The Dallas City Council voted to approve an up to $65,000 settlement to a man who said he was beaten by a former Dallas police officer. Local media reports from the time say the officer in question had a history of use-of-force complaints.
Jesus Lule alleged that former DPD officer Melvin Williams assaulted him in 2021, according to court documents.
鈥淲illiams punched Mr. Lule at least six times in the face, causing Mr. Lule to be bloodied and injured,鈥� the original lawsuit complaint alleged.
Williams was placed on administrative leave after a video of the incident circulated online. Williams was fired by former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia over the incident in 2022.
The lawsuit also includes a transcript from a conversation between Lule and officers who were investigating William鈥檚 鈥渆xcessive use of force.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e not new at this, and we don鈥檛 cover up for officers,鈥� the officers told Lule, according to the transcript of the recorded conversation. 鈥淲hen we saw that video of that officer standing over you punching you in the face, it pissed me off.鈥�
The News reported that Williams was also charged with a misdemeanor assault in connection with the incident 鈥� and was already under two use-of-force investigations when he allegedly beat Lule.
One of the cases brought against Williams was for allegedly shooting a 23-year-old protester in the face with 鈥渓ess-lethal ammunition,鈥� according to The News.
Williams wasn鈥檛 indicted for that incident but county prosecutors filed a misdemeanor charge against him for the protest altercation.
Wednesday鈥檚 settlement was part of the council鈥檚 consent agenda. Those items 鈥� which often amount to millions of dollars in city contracts, development approvals and legal payouts 鈥� rarely get discussed in open session.
Legal settlements are almost never brought up in public meetings 鈥� especially controversial payouts like Lule鈥檚.
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