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Inkster, Mich. officer facing charges after dash cam video of brutal beating

Posted at 11:51 AM, Apr 20, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-20 12:00:43-04

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. —  Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has announced charges after dash cam video surfaced earlier this year of a man being punched in the head by a police officer during a traffic stop.

According to FOX 2in Detroit, Worthy said Monday that former Inkster police officer William Melendez is being charged in connection with the January incident.

In the video, Floyd Dent is seen being put in a choke hold and struck in the head several times.  He was stopped by police for running a stop sign, FOX 2 reported.

According to The Detroit News, Melendez is being charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and misconduct in office and faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted.

Drug charges against Dent in connection with the incident have also been dropped, FOX 2 reports.  His attorney earlier claimed that cocaine was planted on him by police during the incident.