Investigators take stand in second day of Comerzan trial

Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators took the stand on Tuesday in the second day of the trial against Serghei Comerzan.

The 22-year-old Comerzan is charged with resisting arrest and second-degree murder for the death of Trooper James Bava in 2015. Bava crashed on Route FF in Audrain County while trying to pull Comerzan over for speeding.

Patrol members testified that local motorcycle mechanics in Mexico helped them identify Comerzan’s bike the morning of the crash. While Comerzan told Sgt. Doug McPike that night he did not use Route FF to get to work that morning, he said the next day in a recorded interview with different troopers that he did. However, he denied ever knowing Bava was in pursuit. He said trying to flee from a trooper would have been “stupid,” and would have stopped had he seen the lights of the cruiser.

When asked why he lied in his interview with Sgt. McPike, Comerzan said he did not know.

Prosecutors Scott Fox and Stephanie Watson are expected to call more witnesses on Wednesday.