MSP, Detroit police investigate deadly ATV crash involving Trooper

Image 1 of 2

A Michigan State Trooper is suspended for his part in a pursuit that left a teen dead and a family crying out for justice.

“He killed an innocent kid,” said Kimberly Powell, the victim’s aunt.

The family is heartbroken that their love one, 15-year-old Demond Grimes is dead. He was driving an ATV near his home on Saturday. The family says they’re upset over how MSP is handling the case.

“Suspended? I think fired. I think jail time.”

Initially, MSP said they pursued the ATV for reckless driving, but the teen driver would not stop and attempted to drive off the roadway. They say he lost control and crashed into the back of a pickup truck.

But Monday, MSP officials announced that the initial investigation has revealed the trooper deployed a Taser during the pursuit, striking the fleeing 15-year-old driver before the crash.

The Medical Examiner's Office says the teen died from blunt force trauma to the head.

"That's one of the things we're working on now, to see exactly when the Taser was deployed during the pursuit,” said Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police.

The teen's family says they always maintained the trooper was at fault.

In an interview just after the accident Powell said, “They ran into the back of him, made him fly off his bike, onto a truck and killed him. The state trooper who actually hit him, actually pulled off and left.”

Now Detroit Police are getting involved and have launched an independent investigation.

“Whenever you talk about the loss of life, there should be some independent review of that,” said Detroit Police Chief James Craig.

“This in no way suggests any impropriety on part of the Michigan State Police Department. This is independent investigation.”

“Black lives matter. It matters. Please stop all this killing. You’re supposed to protect us, not hurt us.”