Alabama police officers have left a 57-year-old Indian grandfather partially paralyzed after an altercation occurred while they were searching for a "suspicious person."
Sureshbhai Patel, who is from India and was visiting his son, was walking in his son's neighborhood last Friday when he was stopped by police who said they had heard reports of a suspicious person walking on neighbors' driveways and looking into people's garages, according to Al.com.
"The caller, who lives in the neighborhood, did not recognize the subject and thought him to be suspicious," a statement from Madison Police said.
Since Patel doesn't speak English, "there was a communication barrier" with the police officers.
"The subject began putting his hands in his pockets," reads a police statement obtained by Al.com. "Officers attempted to pat the subject down and he attempted to pull away. The subject was forced to the ground, which resulted in injury to his neck that required paramedics, hospitalization, and later, cervical fusion surgery to fuse two vertebrae due to swelling in the spine."
But according to Patel, he never strayed from the sidewalk and neither did he pull away when police patted him down. Additionally, his son told CNN Affiliate WHNT that his father tried to communicate with officers, telling them "No English. Indian," when they approached and also gave them his address while pointing to his residence.
Following the encounter, the 57-year-old victim has been left temporarily paralyzed in Huntsville Hospital. Even if he makes full recovery, the medical bills will cost $100,000, lawyer Henry F. Sherrod told Al Jazeera America.
A week ago, Patel had traveled to the U.S. to help his son, Chirag Patel, and daughter-in-law care for their 17-month-old developmentally delayed baby since Chirag worked as an engineer while also attending graduate school at the University of Alabama.
Now, Patel's lawyer is claiming that he doesn't buy the cops' version of events. "I give it no credence," Sherrod said, adding that he has filed a lawsuit for damages, including Patel's medical bills.
"This is broad daylight, walking down the street," said Sherrod, "There is nothing suspicious about Mr. Patel other than he has brown skin."
"We are preparing to file a lawsuit against the City of Madison, Alabama, and the officer who injured Mr. Patel," Sherrod told NBC News, "The lawsuit will include claims for violations of Mr. Patel's constitutional rights. Presently, however, the City of Madison is refusing to release the officer's name and refusing to provide the media or the family with audio and video of the incident."
"I hope the outcome is that Mr. Patel makes a complete recovery and that we achieve some measure of justice for him," he added.
"I have instructed the Office of Professional Standard's Lieutenant to conduct a thorough investigation into the entire incident. I understand everyone's desire for immediate action, but that would be reckless, and could potentially lead to injustice," said Madison Police Chief Larry R. Muncey in a statement. "When the investigation is complete, we will be open and transparent with our findings."
Meanwhile the officer involved in the incident has been placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete, The Huffington Post reported.
