Verdict reached in Inkster police brutality case

A verdict has been reached in the trial of a former Inkster police officer accused of using excessive force during Floyd Dent's traffic stop.

The verdict is expected to be read at 2 p.m.
Earlier today, jurors sent a note today saying they hadn’t reached a unanimous decision in William Melendez's trial on the assault by strangulation count.

“We are not unanimous on count one,” the note said. “What should we do from here?”


The note, read by Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans, came after about three hours of deliberations. Jurors started deliberating Wednesday afternoon and continued this morning.

“I am going to ask you to please return to the jury room and resume your deliberations in the hope that after further discussions, you will be able to reach a verdict,” Evans said.

Before jurors returned to jury room, she gave the panel of 12 a break and suggested they go for a walk or get coffee.

Melendez, 47, was charged with misconduct in office, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and assault by strangulation. It's unclear where the jury stands on the other counts.

The prosecution has argued that Melendez abused his power and said the force he used on Floyd Dent, a motorist punched 16 times during a traffic stop, was not reasonable.

But the defense contended that Dent struggled with police during his Jan. 28 arrest and said Melendez's use of force was reasonable.