A shocking video that shows two Alabama police officers brutally assaulting a 57-year-old Indian man was released on Thursday. The footage shows Sureshbhai Patel of Gujarat being interrogated by two uniformed police officers, while he stands with his hands locked behind his back in the residential neighbourhood.
When Patel failed to answer the questions, one of the two officers pushed him to the ground, leaving him partially paralysed. The entire episode was videotaped from inside a patrol vehicle.
Eric Parker, who has been arrested in connection with the case, was heard shouting, "can't speak... a little English".
Parker, accompanied by fellow cop Andrew Slaughter, intercepted Patel and this is how the conversation goes as per the video:
First cop: "Hey, man! I'm talking to you, wait."
Second cop: "Come here"
Second cop: "You what?"
Sureshbhai Patel: "India."
Second cop: "Come here. You are doing what?"
Second cop: "Where you heading?"
First cop: "Where?"
Second cop: "I can't understand you, sir."
Second cop: "Where's your address?"
Second cop: "Stop walking"
First cop: "Do you have any ID?"
Sureshbhai Patel: "No ID"
Second cop: "What's your name?"
Second cop: "India?"
First cop: "Do you live here?"
Second cop: "Do you live in this neighbourhood?"
Second cop: "What is your address? Where are you going?"
Sureshbhai Patel: "Sir, sir, come here."
Patel tries to move ahead in order to show the cops where he stayed.
Second cop: "Do not jerk away from me again, or I will put you on the ground. Do you understand what am I saying?"
Following this, Parker orders Patel to put his hands behind his back; and immediately pushes the man to the ground. A few officers come forward to help Patel stand on his feet, but he fails to rise. The officers start talking amongst themselves.
First cop: "He don't speak a lick of English."
Second cop: "I tried to pat him down but he tried to walk away from me."
Second cop: "I don't know what his problem is but he won't listen."
Second cop: "He was trying to walk away."
First cop: "He OK?"
The conversation in the videotape after this is barely audible due to some background music in the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Alabama police have apologised to Patel's family for the assault. Also, the Madison police force have arrested Parker on charges of third-degree assault. They have already proposed Parker's termination following the legal suit filed by Patel.
Patel had arrived in the city just a day before the assault to take care of his 17-month-old grandchild. At the time of the incident, Patel was taking a walk on a pavement in the neighbourhood.
Patel's attorney expressed surprise over the incident and said it was horrifying that the policemen assaulted a gentleman who just wanted to take a walk. Patel is currently undergoing treatment in a city hospital for severe injuries and reportedly needs a surgery as well.
