KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — A legal battle is looming over whether the murder case against a former Michigan State Police detective sergeant will move to federal court.
Brian Keely’s attorneys are pushing to take the case away from state court. An initial court hearing on whether that will happen is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Lansing.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office has charged Keely with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Samuel Sterling , 25, of Grand Rapids. Police found Sterling, who they say was wanted on multiple outstanding felony warrants, at a Kentwood gas station on April 17 . They say he took off. Several officers chased him on foot to a nearby Burger King while Keely pursued in an unmarked cruiser. Video released by MSP shows Sterling being hit by Kelly’s unmarked vehicle near the restaurant’s entrance, pinning him up against the wall. He was hospitalized and died hours later.