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Video shows Inkster, Mich. officer punching man in the head during traffic stop

Posted at 11:41 AM, Mar 26, 2015
and last updated 2015-03-26 11:50:32-04

INKSTER, Mich. — Recently released dash cam video from Inkster Police is causing outrage, showing an officer punching a man numerous times.

The man being punched, Floyd Dent, spoke out to FOX 2 in Detroit about what happened to him in late January.

“It’s very hard.  I tried going to work, working for a couple of weeks, but I can’t.  I had nightmares and that’s why I didn’t want to look at the tape, because when I saw it the other day and how they treated me, it was unbelievable,” he said.

Dent was stopped by police for running a stop sign, according to FOX 2.

“An officer ran up to me with a gun and told me ‘Get out of the car or I will blow your brains out,'” Dent told FOX 2.

According to FOX 2, Dent was then put in a choke hold and struck in the head several times.   He said he feared for his life.

“He choked me, nearly choked me to death,” Dent told FOX 2. “I told him I can’t breathe and he kept on choking me.”

Both Inkster Police and Michigan State Police are looking into the allegations of excessive force.

Dent was charged with assault, resisting arrest, fleeing and evading and cocaine possession, according to FOX 2.  Dent’s attorney claims the cocaine was planted on him.

Dent plans to meet with Inkster Police and the city manager to attempt to resolve the issue without a lawsuit, according to FOX 2.