Judge Pauses Civil Suit against MI Trooper who Murdered Samuel Sterling Until Criminal Appeal is Resolved. White Cop Intentionally Struck and Crushed Fleeing Black Man w/Unmarked Mini-Van, Denied Help

From [HERE] A civil lawsuit filed by the family of a man who died after being hit by a Michigan State Police (MSP) cruiser was paused by a federal judge Tuesday, according to court documents.

A civil trial tied to an excessive force lawsuit against former MSP Detective Sergeant Brian Keely was originally set to take place in November, however, Judge Hala Jarbou granted his attorneys a motion to stay.

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 just an accident, jury doesn’t need to decide). [MORE]

However, per court documents, the state appealed that decision.

Keely's attorneys filed the motion for stay in August, asking the federal court to pause the civil case against him before the criminal case is complete.

In a written ruling, Jarbou agreed and is "in favor of stay because there is a substantial overlap in issues" and that "his actions were appropriate under the Fourth Amendment. Both those issues are key to the outcome of the civil case."