The officer was in indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of "unreasonable force."

^what penalty does that carry?

The officer was in indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of "unreasonable force."

 

Now there's a no-brainer.

 

This guy needs to get the max penalty!

Assault Charges Dropped for Alabama Cop Who Partially Paralyzed Indian Grandfather

 

Following a motion filed Thursday by Alabama's attorney general, a judge dismissed state misdemeanor assault charges against a Madison police officer who allegedly slammed an Indian man to the ground last February during a suspicious-person stop.

 

 

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's request came after two federal juries failed to reach verdicts in the civil rights case against Eric Parker, the officer accused of taking down 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel, who was left seriously injured. U.S. District Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala, who presided over both trials, acquitted Parker in January, saying there was little chance a third trial would yield a different result.

 

 

"After a review of the federal trial testimony, it does not appear that there would be sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," Strange said in a statement. "Thus, we have a duty to move to dismiss the charge."

 

 

District Judge Douglas L. Patterson of Limestone County granted Strange's motion on Thursday.

 

 

Hank Sherrod, Patel's attorney, told NBC News in an email that the state's decision to drop the assault charge is deeply troubling, though not entirely surprising.

 

 

"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," he said.

 

 

Eric Parker's attorney, Robert Tuten, did not return a request for comment.

 

 

Parker, 27, still faces a civil lawsuit in connection with the incident. Parker encountered Patel last Feb. 6 while responding to a call of a suspicious black man looking at garages and walking near houses. Patel, in from India to visit his son and grandson, testified that he did not understand English or the officers who confronted him while he was out for a walk.

 

 

A widely viewed police dash­cam video captured Patel's subsequent police take­down, which resulted in injuries to Patel's spine and partial paralysis.

 

 

In her 92-­page ruling Jan. 13 granting a defense motion for acquittal, Haikala wrote that it was reasonable for Parker to have investigated Patel on the basis of the 911 call and that slow-­motion clips from the dashcam showed Patel had resisted Parker before the take­down.

 

 

Last month, Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey was found guilty of federal criminal contempt charges in connection with Parker's first trial. Muncey, who is on administrative leave pending the outcome of any appeals, violated a sequestration order that prohibits witnesses from hearing testimony of others called to the stand.

 

 

Muncey was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and attend training for legal exposure and liability.

The bodyslam is at minute mark 2:16.

 

It's sad that this officer won't have to pay for his actions.

I do agree with the quote that it's tough to get a conviction on an officer b/c of the benefit of the doubt they get.

 

I do not agree with the quote that the move was legit because he tried to resist.

that officer is in the wrong line of work . Needed to be fired .

Glad this one had an audio with it. I believe the officer gave him fair warning. "If you jerk away from me one more time I will put you to the ground." Heard stop a few times as well.

Hey grandpa's better listen to the cops when they tell you to do something.

Glad this one had an audio with it. I believe the officer gave him fair warning. "If you jerk away from me one more time I will put you to the ground." Heard stop a few times as well.

Hey grandpa's better listen to the cops when they tell you to do something.

 

You do realize that the guy was visiting from India and didn't understand a word they were saying, right?

You do realize that the guy was visiting from India and didn't understand a word they were saying, right?

 

Did not know that. I'm guessing the office did not either.

Did not know that. I'm guessing the office did not either.

 

He acknowledged that the guy didn't speak English...

From the article linked in post #1....

 

The statement by Madison police refers to a "communication barrier." Chirag Patel said his father speaks only Gujarati, and some Hindi.

 

Sherrod says the Sureshbhai Patel told the police officers "no English" and repeated his son's house number.

He acknowledged that the guy didn't speak English...

 

Before or after the takedown? I never did hear the man speak. It Does make a bit of a difference but the resistance is still resistance. I feel bad for the old guy who is in a strange country with a language barrier.

It's sad that this officer won't have to pay for his actions.

 

Two Federal juries can't reach a verdict and the Alabama AG office don't think there is enough evidence to convict. Do you think he should go forward like the Baltimore prosecutor only to lose miserably?