DETROIT – A verdict has been reached in the trial of a Detroit-area police officer accused in the bloody beating of a driver that was captured on dashcam video.
William Melendez is charged with assault and misconduct in office in the beating of Floyd Dent during a police traffic stop in Inkster in January. Melendez punched Dent in the head 16 times.
Jurors reached the verdict Thursday afternoon. It is expected to be read at 2 p.m.
The dashcam video wasn't publicly known until WDIV-TV aired it in March. Melendez was fired and Inkster agreed to pay $1.4 million to the 58-year-old Dent.
Melendez didn't testify at the Wayne County court trial. Defense attorney James Thomas argued the punches were justified because Dent was aggressive and resisted police.
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