LANSING, Mich. — The trooper who hit a man while running from police in April has been charged by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Michigan State Police (MSP) Detective Sergeant Brian Keely, 50, is being charged with:
- One count – Murder, Second Degree, a life offense, or alternatively,
- One count – Involuntary Manslaughter, a fifteen-year felony.
The charges stem from a police chase that ended with Keely hitting and severely injuring Samuel Sterling. Sterling would die from his injuries later that day.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Sterling's family attorney Ven Johnson shared a video from a security camera that shows what happened.
A few days later, body cam and dash cam video from police was also released.
Sterling, 25, was hit by an unmarked Michigan State Police vehicle driven by Keely in Kentwood on the morning of April 17.
Sterling was putting air in his tires near 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue when he was found by multiple agencies looking for him on felony warrants, troopers said.
When officers approached Sterling, he ran away, police said. It led to a chase.
The vehicle that was driving parallel to Sterling then struck him, police say.
After an investigation into Sterling's death, it was ruled accidental, but Nessel still opted to bring charges on the trooper.
“Public integrity is a top priority for my Department and we remain committed to providing a thorough and just review and resolution in each case brought before us,” said Nessel.
The Department of the Attorney General said this during the announcement of the charges:
“Detective Sergeant Keely’s actions that day were legally, grossly negligent and created a very high risk of death or great bodily harm, which could have otherwise been prevented.”
Keely is set to be arraigned in the 62-B District Court in Kentwood. The date has not yet been scheduled.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.