A video showing how he slammed down Indian visitor Sureshbhai Patel may have gone viral on the Internet, but Alabama police officer Eric Parker has simply pleaded not guilty to the charge of excessive use of force that left the 57-year-old Patel partially paralysed.
Parker, who was suspended and arrested last week for the February 6 assault, entered a not guilty plea in court on Tuesday. Charged with third degree assault, Parker waived arraignment and his trial is set for April 29, CNN reported, citing limestone County court documents. He has been released from jail after posting a $1,000 bail.
The 26-year-old police officer’s stand in court came on a day when Alabama Governor Robert Bentley formally apologised to Patel and the Government of India for the Madison City officer’s “unfortunate use of excessive force”.
“Please accept our sincere apology for this tragic incident to your Government, Mr Patel, and the citizens of India who reside and work in our state,” Governor Bentley said in a letter to India’s Consul
General in Atlanta Ajit Kumar, adding: “I sincerely hope that Mr Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs.” Governor Bentley has also ordered the Alabama law Enforcement Agency to launch a parallel investigation, in addition to an FBI probe, into the use of excessive force.
Patel, after having undergone spinal fusion surgery at a Huntsville hospital, has now been transferred to a rehabilitation facility. Family attorney Hank Sherrod has been quoted as saying that Patel “has a long, difficult and uncertain rehabilitation process ahead of him”. An online fundraising campaign has mobilised $190,000 towards Patel’s medical expenses, with more than 4,400 people contributing to the fund.