LANSING, MI (AP)— A judge has dismissed a murder charge against a Michigan police officer who struck a fleeing man with his unmarked SUV.
The judge says the officer's role with a federal task force gives him immunity from state prosecution.
Samuel Sterling died after he was pinned against a wall at a Burger King in Kentwood in April 2024. At that time, Brian Keely was part of a U.S. Marshal Service group that tries to catch fugitives in western Michigan.
Judge Hala Jarbou says Keely's actions may have been risky but they were reasonable to protect the public.
“Sterling was actively attempting to evade arrest, leading multiple officers on an extended chase in a populated area,” the judge said. “Because Keely and the other officers reasonably believed Sterling was armed, they had good reason to believe that Sterling posed a significant threat to the safety of officers and the public.”
