Alabama Officer Acquitted of Civil Rights Charges Returns to Work
An Alabama police officer acquitted of federal civil rights charges arising from a video recording of an Indian man being slammed to the ground is returning to work.
Local news media report Madison police Officer Eric Parker was returning from leave Tuesday and would be assigned to a training unit until he completes required recertification.
Parker was recorded slamming Sureshbhai Patel, then 57, down in February 2015 while investigating a call about a suspicious person in Madison, northern Alabama. Patel was seriously injured.
A judge acquitted Parker of federal civil rights charges in January after two trials ended with deadlocked juries. A state judge dismissed assault charges in May.
Parker appealed his dismissal from the force.
Major Jim Cooke, the acting chief, said he has found Parker didn’t violate department policy.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
