KENTWOOD, Mich. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has released a statement in response to charges filed against Detective Sergeant Brian Keely who struck 25-year-old Samuel Sterling, a Black man, with an unmarked police vehicle on April 17. Sterling died from the injuries. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday that Keely would face one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter.
After being approached by police officers at a gas station, Sterling ran away and was chased on foot to a nearby Burger King. He was then struck by a Michigan State Police vehicle, which was being operated by Keely, causing him to become severely injured. Sterling was rushed to a hospital and later died from his injuries.
Attorney Crump issued the following statement:
“We are grateful that the officer responsible for Samuel’s death will answer for his actions that robbed Samuel of his life. There is absolutely no excuse for running over another human being with a vehicle – we are grateful that state leadership in Michigan agrees. In the video, we can see this officer clearly create a dangerous situation and pursue Samuel using tactics that Michigan Governor Whitmer has stated were a departure from MSP protocol.
“These charges should serve as a stark warning to law enforcement that their actions have consequences, especially when those actions, which we see all too often, take another life. With each ounce of justice, we move closer to equitable policing and a world with fewer tragedies like the one that ended Samuel’s life.”
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
