34-year-old Decorated Army Ranger Shot; African-American Man Bloodied by Police.
BALDWIN: Wanted to make sure we got this one in today. He is Decorated Army Ranger, one of the officers who hunted the Boston bombers and right now, he's in the hospital after being shot in his face. We are told a driver, ambushed officer John Moynihan, during a routine traffic stop.</s>COMMISSIONER WILLIAM EVANS, BOSTON POLICE: No guns withdrawn, the video is going to clearly show that. The officer was assisting the driver out. And out fabrication as the driver is getting out of the motor vehicle. You can see his right arm come up pointing and shot Officer Moynihan right below the eye.</s>BALDWIN: Officer Moynihan is 34-years of age. The gunman was shot and killed the night of the shooting, officers stood outside the hospital where he had surgery. The bullet lodge behind his ear. And he has said to be in stable condition and improving. Last year in fact, the White House honors Officer Moynihan for his service during the Boston manhunt. He rescued the transit worker who was hurt during the shoot out with the Tsarnaev brothers. It is a narrative we have certainly heard before here. An African- American man gets pulled over by police and was left swollen, bloody and beaten. He says he was racially profile the victimized. Police say they were feared he was going for a weapon. This time the story is unfolding in the Detroit Suburb and CNN National Reporter Nick Valencia tells the story.</s>NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fifty-seven year-old, Floyd Dent says he thought he was going to die during a police traffic stop in Suburban, Detroit.</s>FLOYD DENT, VICTIM: He came cover the gun and told me "I'll blow your brains out get in the car."</s>VALENCIA: According to a police report, officers say they saw Dent enter a motel in an area known for drug dealing. After he leaves, they pull him over when they say he runs a stop sign. Dent who said he never stopped at the motel and was headed home after work, denies he did anything wrong.</s>DENT: In a party that's coming on, I didn't really think they were stopping me.</s>VALENCIA: William Melendez the arresting officer writes he believes Dent was fleeing when he failed to stop right away. Seen here on a police dash cam video, Melendez approaches the car gun drawn as Dent opens his car door and is dragged out.</s>DENT: So hands out, get kind a out of the car they yank me out of the car, you know, and throws me to the ground and starts beating me upside the head, you know, and choking me. You know, I'm begging for my life. I'm telling the officer I can't breathe.</s>VALENCIA: But police say he didn't fully comply. According to the police report, Officer Melendez says he saw Dent turn towards the center of the car and feared Dent was reaching for a weapon. Next they say Dent threatens to kill the officers. Melendez says he starts to punch Dent only after Dent quote, "bit down on his forearms." In fear of being bitten again, he writes, "he struck Dent several times with a closed right fist.</s>DENT: I didn't bite anyone. I didn't tend to bite anyone but</s>VALENCIA: After the incident Dent is shown here swollen, bloody, battered. He spent two days in the hospital. Officer Melendez is shown here on the right.</s>GREG ROHL, FLOYD DENT'S ATTORNEY: We have on video this officer searching the car and testifying "I allegedly I found it under the passenger seat." Of course, my client's fingerprints will not be on the bag, we all know that.</s>VALENCIA: The drug charge still stands.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We respect our police officers but we do hold them to high standards and we do hold them accountable for their actions as well.</s>VALENCIA: At a press conference last week, City of Inkster Police and Community leaders set an investigation into the conduct of the officers is underway but will not comment on any specifics.</s>CHIEF VICKI YOST, INKSTER MICHIGAN POLICE: We started this investigation. We're not hiding from it. And we'll follow the facts and act accordingly.</s>VALENCIA: Dent has worked at the Ford Motor company for nearly 40 years. He's never before been arrested.</s>DENT: This is some type of cover up, OK. They try to cover up what they did.</s>VALENCIA: Melendez, a veteran officer with 24-years of experience, has been put on paid administrative duties until the investigation by Michigan State Police is complete.</s>VALENCIA: CNN attempted to reach Officer Melendez several times by phone and e-mail and through the police union with no response. On April 1st Floyd Dent is expected to appear in court on that drug charge, Brooke, as a charge he plans to fight -- Brooke.</s>BALDWIN: Let's follow up with you Nick Valencia. Thank you so much. Great reporting. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for being with me here on a Monday. A lot still to cover today. Stay with CNN "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.