Contact: Sgt. Joel Roon - 616.632.6106
Email: joel.roon@kentcountymi.gov
Supervisor Approval: Sgt. Albert
Case Number: 19-136789 - Det. Hinds
Incident Type: B/E Involving Stolen Firearms

On July 14, 2019 at 03:33 the Kent County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the Sparta Police Department at Imperial Gunworx at 134 E. Division St NW in the Village of Sparta. Four suspects forced entry into the store and stole 19 handguns. On July 14, 2019 four suspects, who appeared to be the same individuals as Sparta, forced entry into Armory Valentine Gun Store in Kentwood and stole additional firearms including semi-automatic rifles.

On July 15, 2019 the Wyoming Police Department responded to a suspicious situation involving three suspicious males entering a house under construction. The three suspicious individuals were located by police. During the Wyoming Police Officers investigation, a backpack observed on one of the suspicious individuals was found nearby with 9 stolen Imperial Gunworx handguns inside.

Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives began investigating this case. Investigators were able to identify four juvenile suspects. Search Warrants were executed and two different addresses in Kent County and additional stolen handguns and rifles were recovered.

One adult suspect is in Federal Custody and his name will be released pending arraignment. Three juveniles have been arrested and lodged at Kent County Juvenile Detention Facility.

This case remains under investigation. The suspects involved in the Sparta and Kentwood Breaking and Entering cases are not suspected to be involved in Barracks 616 and Holland cases. If you have any information about any of the Gun Store theft cases, please call the Kent County Sheriff’s Office at 616-632-6357, Silent Observer at 616-774-2345, or the ATF.