Unarmed GVSU Student Shot During Drug Raid Arrested on Marijuana Charges

Radley Balko | April 17, 2009

According to police reports, on March 11 Grand Valley State University sophomore Derek Kopp sold an undercover police officer 3.3 grams of marijuana for $60. The police then raided Kopp’s apartment, at which point Deputy Ryan Huizenga mistook Kopp shielding his eyes from a police flashlight for brandishing a weapon, and shot the unarmed Kopp in the chest. The bullet pierced Kopp’s liver, broke a rib, and punctured one of Kopp’s lungs.

Apparently, a bullet in the chest and time in the intensive care unit wasn’t punishment enough for selling three grams of pot. This week, a Michigan judge issued an arrest warrant for Kopp on the charge of delivery of marijuana. He’ll be arraigned on Monday.

Comments

|4.17.09 @ 11:53AM|#

Well the next time he may sell it to a child, duhh.

That said, it is the law, should criminals not be punished if they are forcibly captured? That's a theoretical question. This case was obviously ridiculous, did he even have anything in his hand? Shouldn't the officer have been able to see his hand?

|4.17.09 @ 11:54AM|#

I, a former prosecutor and as big of a law and order guy as there is, am really starting to hate cops. Those motherfuckers sit outside that building in Binghamton and let the victims bleed to death because to go in might be dangerous for the officers. But they of course have no problem kicking in some dumb college kid's apartment guns drawn and shooting him.

No charges were filed in this case. That means that the police can kick down your door and if you move you get shot and that is just how it goes. If you are innocent and the charges are based on lies, and you can prove it, something bad might happen to the cops. But if you are guilty you basically can be shot at will. I don't care what you think of the drug war, no one should be shot for selling an ounce of pot.

But the cops say if he doesn't shoot one of them could die in a raid. Too fucking bad. It is their job to risk their lives and sometimes die so I don't have to. If they don't like that fact, get another job.

brec|4.17.09 @ 11:59AM|#

From the linked news article:

Huizenga since has been charged with a high-court misdemeanor of careless discharge of a firearm causing injury.

|4.17.09 @ 12:00PM|#

"Huizenga since has been charged with a high-court misdemeanor of careless discharge of a firearm causing injury."

Careless discharge? I would say it is more than that.

Spoonman|4.17.09 @ 12:01PM|#

"Careless discharge of a firearm"? Bullshit. It's attempted murder.

Xeones|4.17.09 @ 12:02PM|#

Yo, fuck every official involved in this bullshit. You sell some plant parts, and that warrants getting shot nearly to death AND jail time? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

|4.17.09 @ 12:06PM|#

Whoa !! 3.3 grams, slightly over 1/10th of an ounce. Looks like a major distribution point to me.

Janet Reno|4.17.09 @ 12:08PM|#

I applaud the nice police officer. The charges should be dropped. He is a hero like Lon Horiuchi.

DipStick|4.17.09 @ 12:10PM|#

" I don't care what you think of the drug war, no one should be shot for selling an ounce of pot. "

Not even an ounce. 3.3 grams is about 1/8 oz.

So at $60, which is about $480/oz. it must have been pretty good weed.

|4.17.09 @ 12:11PM|#

He was a filthy drug pusher! The only punishment is death! For the children, and all..

High Every Body|4.17.09 @ 12:12PM|#

DS,

According to police reports, on March 11 Grand Valley State University sophomore Derek Kopp sold an undercover police officer 3.3 grams of marijuana for $60.

Nooo, the cop got a bargain. 3.3 grams is estimated to be worth like $5,000 in some busts!

|4.17.09 @ 12:12PM|#

DipStick yeah I noticed that too. It must have been some purple shit or something.

Naga Sadow|4.17.09 @ 12:12PM|#

Janet, you ignorant slut!

|4.17.09 @ 12:13PM|#

"I don't care what you think of the drug war, no one should be shot for selling an ounce of pot. "

Not even an ounce. 3.3 grams is about 1/8 oz."

It must have been hydroponic. I don't think in metric so I judged by the price and figured it was a quarter ounce. Either that was some major weed or the undercover cop got ripped off.

