An Alabama police officer won’t be convicted of violating the civil rights of a 58-year-old Indian man after a judge on Wednesday threw out a third case against him despite video of the officer smashing the man into the ground, causing partial paralysis
Juries in the two prior civil rights trials couldn’t decide whether Parker had used excessive force against Sureshbhai Patel in the February incident, and Judge Madeline Haikala said the decision of a third jury probably wound’t be any different
Parker and another officer approached Patel after police got a call about a “suspicious” person in the neighborhood. They asked him a few questions, but Patel only responded to say that he didn’t speak English. Parker then twice asked Patel whether or not the man understood, and asked Patel to stop moving. After throwing him to the ground, Parker said, “I don’t know what his problem is, but he won’t listen.” Read more…
