City Council Quietly Approves $65,000 Settlement To Man Brutally Beaten By Former Police Officer

The Dallas City Council has approved a settlement of up to $65,000 to Jesus Lule, a man who alleges he was brutally beaten by former Dallas police officer Melvin Williams. According to court documents, the incident occurred in 2021 and involved Williams punching Lule “at least six times in the face,” leaving him “bloodied and injured.”

Local media at the time highlighted that Williams had a track record of force-related complaints. A video of the beating circulated online, prompting Williams to be placed on administrative leave. In 2022, former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia terminated Williams' employment in connection with the incident.

The lawsuit against Williams includes a transcript of a conversation between Lule and internal investigators addressing the officer's violent behavior. One of the investigators told Lule, “We’re not new at this, and we don’t cover up for officers… When we saw that video of that officer standing over you punching you in the face, it pissed me off.”

Beyond Lule’s case, Williams was facing two other investigations into use-of-force allegations. One included an incident where he allegedly shot a 23-year-old protester in the face with so-called “less-lethal ammunition.” Though he wasn’t indicted in that case, Dallas County prosecutors still filed a misdemeanor assault charge.

The Lule settlement was quietly approved as part of the council’s consent agenda on Wednesday. Items in the consent agenda — which often include significant city contracts, development approvals, and legal payouts — are typically passed without discussion. This particular settlement followed that norm, with no public debate despite the controversy surrounding the case.

Lule’s legal action and the resulting settlement shine a light on the pattern of complaints against Williams. The officer’s dismissal, coupled with multiple pending investigations and charges, adds weight to the significance of the payout.

Link: Kera News