Inkster, Michigan Residents Forced to Pay Extra Tax to Cover Police Brutality

Floyd Dent, a victim of police brutality

INKSTER, Mich. — Residents of the city of Inkster will be forced to pay a one-time additional tax in order to help cover a financial settlement related to an instance of police brutality.

On January 28, Inkster Police dragged Floyd Dent, 58, from his vehicle and choked him, beat him, and administered electric shocks to Dent with their Tasers. The city has chosen to settle a lawsuit with Dent, passing the cost directly onto the city’s residents.

The city of Inkster has liability insurance that is intended to cover instances of police brutality, but did not cover the entirety of the settlement. The new tax, which goes into effect on July 1, will raise $6 million to help cover the costs.

Police video cameras show Inkster police pulling Dent over, then approaching his vehicle with their guns drawn. When Dent opens the door, the police officers pull him from the vehicle and force him to the ground. Dent does not appear to have resisted arrest, and all charges against him have since been dropped.

During the incident, Officer William Melendez strangled Dent and punched him 16 times. Melendez has since been fired, and is facing felony charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, and mistreatment of a prisoner, which could carry a total prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Below is a police dash-cam video of the incident: