Bond Set At $25K For Inkster Cop Charged In Beating Of Man During Traffic Stop
DETROIT (WWJ) - A police officer accused of beating bloody a Detroit man during a traffic stop was formally arraigned Tuesday and taken to the Wayne County Jail.
Officer William Melendez, 46, of Novi, turned himself in to a Michigan State Police post in the morning, according to the Wayne County Persecutor's Office.
Melendez faces one count of misconduct mistreatment of a prisoner and one count of assault with intent to go great bodily harm less than murder, after he was seen on police dash-cam video punching 57-year-old Floyd Dent several times in the face and head last January.
A not guilty plea was entered on Melendez's behalf and bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety at an arraignment in 22nd District Court in Inkster.
[Inkster Police Officer Charged With Misconduct, Assault In Traffic Stop Beating]
An investigation of Melendez's conduct came with video of Dent's arrest went viral online, drawing protests — although Worthy said her decision on charges was independent of rumor and what's being said "in the court of public opinion."
Worthy said the video, witness statements, police documents, radio and dispatch recordings, photographs of Dent's injuries, statements made by Dent and police who responded to the scene all played a role in her investigation.
Worthy said she was not made aware of the video until a week after a preliminary examination for Dent, who had been charged with fleeing police and resisting arrest. A District Court has since dismissed those charges; and Worthy, on Monday, dropped a remaining drug possession charge against Dent.
"To too many people in this region and across the country, police brutality seems to be out of control," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in announcing the charges Monday.
Police had claimed Dent refused to stop and had cocaine in the car; although Dent claimed police planted the drugs.
Melendez was fired last week from the Inkster Police Department and had been working for Highland Park Police before he was fired from that position as well.
Melendez, who is known by the nickname "Robocop", has denied any wrongdoing.
His next court appearance is set for Wednesday, May 6, at 9 a.m.
