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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — The latest in the trial of an Alabama police officer accused of using excessive force against an Indian grandfather. All times are local.
7:45 p.m.
A jury has stopped deliberating for the day in the trial of an Alabama police officer who prosecutors say used excessive force against an Indian grandfather.
Jurors plan to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Thursday.
They received the case Wednesday afternoon after Madison police officer Eric Parker testified in his own defense.
Parker says he lost his balance as he took down 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel (suh-REHSH'-by pah-TEL').
Prosecutors say he intentionally took Patel's legs out after the man didn't follow the officer's commands.
Patel testified through an interpreter he didn't understand Parker's orders and wasn't resisting. A neurosurgeon said Patel suffered spinal trauma and was partially paralyzed in the February fall.
Jurors are deciding if Parker violated Patel's civil rights. Parker also faces a state assault charge.
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2:50 p.m.
The defense has rested its case in the trial of an Alabama police officer accused of using excessive force against an Indian grandfather.
Madison police officer Eric Parker testified in his own defense Wednesday and his attorney called two character witnesses to briefly testify about Parker's good reputation in the local community.
Federal prosecutors say Parker deliberately swept one of his legs in front of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel (suh-REHSH'-by pah-TEL') to bring him to the ground while investigating a suspicious person complaint.
Parker says he lost his balance.
Patel testified through an interpreter he didn't understand Parker's commands in February and wasn't resisting. A neurosurgeon said Patel suffered spinal trauma in the fall.
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12:30 p.m.
The Alabama police officer on trial charged with using excessive force against an Indian grandfather says he did not use a leg sweep to slam the man to the ground.
But Madison police officer Eric Parker testified in his own defense Wednesday that he has used a similar maneuver on other suspects.
Federal prosecutors say Parker deliberately swept one of his legs in front of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel (suh-REHSH'-by pah-TEL' while investigating a suspicious person complaint. Patel testified through an interpreter he didn't understand Parker's commands.
Parker was shown an enlarged video in slow motion of the Feb. 6 encounter and told prosecutors that he lost his balance as he was trying to take Patel down.
Parker says he wasn't trained to use the maneuver, but has done so before without injuring people.
Patel was partially paralyzed in the fall.
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9:15 a.m.
The Alabama police officer accused of using excessive force against an Indian grandfather who testified he didn't understand commands given in English says the man reached in his pockets and defied his orders.
Madison police officer Eric Parker took the stand in his own defense Wednesday in his federal trial.
Parker says he and 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel (suh-REHSH'-by pah-TEL') both slipped as he tried to take him to the ground. Patel was partially paralyzed after the fall.
Parker is testifying in the second week of his trial. Much of the testimony has surrounded how Parker swept Patel's legs in an unusual technique.
Patel denied resisting officers. He testified through an interpreter that he doesn't speak English and was walking through his son's neighborhood when Parker stopped him on Feb. 6.
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