Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) apologized on Tuesday for what he described as the “excessive force” used by a cop who slammed a 57-year-old Indian grandfather to the ground while questioning him, NBC News reported.
Bentley’s apology, directed to the government of India, came with an order that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency conduct an investigation into the incident.
“I deeply regret the unfortunate use of excessive force by the Madison Police Department on Sureshbhai Patel and for the injuries sustained by Mr. Patel,” Bentley said in a letter to India’s general consul in Atlanta. “I sincerely hope that Mr. Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs.”
“Finally, and most important, please accept our sincere apology for this tragic incident to your government, Mr. Patel, and the citizens of India who reside and work in our state,” Bentley continued.
Officer Eric Parker was charged with third-degree assault in the Feb. 6 incident that left Patel partially paralyzed.
Patel was in the United States helping his son and daughter-in-law take care of their young son.
We here in Alabama would in no way want to let stand the mistaken conclusion that those good people of India, who we’re trying so desperately to lure in order to confer the benefits of mass immigration realized by the agricultural business to the high tech industry in like measure, would in any way, shape, or form be the victim of violent racial discrimination in our fine nation.
This was clearly a case of mistaken identity, and we have since sent out information to all police units instructing them how to distinguish dark-skinned Asians from genuine thugs, including the wearing of baggy pants and hoodies, neither of which Mr. Patel was wearing.
So please, Government of India, send us your best and brightest, and in return we’ll provide jobs, jobs, jobs for your sweatshops.
Third degree assault? WHAT THE FUCK!!! That’s a meaningless misdemeanor. That pig should be charged with FIRST DEGREE assault…a Class B felony in Alabama:
“A person commits a criminal assault first degree if, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, they recklessly engage in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby causes serious physical injury to any person.” (from some Alabama law firm’s website)
The third degree misdemeanor gets rid of the part about indifference and grave risk of death and just makes it an intent to commit physical injury (or recklessness or criminal negligence that causes it). How you can look at that video and not see an extreme indifference and grave risk of death is beyond me. You’ve got an ELDERLY Indian dude IN HANDCUFFS ALREADY who must weigh all of 130 pounds and WHO HAD NO WAY OF PROTECTING HIMSELF, HIS HEAD OR THE REST OF HIS BODY FROM IMPACT WITH THE PAVEMENT who is then ruthlessly and for no discernable reason, excuse or justification whatsoever tripped and slammed to the ground, resulting in a broken back and spinal damage. The result of the cop’s actions is almost res ipsa loquitur with respect to whether there was depraved indifference to the man’s life and actually grave risk of death…YES, HE COULD HAVE FUCKING KILLED THE GUY. The victim is lucky he didn’t bounce his head off the sidewalk or curb hard enough to cause a massive subdural hematoma.
These charges are bullshit…a slap on the wrist and people should outraged. This is a sweeping of it all under the rug and a refusal to acknowledge just how depraved, indifferent and dangerous that pig’s behavior actually was.
And you know what? It’s just too bad that these dash-cams have no audio…because you’d really be hard pressed to sit quietly by while this cop gets charged with basically nothing after doing this while spewing shit like “punjab” and “haji” at this poor man…AND YOU KNOW HE FUCKING DID.
And please don’t sue us.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley ® - appears to be saying the right things - and hopefully between the local community and the state, arrangement have been made to see that the victim does not have to pay a dime for his medical care - and that the investigation process will proceed - and this policeman will be punished and terminated.
However, were this to have occurred in New York City and this response been provided by Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) - Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association of the City of New York - President Patrick Lynch would go ballistic and would call him every name in the book - and accuse him of betraying the police force.
Patrick is a clown and a jerk. In other words, a Republican.