Leaders Urge Patience In Inkster Police Beating Probe

INKSTER (WWJ/AP) - City leaders urged public patience this week as authorities investigate the arrest of a black motorist who was pulled from his car, repeatedly punched in the head by a white police officer and subdued with a stun gun in Inkster.

The city manager, police chief and local religious and community leaders appeared at a news conference in Inkster, a 25,000-person city where Floyd Dent was arrested two months ago. Dent, 57, says he was innocent and trying to protect himself, while police counter he refused to pull over, resisted arrest and threatened them.

Video of Dent's bloody arrest first aired on WDIV-TV Tuesday night. In it, an officer repeatedly punches Dent in the head while another officer tries to handcuff him. Dent's face and shirt are bloodied.

Dent was brought to tears speaking about the attack on Wednesday.

"I put my arms outside the door – an officer ran up to me with his gun and told me 'Get out of the car or I'll blow your brains out.' Then somebody grabbed me – I don't know which one grabbed me – grabbed me and threw me on the ground. First he told me 'Get on the ground' then they just snatched me – threw me on the ground and started beating me," described Dent.

"While the guy was beating me I was protecting my face – with my right arm – I guess somebody came and kicked me in the ribs – I heard somebody in the background say 'Taze the M-F,' you know, while I was on the ground," he continued.

Inkster Police Chief Vicki Yost said she was notified about the incident on the night it happened in late January and "immediately ordered the investigation" that is being carried out by the Michigan State Police.

Inkster City Manager Richard Marsh Jr. said "action will be taken accordingly," but first, "we need to let this investigation take place."

Yost did not provide a timetable for how long the investigation will last and said no one should "rush to any conclusions."

One officer has been pulled off the street, but Yost declined to discuss others involved.

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