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Inkster settles with Floyd Dent for more than $1 million

City of Inkster sign.
City of Inkster
The city is facing a multi-million dollar deficit.

The city of Inkster has reached a settlement with Floyd Dent, a man who was beaten by Inkster Police after being pulled over during a traffic stop back in January, according to the offices of Dent's attorney.  

Dent will receive $1.4 million in the settlement, according to his attorney's office. 

Video of the beating went viral after it aired on TV news several weeks after the traffic stop.

Dent was originally charged with resisting arrest, but a judge reportedly dropped those charges after seeing video of the arrest.

He was also charged with cocaine possession, though Dent maintained that Inkster Officer William Melendez placed the cocaine on him following the arrest. 

The cocaine charge against Dent was dropped last month. 

Meanwhile, Wayne County prosecutors charged Officer William Melendez, 46, with mistreatment of a prisoner, which carries up to 5 years in prison, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, which carries up to 10 years. 

Melendez was fired from the Inkster Police force and will appear in court today, where a judge will determine whether there's enough evidence to take the case to trial. 

Kate Wells is a Peabody Award-winning journalist currently covering public health. She was a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist for her abortion coverage.
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