DETROIT – Opening statements are planned Tuesday in the murder trial of a former state trooper accused of firing a Taser at a Detroit teen who died.
A jury was seated Monday in Wayne County Circuit Court to hear the case against Mark Bessner, charged with second-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Damon Grimes. The teen was joyriding on an all-terrain vehicle when the trooper fired his stun gun. He crashed into a parked car and died.
According to State Police, troopers assigned to the MSP Metro South Post, Detroit Secure Cities Partnership attempted to stop Grimes for reckless driving on the 4-wheeler on Aug. 26, 2017. The troopers activated their emergency lights and siren, but Grimes refused to stop, police said, leading troopers in a pursuit eastbound on Rossini.
At some point during the chase, Bessner deployed a Taser from the moving patrol car, striking the teen. At Gratiot Ave., Grimes lost control of the ATV and crashed into the back of a pickup truck. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Bessner created a “very high risk of death.” State police officials described his actions as criminal.
Bessner’s lawyer says he was forced to make a split-second decision when Grimes refused to stop the ATV.
Bessner was suspended, then resigned from the police force following Grimes’ death. He faces possible life in prison if convicted.
Meantime, a $50 million civil lawsuit by the Grimes family is pending against Bessner, accusing him of excessive force.
Source: https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/trial-begins-trooper-who-fired-taser-detroit-teens-atv-death