STATE: 2nd trial set for Alabama officer in takedown of Indian man

Published 9:52 am Monday, October 26, 2015

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama police officer is due in court for his second trial on federal charges of abusing the rights of an Indian man who was slammed down during an encounter with police.

Court records show that Eric Parker goes on trial Monday in Huntsville.

A judge declared a mistrial in Parker’s first trial in September. The decision came after jurors deadlocked while deliberating whether the Madison police officer violated the civil rights of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel.

Patel suffered injuries including partial paralysis when he was slammed face-first to the ground while walking in suburban Madison on Feb. 6.

Police video showed the 27-year-old Parker knocking Patel’s legs out from under him.

Parker testified that Patel resisted police. He says he didn’t mean to hurt the man.