Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
International

'US Cop Tackled Indian Grandfather In An Improper Manner'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 Sep, 2015 12:40 PM
    An Alabama police officer accused of using excessive force against an Indian grandfather walking in his son's neighbourhood used an improper method to subdue him by slamming him down to the ground, a US court was told.
     
    Appearing as a prosecution witness at the trial of former police officer Eric Parker, 26, in a Huntsville, Alabama federal court Thursday Capt. John Stringer said that force is supposed to be proportional to the threat and circumstances. Stringer, who oversees special operations, including training, for the Madison Police Department, said during controlled takedowns officers are supposed to decelerate the fall to minimise injury, local Al.com reported.
     
    Stringer said he watched the video of Parker's takedown of Patel that same day in February.
     
    Asked for his opinion on the technique Parker employed, Stringer testified "I thought it was improper. I saw no indications of resistance, or active resistance or aggressive resistance."
     
    Stringer also said he did not observe any signs of flight or attack by Patel.
     
    A Madison dispatcher also testified that she searched through records of past police calls that might have helped Officer Eric Parker support a claim for probable cause to stop and slam down Patel.
     
    Federal prosecutors on Thursday replayed the calls between Parker and dispatcher Angela Sharp. They argued that the search for probable cause after the fact showed that Parker had "knowledge of guilt."
     
    Parker faces a federal charge of deprivation of rights under colour of law for the leg sweep on Feb 6 that hospitalised Sureshbhai Patel, who had arrived from India six days earlier to move in with his engineer son.
     
     
    Patel, who does not speak English, was taking a morning walk when a neighbour called police to report a suspicious person.
     
    Parker and a trainee responded to the call. At one point, during a confused exchange, Parker slammed Patel to the ground, leaving him in need of emergency spinal surgery.
     
    Prosecutors argued that Patel committed no crime, presented no threat and did not pull away and as such Parker's actions were unreasonable.
     
    Parker's attorney has argued that Patel was reaching for his pockets and jerking away as officers frisked him, leaving officers to fear he might have a weapon.
     
    Defence attorney Robert Tuten suggested that Patel by law should have had his green card on him at all times.
     
    He also argued Madison didn't provide adequate training for Parker and that while it was unfortunate that Patel was injured, he said the government did not prove Parker meant to hurt him.
     
    "We can't punish Officer Parker because there was a language barrier," said Tuten.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Toronto Boy, 14, Killed While At A Wake In Jamaica: Police

    Toronto Boy, 14, Killed While At A Wake In Jamaica: Police
    The Jamaica Constabulary Force said Ricardo Williams was shot several times around 2 a.m. Sunday morning near Kingston.

    Toronto Boy, 14, Killed While At A Wake In Jamaica: Police

    Sikhs Vote To Elect New Gurdwara Leaders In San Jose, California

    Sikhs Vote To Elect New Gurdwara Leaders In  San Jose, California
    A total of 6,802 registered voters queued outside the San Jose gurdwara in California on Sunday

    Sikhs Vote To Elect New Gurdwara Leaders In San Jose, California

    Bobby Jindal Warns Of Immigrant 'Invasion'

    Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal, son of immigrant parents from India, says that immigrants who do not adopt American values represent an "invasion".

    Bobby Jindal Warns Of Immigrant 'Invasion'

    Rainy Deluge Hits B.C.'s Parched South Coast, But Barely A Drop For The Interior

    Rainy Deluge Hits B.C.'s Parched South Coast, But Barely A Drop For The Interior
    A powerful storm is forecast to dump as much as 120 millimetres of rain over Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler, the Sunshine Coast and most of Vancouver Island.

    Rainy Deluge Hits B.C.'s Parched South Coast, But Barely A Drop For The Interior

    Indian-American Baby Sitter Kinjal Patel To Serve 14 Years For Toddler's Death In Her Care

    Indian-American Baby Sitter Kinjal Patel To Serve 14 Years For Toddler's Death In Her Care
    Patel was found guilty by court for the death of Athiyan Sivakumar, who was 19-months-old when he died at Yale-New Haven Hospital on January 19, 2014

    Indian-American Baby Sitter Kinjal Patel To Serve 14 Years For Toddler's Death In Her Care

    Indian Labourer Jailed For Molesting Woman In Dubai

    Indian Labourer Jailed For Molesting Woman In Dubai
    The 27-year-old man was accused of groping a 35-year-old woman from Philippines in an inebriated state.

    Indian Labourer Jailed For Molesting Woman In Dubai