Kentwood, MI – In a tragic sequence of events in Kentwood, a Michigan fugitive died after being struck by a Michigan State Police (MSP) vehicle in a Burger King parking lot. The incident unfolded on Wednesday when Samuel Sterling, wanted on multiple arrest warrants, was observed by law enforcement officers filling up air in his vehicle’s tires at a local gas station.
As MSP’s Sixth District Fugitive Team, along with officers from the Kentwood, Wyoming, and Grand Rapids police departments, the Michigan Department of Corrections, and the U.S. Marshals Service approached, Sterling fled on foot. The short chase led to a nearby Burger King parking lot, where an MSP officer in an unmarked vehicle, attempting to keep pace with the foot pursuit, reportedly struck Sterling.
Emergency responders were immediately summoned, and Sterling was transported to a hospital where he later died from his injuries. The officer involved has been suspended pending the results of an ongoing investigation, which is being conducted by investigators from a neighboring MSP district to ensure impartiality and thoroughness.
Col. James F. Grady II, Director of the Michigan State Police, has called for patience and due process. He emphasized the department’s commitment to conducting a thorough and objective investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
