DETROIT – It's a case the whole country has watched unfold: A violent traffic stop in a suburban Detroit where the officer, not the driver, is now facing criminal charges.
William Melendez was fired from the Inkster Police Department after he was charged with assault and mistreatment of motorist Floyd Dent during a Jan. 28 traffic stop.
Dent was pulled from his car and repeatedly punched in the head, a beating that wasn't publicly known until the Local 4 Defenders aired the police video in March.
Video: Violent traffic stop in Inkster caught on camera
Police said they pulled Dent over because he failed to stop at a stop sign.
Dent, 57, was original charged with cocaine possession. Police said they found the drug during the traffic stop. The charge was eventually dismissed at the request of prosecutors. Dent claims police planted drugs in his car.
Watch: Dent aces lie detector questions about beating by Inkster police
--Floyd Dent
According to a report obtained by the Defenders, the evidence against Melendez will primarily be the video, his own statements about what happened and 18 witnesses, including Dent and many of the other officers on the scene of the traffic stop.
"They are serious charges, but it's no slam dunk," said attorney Neil Rockind, Local 4's legal expert.
Rockind said Melendez's defense team will likely make sure the jury knows Melendez has won awards and citations for bravery and service to the community.
Read: Inkster police officer's union says his firing is 'political'
"These officers deal with life and death moments. They try and make the best decisions they can using the information they have," Rockind said.
Melendez's attorney, David Lee, wants to have the case moved as far away as possible. He said his client has been "vilified" in the media.
In a one-on-one interview with Local 4 Defender Kevin Dietz, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said that's not likely. Worthy said higher profile cases have tried, and failed.
"I believe any time a case happens here that we can find a fair jury here in Wayne County. I haven't seen a case yet where I've felt venue should be changed," Worthy said.
In documents obtained by the Defenders, Melendez insists he was afraid Dent might have a weapon and kill him. But an investigator's report concludes that Melendez's story doesn't match the video. The video shows Melendez re-holstering his gun before forcing Dent onto the ground. A detail that suggests Melendez wasn't in fear for his life.
"If he still believed that Dent was a threat to the officers, he could have kept his gun trained on Dent, which would have been a much more effective, and much less painful, to cause Dent to give in," Rockind said.
Dent suffered 16 punches to the head. Rockind and Worthy call them excessive.
"I think the charges clearly match what we feel happened in the case," Worthy said.
In his statement, Melendez said Dent bit him and the punches were in self-defense.
More than a dozen other officers were at the scene and will either support or discredit Melendez's claims.
"That's going to be a basket of snakes for the Prosecutor's Office because they are calling witnesses to testify against Melendez who either joined in some of the conduct that Melendez engaged in, did not report Melendez as engaging in inappropriate conduct after Melendez beat Floyd Dent, and then went along with the prosecution of Melendez for the various offenses," Rockind said. "So, you're almost asking the opposing team, if you're the prosecutor, to give you one or two of their guys."
Rockind said Melendez's defense team would be making a mistake to attack Dent.
"I think Floyd Dent makes a compelling witness. Every time I have heard him speak, I don't get any sense that he is attempting to grandstand, or that he is attempting to be phony or exaggerate," Rockind said.
He said Melendez should say mistakes were made, but there was no criminal intent behind his actions.
"Even if it turns out that he (Dent) didn't bite his finger, officer Melendez honestly and reasonably believed that Floyd Dent was resisting arrest and he was doing whatever he thought was necessary at that moment, even if it turns out that he was wrong," Rockind said. "That defense is imminently better than challenging Floyd Dent."
Melendez is due in court Wednesday for a hearing that will determine if there is enough evidence to send him to trial.
Special Coverage: Inkster police beating investigation