Mistrial Declared in Murder Trial of Former Michigan State Trooper

Oct. 31, 2018

A judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the case of a former Michigan State Police Trooper Mark Bessner, who was charged in the death of a 15-year-old boy riding an ATV in Detroit.

A judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the case of a former Michigan State Police trooper charged in the death of a 15-year-old boy last year.

Trooper Mark Bessner was on trial in the death of Damon Grimes, who was riding his ATV in his neighborhood on Detroit's east side last August, according to WXYZ-TV.

Bessner faced a second-degree murder charged and two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

The former trooper was the passenger in a patrol car when he and his partner observed a four-wheel ATV being driven by Grimes down Reno and Fairmont Streets. When the troopers attempted to stop Grimes for a traffic violation, he refused to stop and a pursuit ensued.

Last week, Bessner took the stand in his own defense, claiming the teen reached for his waistband two times, leading him to think he was reaching for a gun. The former trooper believes he was justified in using his Taser on the teen, who then crashed into a parked pickup truck and died.

"I thought it was at the time," Bessner testified. "I know now, it was a terrible decision."

He testified that he was shocked when he didn't find a gun on the teen and that he was stunned to learn the ATV's driver was only 15 years old.

"All I could think of was this family lost their son," Bessner said. "And all I could think of was my daughter and what they must be going through. I can't bring Mr. Grimes back and I can't fix my family."