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Protesters At Inkster Police Department Call For Investigation Into Beating Of Driver

INKSTER (WWJ) - Hours after his court appearance - a large crowd of Floyd Dent supporters gathered in protest against the officers involved in his beating during a traffic stop.

inkster police protest
credit: Stephanie Davis/WWJ

The rally, sparked by a police dash-cam video showing the beating of Dent, took place outside the Inkster Police Department reports WWJ's Stephanie Davis.

Vanola Williams of Inkster was a part of the gathering. She worked for the police department and says things have changed since the loss of the residency rule years ago.

"Police officers that live in the city that they have to work and take care of - they have a vested interest - when I worked for the Inkster police department, we had a residency (rule) the black officers, the white officers they all grew up in the city and went to school in the city," said Williams.

"We started this investigation, we started an internal investigation immediately," said Inkster Police Chief Vicki Yost.

Dent's father, James Fails, couldn't do all the walking but stood and held a sign that read 'Stop Police Brutality.' "That guy should be fired - they were trying to kill him," he told WWJ.

The group National Action Network was a part of the protest; calling for justice and a furthering of the investigation.

Dent, who was pulled from his car, repeatedly punched in the head by a white police officer and subdued with a stun gun, is due back in court later this month on drug charge.

Dent, who made a brief appearance before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner on Wednesday, claims Inkster police planted cocaine in his car.

Dent, 57, said he was innocent and trying to protect himself during the January traffic stop, while police counter he'd refused to pull over, resisted arrest and threatened them.

A District Court judge earlier dismissed charges of fleeing police and resisting arrest after viewing police dash-cam video – which went viral online.

Meantime, one Inkster officer involved is on leave while Michigan State Police conduct an investigation.

Dent's attorney, Gregory Rohl, wants the U.S. Dept of Justice to take a look at the case and the department.

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