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| Sureshbhai Patel was partially paralyzed after the takedown by police officer Eric Parker. He is now able to walk. |
Reprinted from AsAm News
A HEARING will be held to determine if an Alabama police officer should be able to keep his job following accusations he unnecessarily roughed up a South Asian grandfather and left him partially paralyzed, reports AL.com.
The case against Eric Parker gained national attention when the incident was caught on video (after a neighbor reported a "suspicious" man).
The Madison Police Chief has recommended that Parker be fired for his treatment of Sureshbhai Patel.
Two federal juries, however, were unable to reach a verdict in the bias case against him and last Thursday the state decided to drop misdemeanor charges against Parker.
“This decision illustrates how difficult it is to hold law enforcement officers accountable under the criminal laws for brutal acts that would send an ordinary citizen to jail,” wrote Hank Sherrod, Patel’s attorney, said in a statement.
“If the State will not even try to get a conviction when an act of police brutality is caught on video,” he asked, “what chance is there for other victims?”
RELATED: Alabama officer goes to trial for third time for abusing Indian elderParker is anxious to clear his name, although his attorney says he’s uncertain whether his client wants to return to the Madison Police Department. He described his client as relieved.
Meanwhile, the family is pursuing a civil lawsuit against Parker.
More than a year after the incident, Chirag Patel’s voice still cracks when discussing what happened to his father.
“Dad has improved alot, but still has a problem on the left leg,” said Chirag Patel during a recent Google Hangout organized by 18 Million Rising and South Asian Americans Leading Together. “He cannot pick up correctly. He has a tingling on his head or the tongue. He has a sleep problem, nose damage that occurred due to that incident. He is doing best that he can and he is improving. We are not looking at 100 percent recovery.”
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