BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WZDX) – Former Madison police officer Eric Parker is being indicted on a federal civil rights charge for a February incident that injured an Indian man.
Parker, 26, of Toney, was indicted on a felony count of use of unreasonable force for the February incident that hospitalized Sureshbhai Patel, an Indian man in Madison staying with family.
Parker faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, federal prosecutors said Friday.
Patel was approached walking through his son’s neighborhood Feb. 6 after someone called 911 about a suspicious person in the area. Police dash camera videos showed Parker throwing Patel to the ground.
Patel was hospitalized with limited movement in his extremities as the result of spinal trauma, according to the family.
Parker was fired from the Madison Police Department after being arrested and charged with third-degree assault.
Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones said his office had forwarded the case on to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
