Murder trial of retired Michigan State Police detective moved to federal court

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — A murder trial against former Michigan State Police Detective Brian Keely will be moved from district court to federal court, a judge ruled Monday.

Earlier on Thursday, Judge Amanda Sterkenberg ruled that there was enough evidence to try 50-year-old Keely of Grand Rapids for first-degree murder and manslaughter.

Four months earlier, on April 17, 25-year-old Samuel Sterling was struck by an unmarked police vehicle driven by Keely in the parking lot of a Burger King in Kentwood.

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.

Defense attorneys requested that the case be transferred to federal court because Keely was a federal employee at the time.

Keely was sworn in as a member of the U.S. Marshal's Service in December 2023, according to documents presented in court on July 3.

As part of the U.S. Marshals, Keely assisted the Kent County Metro Pattern Crime Team in attempting to apprehend Sterling.

Keely, along with other members of the Fugitive Team, was briefed on the plan and informed about the 25-year-old's criminal past, which included several arrest warrants against him.

According to the documents, Keely was unaware of whether or not he had hit Sterling.

Sterling was pushed against the wall of the Burger King cafe, but Keely's team claimed he did not intentionally try to hit him.

They also cited the following reasons why Keely's trial should be moved to federal court:

• Keely acted as a federal official and not as a state official
• Keely did not go beyond the necessary measures set out in his requirements as a federal employee
• Keely acted under the guise of his office, which means he had reason to believe he had arrested a dangerous criminal

“Brian [Keely] is a compassionate person who has served his community for a long time. That's why he became a police officer. We are happy to represent him,” said Keely's attorney, Lance J. LoRusso.

Regardless, the Attorney General's Office wanted to have the case tried in Michigan, arguing that the charges against Keely were state charges and should be tried in state court.

They also argued that state court was the “appropriate venue” for Keely's trial and said they would present their arguments in their briefings.

“These are state charges alleging violations of state law and as such should be tried in state court,” officials said.

In response to Monday's ruling, attorney Ven Johnson, speaking on behalf of the Sterling family, called the move “the right one.” He issued the following statement:

“Today [Monday]U.S. District Judge Jarbou ruled that transferring the criminal case from Michigan State Court to federal court was appropriate because Brian Keely was part of a federal special unit while still employed by the Michigan State Police. On behalf of the Sterling family, we will of course continue to support the prosecution of Keely for the killing of unarmed Samuel Sterling, regardless of the forum in which it occurs.

“As for procedural questions about how this should all play out, we rely on the criminal justice experts in the Michigan Attorney General's Office, who have done an excellent job of prosecuting Keely for his misconduct.”

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

His trial date has not yet been set.