Governor apologizes for police treatment of Indian man
Source: Associated Press
Governor apologizes for police treatment of Indian man
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press | February 17, 2015 | Updated: February 17, 2015 5:02pm
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley apologized to the Indian government for the treatment of an Indian man who was roughed-up by police, calling the case one of "excessive force" in a letter made public Tuesday.
Bentley's office released a letter to Indian general consul Ajit Kumar a day after the two men met to discuss the case involving 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel (suh-RESH'-beye pah-TEL'), who was hurt in a confrontation with Madison police while visiting relatives earlier this month.
Audio and video recordings released by police show Patel was slammed face-first to the ground by an officer responding to a call about someone walking in a subdivision in the town, a bedroom community of Huntsville.
Patel suffered injuries including partial paralysis in his legs, and his attorney said he now is in rehabilitation after leaving a hospital Monday. The man has filed a federal lawsuit over his treatment.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Man-injured-in-Alabama-police-confrontation-in-6085787.php
Roland99
(53,342 posts)NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)Oh right! This guy has an R next to his name...
secondvariety
(1,245 posts)showing up at the hospital and apologizing to the victim? What a coward.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)It is not a southern town. The area is run on brain power. Lots of high tech. Cops are not as bad as most places.
You just do not fuck with the help - they are all very smart.
pennylane100
(3,425 posts)He is a very liberal person and I think that the whole town is a blue oasis in a red state.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)NASA and the Army Missile Command imported many tens of thousands of smart people. Lots of technology spinoffs. Huntsville is like no other place I have ever lived. Not really liberal as much as very tolerant.
pennylane100
(3,425 posts)I do not know Alabama well. We stayed the night there many years ago while driving up north but my perception is that it is not too plentiful in that state. So I think that Huntsville would be a good choice if I had to live there. My friend works at NASA and I believe that the employees there are from all over the country.
DAMANgoldberg
(1,278 posts)a bit over an hour from Huntsville, and now living in NC, I can attest to Huntsville's tolerance and as Alabama goes, "liberal" streak. Local pols are of the "southern conservative democrat" strain, the Sam Nunn, Fritz Hollings, Phil Bredesen, Lawton Childs wing of the party. In a way, Huntsville is the closest thing to liberal southern paradise outside of Buncombe County NC.
I am surprised that this happened in Madison, but it looks like they have made an attempt to address the matter, which could happen in any county in Alabama and not handled the same way.
JI7
(89,264 posts)Especially of minorities are blue. And this is a state official , not local. And represents mostly red state.
We have to give credit for doing the right thing.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)done this to an american black, all this would HAVE NEVER happened. In fact that cop would be a hero in that town and would probably have a real fat bank account growing.
Telcontar
(660 posts)So you can donate to his defense fund.
https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/1135321
I recommend the community comments, people are donating one dollar so they can tell him off. Love it.