Sureshbhai Patel, 57, has been left partially paralysed after a police officer allegedly forced him on ground in Alabama without any provocation
One of the two police officers who allegedly assaulted the 57-year-old Indian man in Alabama has been arrested and FBI will be conducting a probe into the matter to find out if there were any federal violations in the incident.
Larry Muncey, the Madison City Chief of Police while apologising to the victim Sureshbhai Patel, who was wrongfully assaulted by two police officers, without any provocation just because he did not know English and was unable to answer to their questions, informed that Federal Bureau of Investigation will also be conducting a probe into the matter.
"I sincerely apologise to Mr Patel, Mr Patel's family and our community. We strive to exceed expectations," Mr Muncey told reporters at a news conference.
"Additionally FBI would be conducting a parallel inquiry to ascertain if there were any federal violations," Mr Muncey said after he released audio and videos related to the incident.
"As a result of the investigations, I found that Mr Parkers's actions did not meet the high standard and expectations of the Madison City Police Department," he said, adding, that he (Muncey) has proposed termination of officer Parker, who has now been arrested for third-degree assault.
The incident occurred on the morning of February 6 while walking down the sidewalk in the neighbourhood, Mr Patel, a permanent US resident, "was violently assaulted by a police official without provocation, and left partially paralysed," according to the 11-page lawsuit filed.
A day before, Sureshbhai Patel had arrived in the United States to assist his son and daughter-in-law in caring for their 17-month-old child, who was developmentally delayed after a premature birth In the video, Mr Patel is seen walking quietly in a sidewalk.
He is not seen peeping at any of the houses or garage as was the police told in an non-emergency call it received from a neighbour, after which a police car was rushed to the neighbourhood.
In the video, two police officers are see approaching Patel and asking him questions - like name, address and identity card.
Mr Patel is heard saying "No English" and pointing figure towards his son's home. Soon one of the police officer, later identified as Mr Parker, is seen violently throwing Sureshbhai Patel on the ground and threatening him not to leave. It is at this time it appears Mr Patel was paralysed, apparently by shock.
Moments later when two police officers try to walk him, Mr Patel is not able to stand on his own. Sureshbhai Patel was severely injured in the incident, said his attorney Henry F Sherrod.
Mr Patel has been partly paralysed and is currently under treatment at a city hospital.