Governor Robert Bentley expresses ‘regret’ in a letter to Atlanta-based Indian Consul General

More than ten days after an Indian man was left partially paralysed after a violent encounter with police in Madison, Alabama, the Governor of the state has apologised to the Government of India for what he described as an “unfortunate use of excessive force.”

Even as the officer in question, Eric Parker, pleaded not guilty to assault, Governor Robert Bentley wrote in a letter to Atlanta-based Indian Consul General, Ajit Kumar, that his administration “deeply regret[s]” the “tragic incident” in which Sureshbhai Patel (57) was thrown to the ground and suffered serious spinal column injuries and a bloodied nose.

“I wish to assure you and the government of India that we will see that justice is done,” the Governor wrote, adding, “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. I sincerely hope that Mr. Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs.” While Parker has been charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanour, the police officer has already posted bail of $1,000 last week and was released from jail.

Meanwhile an online fundraising campaign on the GoFundMe website was said to have collected in excess of $190,000 for Mr. Patel’s medical expenses, with contributions flooding in from more than 4,400 people.

A top New York-based lawyer, however, had told The Hindu that such funds raised from the public could have the unintended effect of reducing the amount of damages that the City of Madison could be ordered to pay Mr. Patel to compensate him for medical costs, which Mr. Patel is not insured for. As a word of additional caution, the lawyer, Ravi Batra, had added that though civil rights attorney Hank Sherrodincluded the City of Madison in the list of defendants,specific charges in the lawsuit filed only targeted Parker and the other officer on the scene, a move that could result in the case letting the City get away lightly.

A trial by judge is scheduled for April 29, 2015. The case continues.