Alabama Officer Indicted Over Attack That Left Indian Man Paralyzed

An Alabama police officer will have his day in court after leaving an Indian man paralyzed.

The New York Times reports that 26-year-old Officer Eric Parker has been indicted for using excessive force in the confrontation that took place Feb. 6. On that day, Parker responded to a phone call that said a suspicious man was walking through a neighborhood in the city of Madison Park.

That man was not in the act of committing a crime, but was taking a morning walk before he returned home to help care for his newly born grandson. Before he could make it back to his house however, he was accosted by Parker and slammed to the ground for no clear reason. The incident was caught by Parker's dashboard camera.

The victim, 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel, can be seen explaining his from India in the video. After Patel is thrown to the grown, one of the officers can be heard saying that Patel does not speak any English. The assault on Patel has left him partially paralyzed.

The incident has made Alabama's painful and embarrassing history of racism an international affair because the story has been widely reported on and followed in India. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley even wrote to the Indian consulate in Atlanta to apologize for the incident.

The local Madison Park Police Department has also issued an apology and begun the process of firing Parker. Parker is currently on paid leave as he appeals the termination.

Patel's condition has improved somewhat since the attack. After a surgery and months of torturous physical therapy, Patel has regained some movement in his arms and legs. He also recently took a few steps with a walker and the help of a physical trainer.