Ex-Michigan trooper gets prison for teen's Taser crash death

[Judi Lynn]

Source: WNEM/Associated Press


WNEM digital staff Posted 6 hrs ago


Source: CNN

A former Michigan state trooper has been sentenced to at least five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter for firing a Taser at a Detroit teenager who crashed an all-terrain vehicle and died.

Mark Bessner told a judge Monday that he understands the anger of Damon Grimes' family. He says he wishes he could enter a "time machine" and change the events of August 2017.

Bessner faces up to 15 years but is eligible for parole after five.

Bessner says he shot Grimes with a Taser from a moving patrol car because he wrongly believed the black 15-year-old had a gun. Bessner, who is white, quit the state police after the incident.




Read more: https://www.wnem.com/news/ex-michigan-trooper-gets-prison-for-teen-s-taser-crash/article_95dc1d12-7571-11e9-95e8-93e564f7a17b.html

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Mark Bessner

[DownriverDem]

1. Good

I'm white and agree that he didn't have to shoot/taser that young man. Why is it white cops go crazy many times when they stop a minority?

[still_one]

2. I think it is a little bit more than just anger. They lost a their kid!!!!!!!!!!

[marble falls]

3. Finally they put a white cop in prison. Not long enough, but a rare thing, still.

[3Hotdogs]

4. Good for his ass.