Inkster officer in video beating charged with 2 felonies

A former Inkster police officer caught on video punching a motorist now faces felony charges while the case against the man he arrested will be dismissed "in the best interest of justice."

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy made the announcement Monday while revealing charges against William Melendez.

He was charged with misconduct in office for mistreatment of a prisoner, a five-year felony, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony, according to the prosecutor's office. Melendez, 46, has been fired from his police jobs in Inkster and Highland Park, city officials said.

"The job of a peace officer can be dangerous," Worthy said during the news conference. "But we cannot tolerate those who abuse their authority, violate their oath and prey on citizens rather than protecting them. We cannot turn our heads when the law enforcer becomes the law breaker."

In a separate case, Worthy said no criminal charges will be authorized against two officers who were videotaped by a citizen punching and kicking a carjacking suspect as they arrested him. Worthy said the suspect was resisting arrest.

In the Inkster case, Floyd Dent, who was hospitalized for injuries he endured during his Jan. 28 arrest, will have a possession of cocaine charge dismissed Wednesday morning in Wayne County Circuit Court, prosecutors said. Dent, 57, of Detroit maintains the drug was planted and his attorney said the longtime Ford worker has no history with drugs.

"I can tell you that when we heard the news, Floyd was overcome with emotion, cried and was obviously relieved," his attorney, Gregory Rohl, said in a news conference Monday afternoon.

Dent thanked people for their support while reading a statement and called what has happened to him a "horrific nightmare."

He originally faced a second charge in the case, resisting an obstructing. It was thrown out by a district court judge after the video was reviewed.

Melendez's attorney said Monday evening that he hasn't seen material in the case yet.

"These charges are brand new … there's really nothing I can tell you right now," David Lee said.

Inkster City Manager Richard Marsh issued a statement today saying he terminated Melendez's employment with the city April 15, adding he and others believe it was in the best interest of the community.

"We acknowledge Prosecutor Worthy's charging decision and will cooperate with the prosecutor as requested," his statement said. "In order to preserve the integrity of both the criminal and the civil actions surrounding Officer Melendez's employment, both of which are now active and ongoing, we have no further comment at this time on Prosecutor Worthy's decision or our own."

Melendez was a part-time officer in Highland Park and was terminated from that job Monday, Highland Park City Attorney Todd Perkins said. He hasn't worked for the department for at least two months.

Ron Scott, spokesman for the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, issued a statement today urging the Inkster Police Department to reassess its hiring practices.

"We have called for justice in this matter, and we feel that today's charges are a step in the right direction to give Mr. Dent, and the entire community, a proper resolution," the statement said.

Melendez, a former Detroit police officer, has been involved in 12 lawsuits related to his conduct as an officer over the years. Some of the lawsuits have been dropped and some settled out of court.

Worthy said her office found out about the January incident on March 23 from a WDIV-TV reporter and never heard about it from the Inkster police before that, Worthy said.

She declined to talk about who knew what within the Inkster Police Department, but acknowledged "we probably wouldn't know about it" if the video didn't surface.

Rohl, Dent's attorney, said the video in this case was important. He released the video from the patrol car to the media, and it has been seen across the county.

"Without that video, and without you showing it, Inkster wouldn't have done anything," he told reporters.

He said he is involved in negotiations with Inkster "to bring the civil aspect of this to a conclusion, fairly and amicably," but declined to discuss details.

Worthy also talked about the second arrest caught on video and said no charges will be issued against police in the case involving a parole absconder, who was arrested Jan. 12 as a suspect in an armed carjacking. Andrew Jackson Jr. can be seen being punched and kicked by police officers during his arrest, which was caught on video by a private citizen.

Jackson is accused of carjacking and robbing a grandmother at gunpoint in Detroit and pointing the gun at her grandchildren threatening to shoot them if they didn't get out of the car. He was arrested by members of ACTION, a stolen vehicle task force.

Worthy said her office reviewed the video, breaking it down frame by frame, and determined no criminal charges should be issued.

"It is clear that he was a felon attempting to flee," Worthy said, "and when apprehended was armed with a weapon while he actively resisted the attempts to arrest and refused to surrender his right hand for cuffing."

She said a Highland Park police sergeant appeared to have minor, improper contact with Jackson once the arrest was complete, but doesn't support a criminal charge.

The police department should determine an "appropriate administrative response" to address the behavior of that officer, she said.

Perkins said the city will reflect upon what Worthy said and look at internal procedures.

"We want to make a conscientious, thoughtful and hopefully the right decision," he said.

A second sergeant involved in the arrest, from Grosse Pointe Park, was part of the same task force, and acted within the scope of his training, Worthy said.

Jackson refused to cooperate with the investigation through his lawyer, she said.

Both investigations have concluded, she said.

Free Press staff writers Robert Allen and L.L. Brasier contributed.

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