Attorneys say Dearborn police had no reason to stop man

Video shows officers in struggle with man who attorneys say is mentally challenged

DEARBORN, Mich. – On Dec. 7, 2013, Dearborn police questioned a man who was repairing the chain on his bicycle.

They started to pat him down, and that's when things went south.

Dashcam video shows the man -- 28-year-old Ali Beydoun -- struggling with the officer, then with two officers. Beydoun is about to sue the city of Dearborn. His lawyer translated for him.

"He said it's still very fresh in his mind and he has not forgotten about that day," said attorney Amir Makled.

His attorney describes him as timid and mentally challenged. Just before 5 a.m. that morning, Beydoun was headed home from his job as a dishwasher.

"Personally, when I watched the video I was horrified," said Dawud Walid, director of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Dearborn police say Beydoun had no identification on him and no light on his bicycle.

"It is common for criminals to use a bike when traveling to an area to steal cars. Autos have been stolen in cold weather when owners start them, but leave them unattended to warm up," reads a statement from Dearborn police.

Beydoun's attorneys can't believe officers thought he was a criminal.

"There was no reasonable suspicion that he was engaged in criminal activity," said attorney Cyril hall.

As the struggle moves to the right lower corner of the camera's frame, an officer is shown kicking Beydoun.

"I don't see any justification that a police officer can have of kicking a man while they're laying down on the ground unarmed," said Walid.

Dearborn police say Beydoun resisted their lawful instructions.


-- Ali Beydoun