Muskegon Heights Police Officer Commended By U.S. Department of Justice

Andrew Trzaska | May 14, 2012

A Muskegon Heights police officer received a commendation from the U.S. Department of Justice last month for his role in apprehending a criminal suspect last year.

On that day, Goins was dispatched to aid the Muskegon Police Department in locating a breaking and entering suspect.  Goins ended up finding the suspect, who was carrying a 9 mm pistol and marijuana.

The suspect apprehended for the breaking and entering crime that day was Solomon Fox, who had been convicted of multiple felonies at the time of the arrest.

Sonja A. Everitt, Resident Agent in Charge at the Grand Rapids office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, noted the performance of Goins in the field.

“Goins demonstrated excellent courage and initiative in conducting this investigative stop and disarming the multi-convicted felon,” said Everitt.

The Bureau eventually took over the case from the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s office and charged the suspect, charging Fox with three counts, two of which he pled guilty to: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute plus Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.  Fox is currently serving a 66-month sentence for those charges, followed by five years of supervised release.

Chief Gill was not available for comment at the time of publication, but his memo to the city stated the following:

“Often my office receives these congratulatory letters from various other law enforcement entities. In the future I would like to place copies of these letters received, so that [the city council] may read the positive initiatives our officers do for the city.”