A US federal grand jury has charged the Alabama police officer who slammed a visiting Indian grandfather last month with a civil rights violation that could land him up in prison up to 10 years. Eric Parker, a 26-year-old officer, has been indicted on one felony count for using “unreasonable force” against 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel while he was out on a walk near his son’s home in Madison.
The federal indictment that follows an FBI probe into the February 6 incident says that Parker’s actions “deprived the victim of his right under the US Constitution to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures, which includes the right to be free from unreasonable force by someone acting under colour of law”. The indictment refers to Patel simply by his initials – “SP”.
A video of the episode that went viral on the internet led to the FBI probe. The federal indictment was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division in the Department of Justice, US Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger C Stanton. “Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and protect the public. The public must be able to trust the police,” Attorney Vance said, adding: “law enforcement officers who violate their oath to protect and use excessive force must be brought to justice.”
In addition to the federal indictment, Parker faces separate trial in Alabama’s limestone County for misdemeanour assault, which carries up to one year in jail. He has pleaded not guilty and the bench trial is due to begin on April 29.
Nearly two months after the incident, he is still to make a full recovery and remains at a rehabilitation centre. Recently, he was able to walk a short distance on his own using a walker, said Patel’s attorney Hank Sherrod, calling it an important milestone in his recovery. Madison Police Chief larry Muncey has already recommended the dismissal of Parker, who has been placed on interim leave pending the outcome of criminal charges.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley wrote a letter last month apologising to Patel and to the Government of India. Welcoming the institution of federal civil rights charge against the police officer, Sherrod said in a statement: “Patel and his family are very pleased by the prompt and decisive action of US Attorney Joyce Vance and the federal grand jury.”
“For the public to trust police officers, it needs to know officers will be held accountable, and the felony civil rights charges filed against Parker, unlike the misdemeanour assault charge being pursued in state court, more accurately reflect the seriousness of Parker’s conduct,” Sherrod said. Parker’s attorney, Robert Tuten, expressed surprise at the federal indictment, adding that he expects the officer to plead not guilty. Tuten was quoted by The Huntsville Times as saying that Parker “feels like he’s being whaled on from all sides” since he has been charged both by the Justice Department and the Alabama State.