Indian government “extremely disturbed” by incident.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: The police officer who made national headlines for violently accosting Sureshbhai Patel sans provocation has been arrested and the FBI will be investigating the matter to determine whether any federal statutes were violated during the incident.
Officer Eric Parker was charged with third-degree assault, according to the Madison, Alabama police department, after previously being suspended for the excessive use of force which left the 57-year-old Patel bloody and partially paralyzed.
“I sincerely apologize to Mr. Patel, Mr. Patel’s family, and our community. We strive to exceed expectations,” Madison City Chief of Police Larry Muncey told reporters at a news conference.
Muncey also noted that aside from arraigning Parker on criminal charges, the Madison P.D. has proposed firing Parker and terminating his status as a public servant.
The attack occurred on February 6 when Patel, who had just arrived in the United States to help care for his young grandson, was stopped by two police officers who stated they were responding to a call about a suspicious person in the neighborhood.
“He’s a skinny black guy. He’s got a toboggan on,” said the unidentified male caller, per the Associated Press.
When Patel, who does not speak English, was unable to coherently respond, Parker slammed him face and body first into the ground less than half a minute after the exchange began.
Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesperson for India’s External Affairs Ministry, released a statement declaring his government is taking the incident “very seriously” and in contact with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
“What we will communicate is that we are extremely disturbed,” he affirmed. “This is a matter of concern for us, and India and the U.S. as open pluralist societies need to address these issues and find ways in a mature manner so that these are aberrations and are not the norm.”
1 Comment
The prudent thing would be to include the caller, in the Lawsuit, that I read is being filed in this case. My guess is this elderly Indian man was probably reaching for his cell phone or the phone number for his son, so he can communicate with the officer. If he spoke English and if he was well versed with the American Law enforcement, he would have raised his hand and told the office to search his pockets for the cell phone or his license or the phone number for his friend of relative.
The officer, could have handcuffed him and taken him to the station where an interpreter could have sorted out his identity. Instead the officer used brutal force enough to paralyze him, based on the narrative of a caller whose racial motive instigated this horrific scene of man who posed no threat. The caller and the officer both violated this man’s civil and constitutional rights. The action by the police chief by arresting this officer was exemplary. Since this act was not in line of duty the officer should be personally sued so he will pay millions as dues for his crime. He should be fired and jailed for at least one year.