Defense To Get More Video In Case Of Man Beaten By Inkster Police

DETROIT (WWJ) - Defense attorneys are getting a look at more video in the case of a man beaten by Inkster police.

At a hearing Wednesday, Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner asked that prosecutors provide lawyers for Floyd Dent with more police booking video.

MLive reported that Floyd's co-counsel, Nick Bennett, claimed police video previously released to the defense was highly edited — including only about 20 percent of the available footage.

"Normally, when you order video, you get each camera individually, but what they did was splice them together..." Bennett said, "which is wrong."

Dent, 57, is facing a possession of cocaine charge, but he claims officers planted the drugs in his car; and his attorneys believe police have been trying to conceal unfavorable portions of the video.

Dent 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. On a dash cam video clip — which went viral online — Dent is seen being kicked and punched more than a dozen times.

[VIDEO: Inkster Police Dashcam Violent Arrest Of Floyd Dent]

After a District Court judge dismissed charges of fleeing police and resisting arrest after viewing the video, Dent pleaded not guilty to the remaining charge of possession of cocaine under 25 grams.

Inkster officer William Melendez, who was involved in the beating, has been suspended. There are no criminal charges against  him, although an investigation by the Michigan State Police is ongoing.

An internal investigation by the Inkster Police Department found Melendez to be within the practices of the department.

[Note: WWJ and CBSDetroit had previously reported that Judge Groner ordered the release of additional dash-cam video -- when, in fact, it was booking video that was in question at this hearing].