A Michigan man seen beaten, Tasered and bloodied on a police cruiser's dash-cam during a traffic stop pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a related drug charge.
Floyd Dent, 57, claims a bag of crack cocaine was planted underneath the passenger seat of his car after officers in the Detroit suburb of Inkster pulled him over on Jan. 28.
The use of force has prompted Michigan State Police to investigate the arrest and has drawn protesters to the small city over perceived racial bias because Dent is black.
"This is some kind of cover-up," Dent told NBC affiliate WDIV before his court hearing Wednesday. "When they looked at my car, they thought I was a drug dealer."
The officers' microphones were not on during the arrest, and they have given a dramatically different account from Dent, who was reportedly driving with a suspended license but has no criminal record. Police say Dent threatened to kill them.
Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Wednesday she would reevaluate the drug charge after Dent passed a lie detector test. Another hearing was scheduled for April 15.
Inkster police, meanwhile, have not commented on the details of the case, but said last week that the officers have been placed on administrative duty.
IN-DEPTH
- Black Man Beaten by Mich. Police, Floyd Dent, Passes Lie Detector Test
- Detroit-Area Cops Shown Beating Black Man, Floyd Dent, During Traffic Stop