DETROIT, MI – William Melendez, the Inkster police officer who was involved in the violent arrest of a Detroit man in January, has been suspended for five days and could lose his job, according to WXYZ 7 Action News. The move follows an internal investigation by the Inkster Police Department, the news outlet reports, citing anonymous sources. A Michigan State Police investigation remains underway.
Police dash-cam video from Jan. 28. shows Floyd Dent, 57, pulled from his 2011 tan Cadillac after police reports say he committed multiple traffic violations and appeared to be evading police. In the video, Melendez is seen choking and punching Dent in the head 16 times. Another officer then shocked Dent with a Taser three times, police reports say.
