Man beaten by police cries after fired officer charged

DETROIT — A motorist whose arrest was caught on a patrol car video as he was repeatedly punched in the head by an Inkster, Mich., police officer welcomed the news Monday that the officer was being criminally charged.

Floyd Dent, 55, of Detroit, who was hospitalized for injuries he endured during his Jan. 28 arrest, "was overcome with emotion, cried and was obviously relieved" by the announcement from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy earlier Monday, his attorney said.

At a news conference Monday afternoon in Novi, Dent thanked people who stood beside him during "this horrific nightmare."

His brief statement with his attorney came after Worthy announced felony charges have been issued against former Inkster police officer William Melendez. The fired 46-year-old officer faces charges of misconduct in office mistreatment of a prisoner, a five-year felony, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony.

"The job of a peace officer can be dangerous," Worthy said. "But we cannot tolerate those who abuse their authority, violate their oath and prey on citizens rather than protecting them. We cannot turn our heads when the law enforcer becomes the law breaker."

Information about Melendez's arraignment has not be released yet.

In a separate case, Worthy said no criminal charges will be authorized against two officers who were video-taped by a citizen punching and kicking a carjacking suspect as they arrested him. Worthy said the suspect was resisting arrest.

In the Inkster incident, Dent said he was hospitalized for two days for injuries to his face and head. He had faced charges of resisting an obstructing, which was thrown out by a judge, and possessing cocaine. Floyd maintained the drug was planted.

The charge will be dismissed, Worthy said Monday, saying "it's in the best interest of justice." That is expected to happen Wednesday morning in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Worthy said her office found out about the incident on March 23, from a WDIV-TV reporter, and never heard about it from the Inkster police before that, Worthy said.

Inkster City Manager Richard Marsh issued a statement Monday saying he terminated Melendez's employment with the city April 15, adding he and others believe it was in the best interest of the community.

"We acknowledge Prosecutor Worthy's charging decision and will cooperate with the Prosecutor as requested," his statement said. "In order to preserve the integrity of both the criminal and the civil actions surrounding Officer Melendez's employment, both of which are now active and ongoing, we have no further comment at this time on Prosecutor Worthy's decision or our own."

Worthy declined to talk about who knew what within the Inkster Police Department, but acknowledged "we probably wouldn't know about it" if the video didn't surface during Monday's news conference.

Dent's attorney, Gregory Rohl said the video in this case was everything.

"Without that video, and without you showing it, Inkster wouldn't have done anything," he told the media.

Worthy also discussed the second arrest caught on video and announced no charges will be issued in the case involving a parole absconder who was arrested a few weeks earlier as a suspect in an armed carjacking. Andrew Jackson Jr. can be seen being punched and kicked by police officer during his arrest, which was caught on cellphone video by a private citizen.

Jackson is accused of carjacking and robbing a grandmother at gunpoint in Detroit and pointing the gun at her grandchildren threatening to shoot them if they didn't get out of the car. He was arrested by members of ACTION, a stolen vehicle task force on Jan. 12.

Worthy said her office reviewed the video, breaking it down frame by frame, and determined no criminal charges should be issued.

"It is clear that he was a felon attempting to flee," Worthy said. "And when apprehended was armed with a weapon while he actively resisted the attempts to arrest and refused to surrender his right hand for cuffing."

The police department should determine an "appropriate administrative response" to address the behavior of the Highland Park officer involved in the arrest, she said.

Worthy said Jackson refused to cooperate with the investigation through his lawyer.

Both investigations have concluded, she said.