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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A former Alabama police officer has been charged with violating the civil rights of an Indian man who was injured during a violent confrontation in February, authorities said Friday.
Former Madison police officer Eric Sloan Parker is charged with using unreasonable force that left Sureshbhai Patel hospitalized. He was slammed face-first to the ground in the confrontation, which was captured on video.
Parker will plead not guilty, defense attorney Robert Tuten said.
"We are shocked, disappointed and overwhelmed by all the ways Eric Parker is coming under attack," Tuten said in an email. "However, we are looking forward to seeing the indictment and having our day in court."
But U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said people "must be able to trust the police."
"Law enforcement officers who violate their oath to protect and use excessive force must be brought to justice," she said in a statement.
Patel was visiting relatives when police were called to a suburban neighborhood where he was walking Feb. 6. The 57-year-old grandfather's injuries included partial paralysis.
Parker, 26, of Toney has since been fired and faces a state assault charge. Patel also has filed a civil lawsuit.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley previously apologized to the Indian government for the treatment of Patel, calling it a case of "excessive force."
The police chief in Madison, a suburb of Huntsville in the Tennessee Valley of north Alabama, also has apologized for what happened to Patel.
Audio and video recordings released by police show Patel was slammed to the ground by an officer responding to a call about someone walking in a subdivision in the town. Patel spent time in a hospital and a rehabilitation center.
Hank Sherrod, an attorney for Patel, said the man and his family were "very pleased by the prompt and decisive action" of federal prosecutors.
Patel has made "tremendous progress" and recently took a few steps using a walker but remains in a rehab center in Huntsville, Sherrod said.
all these cases just add up to show that our "police culture" is beyond ridiculous.
"shoot/tackle/assault now, let the lawyers bail us out later." i find it almost disturbing how the same people who think they are 'true patriots' or w/e are okay with the police (in general) systematically abusing their powers and getting backed by the judicial system.
Ps: 43north87west, there are racial overtones here, but you've got it backwards. When white people get shot there is an outrage. That's the only time most of the white majority cares. It is disproportionally every other group feeling the full wrath of our police system, which is why most white people are so complacent with such a ****ed up system. The police are just 'protecting' them from an often racially-charged image of 'omg thugs!!!'. Hence our entire history of white flight, inequality, police brutality, etc. By making such statements you are only buying into a system of segregation that says its okay when police kill people. The same people who moan about a police state being formed back up the police once they start actually murdering or paralysing unarmed civilians. It's disgusting.
Terrible thing. I hope the injured man sues the police department and wins a few million dollars, at the very least.
And what possessed the neighbor to call the police at the sight of one older man walking through the area?
He thought the man was black....apparently that's enough to be considered "suspicious".
The federal trial of an Alabama police officer who faces a civil rights charge after being captured on video throwing an Indian man to the ground got underway on Tuesday with the start of jury selection, prosecutors said.
Eric Parker, 26, is accused of using unreasonable force while serving as a police officer in Madison, Alabama during the Feb. 6 incident, which left an Indian grandfather badly injured.
The sad part is that the 58 yo VISITOR to the US is still partially paralyzed.
The worst part is that this sorry excuse for a cop and IMO wholly despicable person thinks he is the one who has been wronged.
That is the takeaway from this, and many other police interactions/altercations. Cops feel they do no wrong, and then, when they DO wrong, are coddled by their own agency and put on a paid leave.
If I, or anyone else without a badge, did this to another average citizen, the charges would be piled high.
This officer needs to be held accountable. I hope he is.
Because it's an international incident with a citizen of a friendly (and strategically important) country, the pressure will be on to make sure this thug with a badge doesn't just skate away from the whole thing. I'd like to see him do some serious time in a federal penitentiary. I'm sure there are lots of folks living there who would love to welcome him and make him feel... wanted.
"Officer Charles Spence was on the scene when Patel was slammed to the ground and testified Wednesday that he also thought Patel's treatment was unreasonable. Spence said the man didn't appear to pose a threat to officers."
I wonder if the colleague that spoke out will mysteriously get placed on desk duty.
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