SpongePaul|4.17.09 @ 12:18PM|#

60 for 1/8th is the going rate around universities. its usually 50-60 1/8th 110 1/4 200 1/2 and 380 1 zip. its been 2 or 3 years. but thats what the good university grown stuff goes for. mexi schwag take off 50-75% of price. bc beasters, take 10-20 % off price

|4.17.09 @ 12:18PM|#

This is truly insane.

DipStick|4.17.09 @ 12:23PM|#

"60 for 1/8th is the going rate around universities"

That makes me greatful to be living in the inner-city. 1 oz. of qualoity non-mex goes for $150. White widow runs about $450.

|4.17.09 @ 12:32PM|#

I said God damn the police man.

|4.17.09 @ 12:34PM|#

I have question. Why didn't the cops just arrest the guy when they made the buy? What possible reason could they have to let the guy go back and possibly escape or (gasp) sell more drugs to our children? It seems a lot safer to me to arrest him shortly after the buy, then to wait and risk going into the guy's house.

kinnath|4.17.09 @ 12:36PM|#

I, a former prosecutor and as big of a law and order guy as there is, am really starting to hate cops.

Come on over John, and join us wackos -- we're not as crazy as we seem at first glance.

Naga Sadow|4.17.09 @ 12:39PM|#

John,

Officer safety of course.

T|4.17.09 @ 12:43PM|#

But the cops say if he doesn't shoot one of them could die in a raid. Too fucking bad. It is their job to risk their lives and sometimes die so I don't have to. If they don't like that fact, get another job.

Silly. Did you think "protect and serve" meant protect and serve the public? No, it's protect the blue and serve warrants.

|4.17.09 @ 12:50PM|#

Pointing a gun at another person and pulling the trigger is not "careless discharge of a firearm." It is attempted murder; the only defense would be whether the cop reasonably thought his own life was in danger. I would say that no reasonable person would think they were endangered a brightly illuminated person holding up an empty hand.

Why didn't the cops just arrest the guy when they made the buy?

Because they wanted to seize his stash and convict him on a bigger charge. Of course, they could have arrested him and then gone to his apartment and done the same thing, but then they wouldn't have gotten to play SWAT Hero.

Kevin Breen|4.17.09 @ 12:53PM|#

This is a local story here, and thousands of people are rallying to support the officer who shot Derek, saying that it was an honest mistake by an honorable officer of 12 years, and they're calling for the prosecution of Derek for possession. Yesterday, they held a demonstration, and they're asking that all charges against the officer who shot Derek to be dropped.

You can't turn on the news here in West Michigan without hearing about the Facebook Groups formed to support the officer. It's ridiculous! We're trying to fight this by building up support groups for Derek Copp, but without media attention, few people are hearing about it or joining. Please help fight this effort by joining a group that supports Derek Copp here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=59566816265

Also, out of curiosity, why do you guys keeps spelling his last name as "Kopp?"

Kevin Breen|4.17.09 @ 12:56PM|#

You might also want to join the Facebook group, "If I shot a harmless man, I'd go to jail. So should Ryan Huizenga." http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=181097925436

Spotted Toad|4.17.09 @ 12:57PM|#

Put the attempted murderer on trial and frog prep him.

|4.17.09 @ 12:59PM|#

3 grams for $60? Now that's a crime!

|4.17.09 @ 1:01PM|#

That new modern SuperWeed gives hippies deadly unstoppable ninja powers. You can't be too careful.

person|4.17.09 @ 1:51PM|#

fishfry, that's the going rate. Just wait till Obama inflation kicks in, $60/8th will be reserved for your wildest dreams!

LarryA|4.17.09 @ 2:16PM|#

Deputy Ryan Huizenga mistook Kopp shielding his eyes from a police flashlight for brandishing a weapon

I've done a lot of shooting, and taught a lot of others to shoot. I missed the "throw the gun in front of your eyes" technique.

Paul|4.17.09 @ 2:32PM|#

I've done a lot of shooting, and taught a lot of others to shoot. I missed the "throw the gun in front of your eyes" technique.

You've obviously never studied this!

