Officers testify in Melendez trial, defense won't call all witnesses

The jury trial of William Melendez continued Tuesday as the former Police Chief of Inkster was back on the stand Tuesday, who told jurors she was "uncomfortable" when she saw the brutal beating of Floyd Dent on dash video.

Vicky Yost was cross-examined Tuesday as the trial continued for Melendez, the former cop who was seen throwing punches. She said she didn't see anything on video that justified the 16 blows to the head the Dent received.

Dent was pulled over after rolling through a stop a sign. His beating and choking that was caught on dashcam led to the charges of assault, misconduct, and strangulation against Melendez.

"It's an attempt to cut off the air way, the air supply," Yost explained the choke hold. However, she said she did not see that happen in the video.

Yost admits the video, shot in January, is hard to watch. Dent says he never resisted arrest, and says Melendez, while beating him, put him in a choke hold until he passed out and even planted drugs in his car.

The doctor who treated Dent that night also testified for the defense Tuesday. Garden City Hospital emergency physician Farhan Azeez said his injuries were so severe, he had to be admitted to the ICU. He said Dent had fractures to the face, but his injuries were not life-threatening. He also says Dent tested positive for cocaine.

Azeez said Dent did not remember if he lost consciousness and did not complain of neck pain at the time he was admitted to the hospital.

Other officers on the scene that night also testified. Sgt. Shawn Kritzer says he saw what appeared to be a bite mark on Melendez's arm.

"I don't know if I would've struck him that many times but I wasn't the one being bitten, either," Kritzer said.

Inkster police officer Phillip Randazzo says he never saw Dent stop resisting police but prosecutors argue Randazzo  is biased. They accused him of coaching Melendez and discussing the case.

"I was worried this got so blown out of proportion that we were all going to be charged," Randazzo testified.

Cross-examination of Randazzo will continue on Wednesday. The defense has called nearly four witnesses of nearly 24 that were listed. However, the defense decided not to call more than half of them.