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A Michigan State Police detective has been charged with murder after allegedly striking and killing a fleeing suspect with an unmarked SUV near Grand Rapids, state prosecutors announced.
Detective Sgt. Brian Keely attempted to arrest 25-year-old Samuel Sterling on April 17, but Sterling fled, prompting a vehicle and foot chase by law enforcement, according to the Michigan Department of the Attorney General.
As Sterling ran through a fast food restaurant parking lot in Kentwood, Keely, driving an unmarked SUV, turned and struck him, prosecutors said. Sterling fell and began yelling about pain in his back, body-worn police camera footage shows. He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries, the attorney general’s office stated.
Keely, 50, faces one count of second-degree murder, carrying a life sentence, and an alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday. Alternative charges serve as backup if the most serious offense cannot be proven.
“Detective Sergeant Keely’s actions were legally, grossly negligent and created a very high risk of death or great bodily harm, which could have otherwise been prevented,” Nessel said.
Following the incident, Keely was suspended from his position, Michigan State Police Director Col. James Grady II said last month. CNN has sought comment from state police on his current employment status after the murder charge.
This case arises amid a national push for greater scrutiny of police use of force, particularly against people of color.
Grady acknowledged the community's pain, stating, “As an African American male and a father, it’s not lost on me that this is the death of another young African American male following an interaction with police.”
Sterling family attorney Ven Johnson commended Attorney General Dana Nessel for pursuing charges, stating, “Keely broke the law when he ran over Samuel Sterling.”
Keely’s attorney, Marc Curtis, criticized the charges, saying, “It is unfortunate that in this time of political correctness, Michigan’s Attorney General has chosen to ignore the facts of this incident and rely on political pressure.”
Video footage of the incident, released on May 10, shows Sterling being chased into a Burger King parking lot before being struck by an SUV, which pinned him against the restaurant wall. Sterling screamed about his back pain as officers handcuffed him and awaited emergency medical personnel.
Sterling’s family was "stunned and appalled" by the footage. Their attorney, Ven Johnson, emphasized the ongoing issue of police brutality and excessive force, pledging to seek justice for Sterling's family.
Authorities did not specify Sterling's initial charges, but Grady mentioned he was "wanted on multiple warrants."
Keely’s attorney argued that Sterling’s death was a tragic accident that could have been avoided if Sterling had complied with the detectives' commands.
Keely's arraignment in Kentwood district court is pending.
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