Inkster officials 'proud' of response to police beating video

The Inkster city manager, members of the Western Wayne NAACP and the Inkster Ministerial Alliance said they are proud of the way their city reacted after a video surfaced allegedly showing a police officer mistreating a man during an arrest. 

Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged William Melendez with Misconduct in Office Mistreatment of a Prisoner (five year maximum penalty) and Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Less than Murder (10 year maximum penalty). 

Prosecutors say Melendez was on duty the evening of January 28, 2015, driving a fully marked patrol car with another officer. Melendez pulled over and arrested Floyd Dent, 57, of Detroit, for possessing cocaine and resisting arrest. 

Prosecutors allege that, during the arrest, Melendez physically assaulted Dent, causing severe injuries that required hospital treatment.  

Soon after, Dent was charged with possession of cocaine and resisting police.  

In March, video footage leading up to the arrest came to light. Michigan State Police and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office investigated and determined the drug charges against Dent will be dismissed. The resisting police charge had been dismissed at an earlier arraignment. 

Worthy also announced the charges against Melendez in a news conference Monday. You can watch the news conference in full on the FOX 2 YouTube page.

Melendez has been fired from the Inkster Police Department and the Highland Park department, where he worked on a part-time basis. 

VIDEO: You can watch a replay of the conference with city officials on the FOX 2 YouTube page

No word yet on when Melendez will be arraigned on the charges.