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Testimony Continues Against Ex-Cop In Videotaped Beating Of Motorist During Stop

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Testimony from witnesses continued Thursday in the case against a former Inkster cop accused in the beating of a motorist during a traffic stop.

Ex-police officer William Melendez sat at the defense table inside the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice accused of assault in the videotaped beating of Floyd Dent in January 28.

While the wife of Melendez sat in the bench behind the media, attorneys argued over a plastic baggie with cocaine; the prosecution arguing that officer Melendez could have planted it and the defense arguing just the opposite -- that Melendez showed the baggie to another cop after pulling it from Floyd Dent's Cadillac.

Dent testified Thursday in Wayne County Circuit that he was "choked ... for so long" that he couldn't breathe.

Dent also said he "passed out for minute" and "didn't resist in any way." Police video shows Dent was pulled from his car and punched 16 times in the head while in a chokehold.

Police auxiliary officer John Zeleniewski was Melendez's partner that night.

"It looked like he was shoving something between the front seats, like he was reaching toward the passenger seat," testified Zeleniewski.

Question: Why did he try to get away?

Zeleniewski: "He was screaming on the ground, with his legs he was able to move myself and officer Melendez across the ground - at one point I got on the radio because I thought he would just stand up and just take off running. That's why I got back on the radio and called police dispatch to send another unit - because I didn't know what was going to happen because at that point we were controlling him."

Zeleniewski testified that prior to the arrest Dent stopped at the Budget Inn and was followed from there because the officers know that to be a high crime area.

Wednesday, jurors heard from auxiliary officer Tawanna Powell who investigated the case . She was on the stand as a witness for the prosecution.

"Mr. Dent is pulled from car by officer Zeleniewski and both his feet is on the ground here, and officer Melendez is holstering his sidearm and one arm is reached out toward Mr. Dent," Powell said describing the videotaped scene.

Seconds later the jurors would see the beating of Dent.

Footage from a police dashboard camera shows 57-year-old Dent of Detroit being pulled from his car and repeatedly punched and kicked in the face and head.

Melendez was fired and is charged with misconduct mistreatment of a prisoner and one count of assault with intent to go great bodily harm less than murder.

Melendez, who is known by the nickname "Robocop", has denied any wrongdoing.

Police had claimed Dent refused to stop and had cocaine in the car; although Dent claimed police planted the drugs. Cocaine possession and resisting an officer charges were dismissed against Dent who reached a $1.4 million civil settlement with the city.

The defense alleging that Melendez acted within reason during the traffic stop.

Testimony resumes Monday.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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