Families of men slain by police cars file federal lawsuits against officers
The families of Riley Doggett and Samuel Sterling, both of whom died after being hit by law enforcement vehicles, have filed a series of lawsuits against the officers involved in the incidents.
The families, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump and attorney Ven Johnson, have named Kent County Sheriff's Deputy Josiah McMains, who struck Doggett with his patrol car, and former Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Brian Keely, who struck and killed Sterling. Both Doggett and Sterling were unarmed when they were hit by the patrol cars.
“They posed no threat. They both were running away from the officers,” Crump said at a press conference announcing the lawsuits Friday. “Why would the officers use their automobiles as weapons to kill these young men? It boggles the mind when you think about how unjustified it is.”
Doggett, 17, was struck by McMains on April 8, 2024, while he was running on foot from law enforcement. He and another teen were suspected to be in possession of a stolen car, and McMains was in pursuit.
When Doggett and the other teen abandoned the vehicle and began to run on foot, dash camera footage of the incident showed McMains drove his Chevy Tahoe alongside Doggett’s left side and abruptly turned the steering wheel to the right. Doggett fell to the ground and was run over by the front passenger tire of the SUV. The footage showed Doggett unconscious and bleeding profusely from multiple wounds, including on his head and from his mouth.
“If any one of us were driving a car and there was a pedestrian out by our front wheel, the last thing in the whole world you would ever do is turn right,” said Johnson. “If you do, you know what's going to happen: you could injure or kill them. It's no different for an officer.”
Though Doggett was placed on life support following the incident, he passed away a month later. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker in May declined to file charges against McMains but did file charges against the other teen involved in the incident who was the driver of the allegedly stolen vehicle. Becker moved to try the teen as an adult in the case.
Doggett’s family has filed a federal lawsuit accusing McMains of using his patrol car as a deadly weapon against an unarmed teenager who did not pose a reasonable threat. The lawsuit argues that McMains had ample opportunity to de-escalate the situation but instead chose to use lethal force. The suit argues Doggett’s death was preventable.
“You’ve got to hold those officers accountable by disciplining them, and then you need to hold them accountable criminally,” Johnson said.
Just days after Doggett was struck, Sterling faced a similar fate.
On April 17, 2024, the 25-year-old, who was wanted on several warrants as part of a multi-agency fugitive operation, was spotted at a gas station. Sterling took off on foot and officers followed.
It was Keely who drove his SUV over a curb and pinned Sterling against the brick wall of a Burger King.
Dashcam and bodycam footage of the incident showed Sterling pleading for help from the officers, letting them know he was in pain and unarmed.
Sterling was pronounced dead five hours after the incident from multiple blunt force injuries.
Keely, 50, was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter. He retired shortly after the charges were filed.
The suit against Keely argues his use of his vehicle as a weapon during a police pursuit violated Sterling’s civil rights and directly led to his fatal injuries.
Keely is also accused of gross negligence for failing to adhere to proper pursuit procedures, allowing an unarmed man to be killed unnecessarily.
While some body camera footage was released following the incident, attorneys for the families are calling on the public to watch the full videos of both incidents. They say if the full videos are viewed, there is no way the officers’ actions could be justified.
“Shame on you, Michigan, if you don't do right when you see these videos,” Crump said. “This is an appeal, not just in the court of law — attorney Johnson and I, we got that covered. This is simple justice. Look at the video. Don't close your eyes. Don't turn away. Look at the video. That's all we're saying. Look at the video and do what you know is right in your heart.”