HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- First a stabbing, then a shooting. The crimes have authorities concerned about violence happening near the Holland Event Center.
That facility recently opened near Dutch Village off James Street in Holland Township.
Investigators have a stabbing suspect in custody, and they've released an image of another man they say fired shots following a late night party on March 15.
At Dutch Village, spring is in the air and Tulip Time right around the corner. Inside the nearby hotels, like the Country Inn, phones are extra busy. However, some of the calls have been to police, because of the place next door.
Problems include "parties that have gone on throughout the night where we've gotten complaints from our guests," said Country Inn General Manager Lisa Cliburn.
Now, investigators have traced a separate stabbing and a shooting back to the Holland Event Center. A new image (above) shows the man who deputies say fired shots outside a late night party at the venue on March 15.
"This appears to have stemmed from a fight from inside the event center," says Capt. Mark Bennett with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
One of the bullets came within inches of hitting a woman inside her car.
"We don't believe she was the intended target; she was in attendance at the party but wasn't involved in any altercation," says Capt. Bennett.
Deputies also say a stabbing in November stemmed from a party at the event center, although the actual incident happened elsewhere. The suspect, Lorice Young, is now facing attempted murder charges.
"With all the trouble, we hope it doesn't bring any issues our way; we want to make sure our guests are safe at all times," says Cliburn.
Investigators have been working with the event center's owner on steps he can take to make the area safer. They say the people attending the parties come from as far away as Chicago.
"We spoke about vetting out the actual groups that want to rent the event center," says Capt. Bennett.
"I would like to see the trouble controlled," Cliburn said. "If they can't control it they should close it down."
WZZM 13 tried to call the owner of the event center but has been unable to reach him.
If you have any information about the shooting suspect, call the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office at (616) 738-4000 or Silent Observer at 1 (877) 88-SILENT.
