Former Alabama police officer indicted on civil rights charges
A former police officer in the US state of Alabama has been charged with violating the civil rights of an Indian grandfather who was paralyzed during a violent confrontation that was captured on video.
Former Madison police officer Eric Parker, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday for using “unreasonable force” against Sureshbhai Patel, 57, the US Justice Department said in a statement on Friday.
“Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and protect the public. The public must be able to trust the police,” US Attorney Joyce White Vance said in the statement. “Law enforcement officers who violate their oath to protect and use excessive force must be brought to justice.”
After the incident, Parker was fired from the Madison Police Department and arrested on an assault charge, with a court date scheduled for April. The FBI began investigating the case for possible civil rights violations.
Patel, who speaks no English, moved from India to the Southern state of Alabama nearly two weeks before the February 6 confrontation to help his son's family care for a 17-month-old child.
He was walking on the sidewalk outside his son’s home, when a neighbor called police to report about a “skinny black guy” that he’s “never seen before” in the neighborhood.
When police officers stopped Patel, he told them “No English, Indian.” Parker then violently pushed Patel face-first to the ground.
The brutal incident, which was recorded from inside a patrol vehicle, left Patel severely injured and required surgery on his spinal cord.
Patel filed a civil rights complaint last month against Parker, a second officer, and the city of Madison, alleging racism. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from the Indian government.
Police treatment of African-Americans and other minorities has become a big issue in the United States over the past year.
AHT/AGB
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