Man Pummeled in 'Robocop' Arrest Settles for $1.4M

This screenshot from an Inkster police dash-cam video shows some of the injuries Floyd Dent, 57, sustained during his January arrest. Criminal charges were filed against former officer William “Robocop” Melendez after the arrest video went viral. (Source: Inkster Police)

» Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

Floyd Dent, who was hospitalized for three days after disgraced cop William “Robocop” Melendez repeatedly punched him in the head during an arrest caught on video, has reached a nearly $1.4 million settlement with the city of Inkster.

Inkster Mayor Hilliard Hampton told The Detroit News city officials are eager to put the nationally publicized case behind them.

The video of Dent’s January arrest was released during a time of sometimes violent protests and a highly charged national debate about forceful police tactics and race relations in America.

Melendez has been fired and charged with two felonies, the police department is under the microscope of public and legal scrutiny, and felony drug charges against Dent, 57, were dismissed. Dent claimed Melendez planted cocaine in his vehicle during the violent arrest.

Hampton told The Detroit News the city offered $1.37 million to settle Dent’s lawsuit against the city. A Wayne County Circuit Court judge could sign off on the agreement yet Thursday.

Related:

• ‘Robocop,’ Accused of Severely Beating Black Man in Traffic Stop, Has Notorious History
• ‘Robocop,’ Fired Over Brutal Arrest Video, Moonlights for Nearby Department
• Prosecutor Announces Decision on ‘Robocop’: Watch
• Robocop’s Boss Steps Down as Heat Continues in Police Brutality Probe

“The city wants to put this behind us,” Hampton said. “I think this is a better way to go as opposed to a long, drawn out trial and litigation.”

Dent asked for a $10 million judgment in his lawsuit, which alleged excessive force, assault and battery, constitutional violations, false arrest, malicious prosecution and abuse of process, according to the Detroit Free Press.

One of Dent’s attorneys, Nick Bennett, told The Detroit News that the settlement is a good one and both sides are satisfied.

“He’s a humble man of few wants in life,” Bennett said. “And there’s an aspect of putting it behind him. It’s been four months, but for him, it’s been a long time.”

Mayor: Arrest “An Aberration”

Dent told WDIV-TV that he hopes that police conduct will change in Inkster as a result of his case. “The city of Inkster needs to move on and service the great citizens of Inkster,” he said.

A search is under way for a new police chief to replace Vicki Yost, who stepped down two days after Melendez was charged in the beating. Her replacement, Joe Thomas, reportedly vowed to make police reform his top priority, WDIV said.

Hampton told the TV station the problem involving Melendez “is an aberration as I see it.”

“This was not something that’s normal in the process and procedures of the Inkster Police Department,” he said. “... We trust this won’t be repeated. With proper training and screening of police officers, we hope this will never happen again.”

Melendez has been named in a dozen lawsuits since 1996 that questioned his conduct as a police officer, including a current civil rights complaint in U.S. District Court that alleges police conduct by Melendez similar to that depicted in the video of Dent’s arrest.

Melendez, 46, is scheduled to appear Thursday in 22nd District Court in Inkster for a preliminary exam. He is charged with two felonies – misconduct in office and assault with intent to do great bodily harm – and, if convicted, could face up to 10 years in prison.