Ex-Inkster police chief saw nothing to justify 16 blows

When asked today if she saw anything on a video that justified 16 blows to motorist Floyd Dent’s head, former Inkster Police Chief Vicki Yost responded with one word: "No."

Her testimony came during the police brutality trial of former Inkster police Officer William Melendez. He is accused of assaulting Dent on Jan. 28 during a traffic stop captured on dashcam video. The video has been repeatedly played throughout the trial in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Yost was called as witness by the defense Monday. During cross-examination today, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Robert Donaldson asked her if she knew something was wrong when she first saw the video.

“I was uncomfortable with it, yes,” Yost said.

She testified she ordered an administrative investigation as soon as she found out Dent had been injured and admitted to the hospital.

“The video is hard to watch,” she said. “I think anybody would be foolish to say otherwise.”

Melendez, 47, has been charged with misconduct in office, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and assault by strangulation. He was fired from his job after the video, first aired by WDIV-TV in March, became public.

Yost, who resigned after Melendez was charged, said she left her job because she had a disagreement with the city manager and administration on how the department should go forward.

Dent, 58, was driving on a suspended license and testified last week that he did not resist during his arrest.

The prosecution contends Melendez struck Dent, a longtime Ford worker, more than a dozen times for "no apparent reason” and said Dent did nothing but try to defend himself.

Inkster police Sgt. Shawn Kritzer testified Dent was resisting arrest when he arrived at the scene.

Kritzer said he repeatedly used a Taser on Dent. The first two times he used it, Dent pushed or slapped the device away, he testified.

“He was under arrest, and we needed to get him in cuffs to stop the threat,” Kritzer said of the decision to use a Taser on Dent.

Kritzer, who received a 30-day suspension in the incident, said previously that Melendez’s actions were “slightly excessive,” according to testimony. While on the stand, he said Melendez showed him a red mark on his arm that night. If Dent was biting Melendez, Kritzer said, he thinks the blows were justified.

Inkster Police Officer Phillip Randazzo also testified today. Text messages between Randazzo, who was suspended for 15 days, and auxiliary officer John Zieleniewski, a department volunteer at the scene when Dent was arrested, were brought up.

Randazzo wrote Zieleniewski: “Sticking up for us or against us,” in one exchange.

“Sticking up,” Zieleniewski replied, according to testimony. “Cool,” Randazzo then wrote.

Melendez’s attorney, James Thomas, asked about the context of those messages before the fourth day of testimony wrapped up. Randazzo is expected to answer that question when the trial resumes at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday before Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans.

Contact Elisha Anderson: eanderson@freepress.com or 313-222-5144.