The police officer caught on video violently throwing down a 57-year-old Indian grandfather on a sidewalk in Alabama in February was indicted Friday on a civil rights charge, federal prosecutors announced.
Eric Parker, who was fired from the Madison Police Department after the Feb. 6 incident, was charged with deprivation of rights under color of law. Under the Constitution, the law allows people the “right to be free from the use of unreasonable force,” according to the indictment released by U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance in the Northern District of Alabama. The charge carries up to 10 years in prison.
Parker was identified as the officer seen on dash-cam video throwing Sureshbhai Patel to the ground. Patel, who does not speak English, had been visiting his son’s home in Madison when he was stopped after someone called police to report a “skinny black guy” walking around the neighborhood.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!