Paul|4.17.09 @ 2:36PM|#

Ok, I'm done batin', now let me link you this, LarryA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOxsYDHWGc

Paul|4.17.09 @ 2:41PM|#

You can't turn on the news here in West Michigan without hearing about the Facebook Groups formed to support the officer. It's ridiculous! We're trying to fight this by building up support groups for Derek Copp, but without media attention, few people are hearing about it or joining.

The drug was is popular. It will never end. Ever.

|4.17.09 @ 2:59PM|#

The only thing telling me a cop has 12 years on the force implies is that he has had plenty of time to master the art of police state antics and get away with anything he does. What does how long he has been on the job have to do with anything anyway? If I drive a forklift for 20 years and then suddenly run someone over with a forklift would I be slapped on the back and told how terrfic I am for having driven a fork lift for 20 years. Fuck no I would be investigated and drug tested and likely not allowed back on a forklift.

The whole honorable cop thing is becoming more and more of a joke everyday.

As for changing jobs thats a good idea for the cop that worries about being killed. Or they could just opt for some common sense policing and not the SWAT hero tactics that just might get you killed if you fuck up or even worse get someone innocent killed when you fuck up.

3.3g of pot times 10000000000000000000000 is enough pot to kill ZERO people. 1 dumbass cop is enough to kill? Hmmm which is more harmful to society in the long run?

ev|4.17.09 @ 8:39PM|#

50 for an 8th of dank has been the standard market-determined rate since as long as i've been smoking.

60 an 8th isnt unheard of, but that had best be dank as shit.

i know we all talk about it here, but seriously. if i shot somebody in the same manner, even someone breaking into my home, i would be charged with a lot more than this bullshit.

Dan|4.17.09 @ 10:56PM|#

The reason why you don't just arrest the person shortly after the sale actually does have a good reason. If you arrest someone directly after selling to an undercover agent he will know (most likely) who it was he sold to that got him busted. This not only compromises the identity of this officer, but also his safety. While "risk" is an inherent part of police work specially trained officers need to be given extra consideration when making these assessments.

That being said however, there are acceptable procedures for using force. From the information made available to me thus far it would seem the officer acted grossly outside of policy. And finally, "careless discharge" is a fluff charge that an officer with "12 good years" should be seasoned enough to avoid. If anything, a greater number of years of service should strengthen and not lessen the expectations for behavior, conduct, adherence to policy and decision making. "Attempted murder" is also a bit extreme. "Attempted manslaughter" or "assault with a deadly weapon" seems more realistic.

Unfortunately the amount of narcotic sold was fantasticly small. This does not however give a scale of reference to how often he may have made such sales or to the amount he was holding in his residence. I do agree that the unfortunate circumstance of his arrest should be taken into account in sentencing. But unnecessary force in an arrest should not, and does not excuse a suspect from serving punishment/sentencing if convicted and seeking further compensation if exonerated.

|4.18.09 @ 2:46AM|#

haha way to rip off the undercover cop. 3.3 for $60? please, that would go for $35 max in santa cruz where i'm from.

Dan|4.18.09 @ 9:14AM|#

Except he's not really "ripping off" the uc though is he? It's not like they pay for narcotics purchased in stings with their own money. So technically, he ripped off the local populace. And a "rip off" is a relative term. If the buyer feels the price was worth the goods and has no after regret, it's hard to say it was a rip off. I mean, if you had a real need to get high and the only guy you could find holding was selling 3.3oz for $80 you might buy. Keep in minds kids, it's all relative and not all markets are the same.

|4.18.09 @ 10:18AM|#

Well atleast the cops are making a decent living and spending there money well...

|4.19.09 @ 4:29AM|#

Let's be honest here. The situation is unfortunate and shows what a travesty the WoD was and is. But if there's one small silver lining...

Derek Kopp is alive. And he has street cred.

The downside is (other than getting shot, which is also the source of street cred), this sort of thing can seriously derail someone's scholastic pursuits.

Stephen|4.20.09 @ 1:16PM|#

The real crime here is that the drug dealer was likely misrepresenting 3.3 grams as an "eighth" (i.e., an eighth of an ounce), which in reality ought to be about 3.55 grams.

|10.19.09 @ 11:01PM|#

Ha! The cop shot him because he got ripped off. His bag was short and over-priced! The jury might just pull for the cop with that argument. Last year over 20 million americans lit up. Fact.