Former Michigan trooper convicted in teen's Taser death

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Ed White, Associated Press Updated 4:22 pm CDT, Wednesday, April 17, 2019



DETROIT (AP) — A former Michigan state trooper was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Wednesday in his second trial in the death of a Detroit teenager who crashed an all-terrain vehicle and died when he was shot with a Taser.

Mark Bessner, who had a history of misconduct allegations involving Taser use, fired the immobilizing device from the passenger seat of a patrol car while he and his partner chased 15-year-old Damon Grimes in August 2017. State police officials condemned his conduct and agreed that criminal charges were appropriate.

Bessner said he believed the teen was reaching for a gun in his waistband. Grimes, however, didn't have a weapon.

The prosecutor's witnesses included a state police lieutenant who explained that a Taser can be considered a tool of deadly force in certain circumstances. Jurors also heard an audio clip of Bessner wishing he could have used a Taser in a different ATV incident.


Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Former-Michigan-trooper-convicted-in-teen-s-Taser-13775243.php

[marble falls]

1. Surprised. Maybe the instant total defense of "I thought he had a gun" is finally evaporating.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. GOOD! N/t

[Aristus]

3. Have fun on the inside, asshole.

I hear they love cops in the joint...

[MichMan]

4. Good that he is being held accountable for tasering the kid

There was a lot of discussion after he was killed that the city needs to build an ATV park, but nothing else was ever done.

Detroit needs to figure out a way to get these quads and dirt bikes off the streets. They are a hazard to other motorisits, pedestrians and themselves.


Take a look at this video starting around the 2 minute mark