Judge Rules On Evidence Allowed In Ex-Inkster Officer's Assault Trial

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) — A judge has ruled that evidence of possible drug use by a motorist the night he was beaten during a Detroit-area traffic stop will be allowed at the trial of the former officer charged in the case.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans also said Friday during a hearing for William Melendez that mention of Floyd Dent's previous arrests will be allowed at trial.

Melendez is charged with assault. He was fired by the Inkster police department after the Jan. 28 incident in which Dent is seen on video being pulled from his car and repeatedly punched.

Dent's attorney Nicholas Bennett said that police they conducted a drug test on Dent that night and there was nothing in his system. He says the Inkster police dash cam video shows Melendez planting drugs in Dent's car.

"Police were looking through the car for 20 minutes -- nobody's finding anything. Drug dogs are there -- nobody's finding anything. Nothing's on Floyd Dent -- on his person," Bennett said. "Then all the sudden, it happens very quickly, but you can see Melendez pulling something out of his pocket, what appears to be a white substance in a plastic bag."

Melendez has denied any wrongdoing and faces an Oct. 5 trial.

Charges of cocaine possession and resisting an officer were dismissed against Dent who reached a $1.4 million civil settlement with the city.

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