The trial for the former Michigan State Police trooper charged in a deadly ATV crash that killed a 15-year-old Detroit boy will begin Tuesday.
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Mark Bessner has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Damon Grimes in August 2017.
Bessner was the passenger in an MSP patrol car when he and his partner observed a four-wheel ATV being driven by Grimes down Reno and Fairmont Streets in Detroit. When the troopers attempted to stop Grimes for a traffic violation, a pursuit ensued.
It is alleged that Bessner unnecessarily deployed his taser at Grimes from the MSP patrol car while Grimes was riding at approximately 35 to 40 miles per hour.
Grimes was struck by the Taser's prongs and then his ATV crashed into a truck parked on the street. He was pronounced dead.
Bessner is expected to claim his actions were in self-defense.
