India’s government says it is “extremely disturbed” after one of its citizens visiting Alabama was thrown to the ground and partially paralyzed by a police officer.
Madison police officer Eric Parker has been charged with third-degree assault after he was captured on video throwing Sureshbhai Patel to the ground. Patel underwent spinal surgery, according to his son Chirag, who said his father, visiting the US for just the second time, was paralyzed in the incident.
In audio released by police, the caller reports a man walking near his home. “He was doing it yesterday and today – he’s just on foot. He’s just kind of walking around close to the garage.”
When asked to provide a visual description, the caller says: “He’s a skinny black guy. He’s got a toboggan on, he’s really skinny.”
The caller said he had to leave for work and was nervous about leaving his wife home alone.
Video shows police throwing Patel to the ground in a nearly deserted neighborhood on a clear, bright morning. After patting him down, the officers try to get Patel to stand up, but his knees buckle. The three officers can’t get Patel to stand up, though police said he was then taken to a local hospital.
