Retired Michigan State Police detective faces trial in death of Samuel Sterling

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Former Michigan State Police Detective Brian Keely is on trial for his role in the death of Samuel Sterling.

On Thursday, Judge Amanda Sterkenberg ruled there was enough evidence to send Keely, 50, of Grand Rapids, to District Court on one count of first-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter.

If convicted, Keely could face life in prison for murder and up to 15 years for manslaughter, authorities said.

Thursday's ruling came about four months after Sterling, 25, was struck by an unmarked police car driven by Keely in the parking lot of a Burger King in Kentwood on April 17.

At the time, police were on the hunt for Sterling, who was wanted on six warrants, some of which involved violent crimes and domestic violence.

Keely then turned the car around and hit Sterling, pushing him against the wall of the restaurant.

Sterling later succumbed to his injuries.

“That same day he died. He just texted me and said, 'Mom, I love you,' and then I got a call a few hours later that he was dying,” Sterling's mother, Andrica Cage, said on August 12. “I don't care what anyone else says, nobody deserves to be murdered, I don't care what anyone else has done.”

Attorney General Dana Nessel called Keely’s actions “grossly negligent.”

“Detective Sergeant Keely's actions that day … resulted in a very high risk of death or serious bodily harm that could have otherwise been prevented,” Nessel said.

Keely retired from the Michigan State Police on June 4, the day before his arraignment.

The trial date for him has not yet been set.