Several US lawmakers condemned the police assault on an Indian grandfather who was slammed to the ground by a police officer in Alabama—while he was out for a walk in the neighbourhood—leaving him partially paralysed as donations poured in for the victim.

The police officer Eric Parker, who assaulted Mr Sureshbhai Patel, 57 on February 6, 2015 while he was taking a walk in front of his son Chirag Patel’s house in a Madison, Alabama suburb was arrested on February 12, 2015 and Police Chief Larry Muncey has recommended that he be fired. Parker was released on USD 1,000 bond from the Limestone County Jail. A court appearance has been set for him for March 12, according to WAFF-TV, a local news channel.

On February 6, 2015 a caller who lived in the Hardiman Place subdivision off of County Line Road placed a non-emergency 911 call to Madison Police, describing an individual walking around houses in the neighbourhood and peering in garages, madisoncountyrecord.com reported. The caller said that the person had been exhibiting the same behaviour on the previous day and described Patel as a black guy, around 30-years-old, after being asked by the 911 operator. It was then that Parker and his trainee, Andrew Slaughter, were dispatched to the scene. Officer Charles Spence arrived shortly thereafter in a separate car. As Parker spoke to Patel, the dash-cam video showed, it became apparent that Patel spoke no English. Parker asked him for ID, where Patel lived and what his business was walking around the neighbourhood.

Eventually, Mr Patel’s hands were behind his back due to Parker holding his hands. At the critical point of the video, Parker slammed Mr Patel to the ground, hitting head and torso first, unable to brace his fall, madisoncountyrecord.com said. “He don’t speak a lick of English,” Parker said at least twice during the encounter after he tackled Patel. One police video captured an officer asking Mr Patel, “Did you bite your lip?” as he remained on the ground. The officers repeatedly attempted to get Patel to “stand up” so they could move him to a patrol car. According to the lawsuit, Mr Patel was paralysed in his arms and legs after officers forced him to the ground, his face bloodied.