A White Michigan Trooper Intentionally Struck a Fleeing Black Man w/a Mini-Van, Crushed Him Into a Building Causing Death. Cops Delayed Medical Help. Civil Trial Date Set, Fed Judge Tossed Murder Case

From [HERE] A civil trial has been scheduled in the excessive force lawsuit stemming from the death of Samuel Sterling, a Black man who was intentionally struck by a Michigan State Police sergeant’s min-van cruiser.

The jury trial in the lawsuit against Brian Keely is set to begin Nov. 2, 2026. It is expected to take between seven and 10 days. (authorities often push court dates way into the future when the case involves unlawful conduct by police- especially when the plaintiff is a Black family.)

In the civil lawsuit filed in January, Samuel Sterling’s family alleged Keely violated his Fourth and 14th Amendment protections against excessive force and argued gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct.

In Kentwood in April 2024, Sterling ran away from a task force seeking to arrest him. Officers chased him to a Burger King while Keely pursued in an unmarked cruiser. Video released by MSP shows the white police officer deliberately drive over a curb - onto a sidewalk - and then violently strike him with a mini-van. The mini-van then pushes Sterling into the side of the building, crushing and pinning him against it. After he was struck, the officer backed up off the curb.

Officers are seen putting handcuffs on Sterling and telling firefighters who responded to the scene to keep the cuffs on, while he was dying. Sterling, 25, was hospitalized and died hours later.

Authorities claim that Keely was not wearing a body camera and his vehicle did not have a dash camera "due to his assignment on a federal task force." The Michigan Attorney General’s Office charged Keely with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The case was later moved into federal court after a motion by the defense, which said it belonged there because Keely was acting as part of a U.S. Marshals task force when the death happened.

In May of this year, U.S. District Court Judge Hala Jarbou dismissed the criminal case. The AG’s Office has filed a notice to appeal that ruling. The case never went to trial because judge Jarbou ruled that the state does not have enough evidence to establish murder (LOL. never happens). While the state still argued he could be found guilty of second-degree murder or involuntary manslaughter if he acted “in disregard of life-endangering consequences.” “The Court is not persuaded by the State’s argument,” the court documents say. (LOL! it was all an accident, jury doesn’t need to decide). [MORE]

The AG’s Office has filed a notice to appeal that ruling.

Attorney Ven Johnson, an attorney representing Sterling's family, said in a statement to ABC News that they were "stunned and appalled to see the MSP trooper deliberately drive over a curb - onto a sidewalk - and violently take Samuel’s life by striking him with an unmarked police car."

"No one person should be able to appoint themselves as judge, jury and executioner, yet deaths from police brutality and excessive force continue to occur too often," Johnson added. [more]

Sterling family ‘sick,’ ‘devastated’ after judge tosses murder case

That same day, state police released an edited, remixed compilation of body-worn and dashboard camera footage of the incident.

The footage shows at least one officer chasing Sterling on foot into a Burger King parking lot when a large grey SUV veers into the lot and hits Sterling, appearing to pin him against the restaurant wall.

After the SUV reverses away from him, several officers converge on Sterling and order him to put his hands behind his back. Sterling repeatedly screams, “My back,” and groans in pain. After his hands are cuffed in front of him, Sterling continues to complain that his back and entire body hurt.

“Don’t move man,” an officer says. Officers ask him where he feels pain and repeatedly tell him not to move until emergency medical personnel arrive. Another officer says, “We don’t want you to move your back.”

Earlier this month, Keely’s lawyers filed a motion to have the civil lawsuit tossed out, citing the dismissal of the criminal case.

The next status conference in the civil case is scheduled for Dec. 15.