GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Samuel Sterling's parents, along with their attorney Ven Johnsen and former Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, were some of the first to see body and dashcam footage of 25-year-old Samuel Sterling's officer-involved death.
"Today, what we saw was a car that was used as a deadly weapon," said Johnson.
"After he was on the ground I was seeing the officers rush to handcuff and check his pockets, turn him over. All while he was screaming," said Michael Sterling. "You know, he was in pain."
In April, the group came together to introduce security camera video of the incident, something father Michael Sterling had to turn away from seeing for the first time.
" I told myself that I had to see, it's painful to watch, but I had to watch it," said Michael. "To hear what my son was saying and see the pain on his face. As he later died."
"Somebody's always gonna feel this. It is hurtful more because I'm a mother," said Andrica Cage, Samuel's Mother. "So it's never gonna be closed."
Former Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack has been working with the family since Samuel's death. He's connected them with Johnson, along with Attorney Benjamin Crump.
"The community will be watching how this case goes," said Womack. "When the community sees this video today. We're asking the community to believe in the wheels of justice, to be peaceful, because this is the type of video that that things have come from videos less than this."
Johnson added that the video released on Friday only helps their efforts in pursuing justice.
"Having the perspective of other angles, and to see the drastic turn in the front of the police car turning toward the wall, turning towards Samuel and striking him," said Johnson. "It leaves absolutely, in my opinion, zero room for discussion as to whether this was accidental versus intentional."
The trooper’s attorney, Marc E. Curtis, released a statement to ABC News which was shared with 13 ON YOUR SIDE. The statement said:
"We would like to express to the family and community that we know you are grieving the death of Mr. Sterling. The Trooper involved is heart broken at the loss of Mr. Sterling’s life and wants the family to know that he had no intention of purposely harming Mr. Sterling.
The Trooper has cooperated with the investigation and will continue to cooperate with the investigation as it progresses.
At this time we ask for everyone’s patiences and allow the Michigan State Police and the Attorney General’s Office to conduct a thorough investigation and review of this matter."
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