A federal judge in Alabama has thrown out a case of an officer accused of using excessive force against an elderly Indian man. This comes as prosecutors were considering a third trial.
U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala granted a motion of acquittal Wednesday in the case of Madison police officer Eric Parker. Parker was accused of violating the civil rights of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel.
This case has already been heard twice. Both trials ended in deadlock. In her decision, Haikala said the court has no reason to expect a different outcome.
In February of last year, Parker was seen on video slamming Patel to the ground after stopping him for a suspicious person call.
Parker said Patel tried to pull away from him during a pat down.
Patel, who does not speak English, has said through an interpreter that he did not resist.