Grandfather visiting AL from India left temporarily paralyzed after stopped by police during a walk

a reply to: Helious

Ya I guess I could come off on the caller a bit, people do need to be able to call and report what they are seeing.

Just don't like hearing that the reason the cops were called and then assaulted him is cause some lady felt the need to do so.

But yes the cops are the ones that should have been able to address this call with out the outcome that we see.

the 'takedown' certainly looks unnecessarily brutal.

originally posted by: Sremmos80
a reply to: Helious

Ya I guess I could come off on the caller a bit, people do need to be able to call and report what they are seeing.

Just don't like hearing that the reason the cops were called and then assaulted him is cause some lady felt the need to do so.

But yes the cops are the ones that should have been able to address this call with out the outcome that we see.

You know, the lady calling is her right, but with those rights comes responsibility. She could have stepped outdoors and smiled or waved. But, it seems nowadays people are just afraid of any interaction with others. It's easier for some folks to call the police and feel they have done their part. Miss the old days.

The police assume responsibility once they arrive on scene. There was no reason to assault someone because you don't speak the same language. That's what interpreters are for. That's what investigations are for. If the story heads in the direction it appears to be going, the police face a big lawsuit, and more bad publicity they don't need.

Why is it so hard for police departments and officers to understand now is not the time to be pulling such idiotic stunts, and they have to change their ways or face some serious consequences? George Wallace would be so proud.

a reply to: RoScoLaz4

Omg...

Freaking leg sweeped him! Hope they give us that audio during/before the take down.
This video is disgusting, this guy better face more then paid leave.
And ya retiredTxn, I know it is her right, but it is also my right to file a report but I can get in trouble if I lie about it or make a false report. I view the calls as the same.

There was no reason to assault someone because you don't speak the same language.

100% agree and am still standing firm that the language barrier was huge in this.
Not the fault of the man of course, but just he may not have understood what the cop was saying and we all know how some of them can get when you don't listen to them.

originally posted by: RoScoLaz4
the 'takedown' certainly looks unnecessarily brutal.

What do they think this is? Pro wrestling without the ropes?

Disgusting!

The police officer placed on leave after an incident that left an Indian man hospitalized last week has been charged with third-degree assault.

So urce

This source also has additional video taken from another dash cam as well as audio of the entire incident including the call that was made to the non-emergency line to set everything in motion.

originally posted by: FraggleRock

The police officer placed on leave after an incident that left an Indian man hospitalized last week has been charged with third-degree assault.

So urce

This source also has additional video taken from another dash cam as well as audio of the entire incident including the call that was made to the non-emergency line to set everything in motion.

So glad to see the police notice what we as a whole noticed.

I'm glad to see this creep getting fired!

originally posted by: sosobad
a reply to: MrWendal

"The caller, who lives in the neighborhood did not recognize the subject and thought him to be suspicious," reads the statement released by police.

"This is broad daylight, walking down the street. There is nothing suspicious about Mr. Patel other than he has brown skin," said Sherrod.

That is an excerpt from the op, read it. If you want to bury your head in the sand you are fully entitled to but don't try and ram your crap down everyone's neck.

Just what crap is it that I am "ramming" down people's necks? Maybe it is not me who needs to pull my head out of the sand, but it is you instead. I find it rather amusing that you can share your opinions on this forum and that is ok. If I share my opinion, that some how means I am "ramming" my "crap" onto others? Fact is, if by sharing my view I am "ramming" by beliefs onto others, then so are you by sharing your views.

What I see when I read the quoted portion of the article is one person's opinion. It is suggesting that the victim's son believes it is about race. Of course he is entitled to any opinion he wishes to have, but it is not evidence of racism. One person's opinion is not evidence of racism. Never has been. It has been my experience that people of color often cry racism when in fact none actually exist. Need an example? The other night I was at work. I had a black man who was causing all kinds of chaos and disruption with his behavior. Eventually, I had to cut him off and refuse to serve him. Of course he that some how meant I was a racist since I cut him off and he was black. The truth however is that it had nothing to do with race and everything to do with the fact that he was a-hole, but since he claimed I was being racist does that make it so?

Now your second post I find rather interesting. You posted a pic of a white man and asked if that white man had been walking down the street would he have been considered "suspicious"? So to that I have to ask, exactly who are you accusing of being racist here? Is it the cops or the person who called 911? The person who called 911 has no control over how the Police choose to respond. I also can not tell you if that same person would have called the Police if a white man was walking down the street. I can not possibly know that...and neither can you.

originally posted by: Sremmos80
Ya I get that people need to call the cops, but people need to do so reasonably.

The caller does have control of the police action, if they call in a suspicious person then they cops need to act accordingly.
Cops are going off only the info of the caller at times, so they greatly influence the response of the officers.

Again, it was the caller that got the cops out to the man, without that call it could be argued the man continues to walk down the street unmolested.

