatient clinic, he was arrested by detectives from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and sent to jail.

Tuffli, who was declared unfit to stand trial in September, has been re-indicted on six felony charges including aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

"We acted to ensure public safety," Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said.

Tuffli allegedly went to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn in downtown Scottsdale July 23, 2007, to seek revenge against employees who had barred him from the hospital.

Employees wrestled the gun from him.

Tuffli's arrest underscores Thomas' battle with the Legislature, which has not passed laws requiring prosecutors to be notified when defendants are released from mental-health facilities.

The mental-health system is a "revolving door" that doesn't "force defendants to be accountable for their alleged crimes," Thomas said.

Tuffli was found incompetent to stand trial in September, but doctors said treatment may have restored his mental health.

Last month, he was again declared unable to stand trial, but doctors reversed their decision that his mental health would be restored.

Prosecutors are seeking to have him civilly committed to a mental institution.

Thomas said his office would not have been aware of Tuffli's release if Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn officials had not alerted him.

Hospital officials opposed Tuffli's release, saying he remained a danger to patients and employees at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.

"We are very happy that he was rearrested today," said Keith Jones, hospital spokesman. "And we appreciate the county attorney's diligence in this case."