Rep. Conyers Seeks Federal Investigation Into Inkster Police Beating
DETROIT (WWJ) - After seeing the video of white Inkster police officers beating a black man during a January traffic stop, a Michigan Congressman is calling for a federal investigation.
John Conyers, a Democrat, is asking the U.S. Justice Department to look at the police dash-cam footage which shows Floyd Dent being pummeled by officers after he allegedly ran a stop sign and then failed to stop.
"Dash camera video shows Dent — a 57 year-old longtime auto worker with no criminal history — being pulled from his car by police officers, tackled to the ground, put in a chokehold, severely beaten, and tased by several officers while showing no signs of resistance to arrest," reads a media release by Conyers' office.
Dent said he was innocent and trying to protect himself, while police counter resisted arrest and threatened them.
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Dent is charged with possession of cocaine, but he denies that — saying officers planted the drug on him. A District Court judge earlier dismissed charges of fleeing police and resisting arrest after viewing the video – which went viral online.
The case is being reviewed by the Michigan State Police.
Meantime, one Inkster officer involved is on leave.
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