A former Grand Rapids police officer was arrested after smashing into a local sports card shop and stealing thousands of dollars in collectibles, according to court documents and police reports.

Bryan William Casey faces one count of breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, according to the Kent County Prosecutor.

The Burglary

The burglary alarm at Johnny Ford's Sports Cards and Memorabilia went off just after midnight on May 24, according to the Grand Rapids Police Department. The store is located off Plainfield Avenue near I-96.

"Officers found the front door of the store smashed in, but nobody was inside," according to the felony complaint filed in the 61st District Court in Grand Rapids.

Store owner Timothy Henk told WOODTV that when he arrived at the scene, the front door windows were busted out. He estimated $15,000 to $20,000 worth of merchandise had been stolen. Court documents filed by the prosecutor put the value at over $25,000 in sports card boxes.

The Arrest

Michigan State Police responded to a crash on I-96 and Fulton Street in Grand Rapids Township not long after the burglary alarm. Troopers found Casey inside a black pickup truck, along with boxes of baseball cards, according to WZZM13.

Authorities said Casey was also in possession of a bag and a baseball bat that matched items seen on surveillance video inside the store.

After being read his Miranda Rights, Casey told officers that he and his girlfriend had broken up the night before, WZZM13 reported. He said the breakup caused him mental distress and led him to drinking large amounts of whiskey.

MSP told WOODTV that the agency is reviewing additional charges but is waiting on the results of a blood test first.

A Former Officer

The Grand Rapids Police Department confirmed Casey was a former officer who resigned voluntarily on April 1, citing personal reasons, according to a GRPD spokesperson.

"GRPD investigated a burglary that occurred at Johnny Ford's Sports Cards and Memorabilia on May 24. The suspect was subsequently located and arrested by MSP outside of the city limits. The merchandise was located with the suspect, and GRPD was contacted. The merchandise was returned to the store after being processed. The suspect was interviewed by GRPD, charged and has been arraigned," the department said in a statement.

Casey was arraigned on May 26 at the 61st District Court. He is scheduled to return to court on June 9.

The Human Toll

Henk told WOODTV that Casey was a regular customer at the store. He said he even considered Casey a friend.

"As a small business with a tight group of employees, this hits us all very hard not just financially but personally," Henk wrote in a statement released Wednesday. "But with the darkness comes the light. The outpouring of love and support that we have witnessed over the past 3 days has been beyond amazing."

Henk told WZZM13 that hundreds of people had visited the shop since the burglary to offer support. Some brought homemade baked goods. Others offered expertise on repairing the damage.

As of Wednesday, the front door of the store remained boarded up, but the business was open.

Henk also pushed back on the department's claim that the stolen merchandise had been returned. He told WZZM13 that he has not yet received his inventory and was told it remains in evidence lockup.

Casey remains in custody as the case moves forward. The Kent County Prosecutor and Michigan State Police have not disclosed whether additional charges will be filed.