Family of Detroit teen who died in ATV crash after cop Tased him wins $12 million settlement
Detroit MI Dec 30 2019
The family of a Detroit teenager who died in an ATV crash after a state trooper Tasered him settled its lawsuit against Michigan State Police for $12 million Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Damon Grimes, 15, was killed on Aug. 26, 2017 while illegally driving an ATV through the city’s streets. Mark Bessner, at the time a Michigan State Police trooper, fired a Taser at Grimes from a moving patrol car after Grimes refused to stop the ATV. Grimes then crashed into the back of a parked truck and died shortly after from his injuries.
Bessner was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison in May, the Free Press reported.
Bessner was suspended by Michigan State Police following the incident for deploying his stun gun from a moving vehicle, a violation of department policy. He later resigned.
The Grimes family filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $50 million in damages from state police. That lawsuit was settled for $12 million Friday, and the family will receive $8 million, with the remaining $4 million going to lawyers, according to the Free Press.
Bessner had a history of using excessive force, the Free Press reported, including using his Taser on people in handcuffs.
