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Alabama police officer on trial for beating Indian man during encounter | Alabama police officer on trial for beating Indian man during encounter |
(34 minutes later) | |
An Alabama police officer went on trial Tuesday on a federal charge of using excessive force against an Indian man who was thrown down and partially paralyzed during a confrontation in a suburban neighborhood. | An Alabama police officer went on trial Tuesday on a federal charge of using excessive force against an Indian man who was thrown down and partially paralyzed during a confrontation in a suburban neighborhood. |
Madison police officer Eric Sloan Parker, 26, is charged with violating the civil rights of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel, who was staying with his son near Huntsville in February and was walking in the neighborhood when police received a call about a suspicious person walking in the area. | |
Related: 'It was devastating': A family struggles to recover from brutal Alabama beating | Related: 'It was devastating': A family struggles to recover from brutal Alabama beating |
Court officials said prospective jurors would fill out questionnaires with personal information before lawyers had a chance to question them in court and select a jury for Parker’s trial. Jury selection could last all day. | Court officials said prospective jurors would fill out questionnaires with personal information before lawyers had a chance to question them in court and select a jury for Parker’s trial. Jury selection could last all day. |
Police video showed an officer struggling to communicate with the man because of language differences. After a few moments, an officer slammed Patel to the ground face-first as another officer stood by. | Police video showed an officer struggling to communicate with the man because of language differences. After a few moments, an officer slammed Patel to the ground face-first as another officer stood by. |
“He don’t speak a lick of English,” one of the officers said afterward. | “He don’t speak a lick of English,” one of the officers said afterward. |
Patel arrived for court early on Tuesday, steadying himself on a walker as he slowly moved down the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse in Huntsville. Patel is expected to testify through a translator but will need the walker to get to the stand, said his lawyer, Hank Sherrod. | Patel arrived for court early on Tuesday, steadying himself on a walker as he slowly moved down the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse in Huntsville. Patel is expected to testify through a translator but will need the walker to get to the stand, said his lawyer, Hank Sherrod. |
“He’s not fully recovered and isn’t expected to fully recover,” said Sherrod. “His improvement is very, very slow right now.” | “He’s not fully recovered and isn’t expected to fully recover,” said Sherrod. “His improvement is very, very slow right now.” |
Parker is free on bond. Court documents indicate the defense will present testimony to show Parker’s actions were justified and that he didn’t mean to harm Patel. | Parker is free on bond. Court documents indicate the defense will present testimony to show Parker’s actions were justified and that he didn’t mean to harm Patel. |
Parker, dressed in civilian clothes rather than a police uniform, also was in court accompanied by his attorney. | Parker, dressed in civilian clothes rather than a police uniform, also was in court accompanied by his attorney. |
Court documents show Madison police chief Larry Muncey is expected to testify for prosecutors that Parker’s actions violated department procedures. | Court documents show Madison police chief Larry Muncey is expected to testify for prosecutors that Parker’s actions violated department procedures. |
Muncey publicly apologized to Patel after the incident and Alabama governor Robert Bentley called Patel’s treatment a case of “excessive force” in an apologetic letter to the Indian government. | Muncey publicly apologized to Patel after the incident and Alabama governor Robert Bentley called Patel’s treatment a case of “excessive force” in an apologetic letter to the Indian government. |
Related: India 'extremely disturbed' after Alabama officer throws grandfather to ground | Related: India 'extremely disturbed' after Alabama officer throws grandfather to ground |
Parker is being fired by the city of Madison, but he appealed and the termination process is on hold until criminal charges are resolved. | Parker is being fired by the city of Madison, but he appealed and the termination process is on hold until criminal charges are resolved. |
Parker also faces a state assault charge, and Patel filed a federal lawsuit seeking an unspecified amount of money for his injuries. | Parker also faces a state assault charge, and Patel filed a federal lawsuit seeking an unspecified amount of money for his injuries. |
Patel has been joined in Alabama by his wife and now lives with his son while undergoing physical rehabilitation, Sherrod said. | Patel has been joined in Alabama by his wife and now lives with his son while undergoing physical rehabilitation, Sherrod said. |
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