I also feel the need to reiterate, I completely blame the police as well, but if you call the hounds out then why do you get to wash your hands of the actions?

Also, the idea of this being racially charged is very possible and should be discussed.
Nothing gets solved by not talking about it.

I disagree. The 911 caller does not greatly influence the police response. Are you suggesting that based on the info of a 911 caller that Police some how manage to forget all of their training? They suddenly, based on the caller, stop following protocol? Do I even have to point out how absurd that idea is?

I would also like to know how is it "very possible" that race was the motivating factor? I am not saying it was not a factor, I am saying there is no evidence that it is a factor. There is a difference between the two. However, I do not argue based on speculation, I prefer to argue based on facts and the facts are that getting your ass beat by Police is no longer exclusive to people of color. Police beat the crap out of everybody these days regardless of color. If race was truly the motivating factor, then how do you explain cases like Kelly Thomas? How do explain away that case in NY where a white cop blasted a white man who was riding a bicycle during a bicycle related event? Or how about THIS case or THIS case? White men, beaten by Police.

Some posters here would have you believe the cops are racist and that's why they beat the Indian man. Others are suggesting that the 911 caller is racist and that is why he/she called the Cops to begin with. What truly amazes me is that some posters want to lump everyone involved and claim racism for everyone. So the 911 caller is racist and then those racist cops showed up.... I mean really. Do I have to point out just how ridiculous that is?

In response to your questions about "if you call out the hounds then why do you get to wash your hands of the actions"? That answer is simple... it's called personal responsibility for your own actions. When the average person calls the Cops, they expect a certain level of professionalism and they expect the law to be upheld. You really want to hold people accountable for the actions of Police who are supposed to know what the law actually is? You want to hold people accountable for the actions of Police who are supposed to be well trained? Come on!!

originally posted by: RoScoLaz4
the 'takedown' certainly looks unnecessarily brutal.

I do not call this a take down. The Police are holding his arms behind his back. The Officer then forces the upper torso downward while sweeping the leg. This is no take down.... this is an intentional face plant that is meant to inflict maximum damage.

I am happy to see this Officer is being charged with a crime, however do not be fooled. Under Alabama State Law this Officer is getting off with a slap on the wrist. Assault in the 3rd degree is Class A misdemeanor which is defined as :

(a) A person commits the crime of assault in the third degree if:
(1) With intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes physical injury to any person; or
(2) He recklessly causes physical injury to another person; or
(3) With criminal negligence he causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument; or
(4) With intent to prevent a peace officer from performing a lawful duty, he causes physical injury to any person.
(b) Assault in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

I would argue that this falls under 1st degree assault:

(a) A person commits the crime of assault in the first degree if:
(1) With intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he causes serious physical injury to any person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument; or
(2) With intent to disfigure another person seriously and permanently, or to destroy, amputate or disable permanently a member or organ of his body, he causes such an injury to any person; or
(3) Under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby causes serious physical injury to any person; or
(4) In the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of arson in the first degree, burglary in the first or second degree, escape in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, rape in the first degree, robbery in any degree, sodomy in the first degree or any other felony clearly dangerous to human life, or of immediate flight therefrom, he causes a serious physical injury to another person; or
(5) While driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or any combination thereof in violation of Section 32-5A-191 he causes serious bodily injury to the person of another with a motor vehicle.
(b) Assault in the first degree is a Class B felony.

Why? Because face planting a human being with his arms held behind his back on concrete would qualify as an intent to disfigure seriously or permanently and you are using that concrete as a weapon.

At the very least, it is 2nd degree assault which is also a Felony in Alabama.

(a) A person commits the crime of assault in the second degree if the person does any of the following:
(1) With intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he or she causes serious physical injury to any person.
(2) With intent to cause physical injury to another person, he or she causes physical injury to any person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.
3) He or she recklessly causes serious physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.
(4) With intent to prevent a peace officer, as defined in Section 36-21-60, a detention or correctional officer at any municipal or county jail or state penitentiary, emergency medical personnel, a utility worker, or a firefighter from performing a lawful duty, he or she intends to cause physical injury and he or she causes physical injury to any person. For the purpose of this subdivision, a person who is a peace officer who is employed or under contract while off duty by a private or public entity is a peace officer performing a lawful duty when the person is working in his or her approved uniform while off duty with the approval of his or her employing law enforcement agency. Provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed as amending, modifying, or extending the classification of a peace officer as off-duty for workers compensation purposes or any other benefits to which a peace officer may otherwise be entitled to under law when considered on-duty. Additionally, nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed as amending, modifying, or extending the tort liability of any municipality as a result of any action or inaction on the part of an off-duty police officer.
(5) With intent to cause physical injury to a teacher or to an employee of a public educational institution during or as a result of the performance of his or her duty, he or she causes physical injury to any person.
(6) With intent to cause physical injury to a health care worker, including a nurse, physician, technician, or any other person employed by or practicing at a hospital as defined in Section 22-21-20; a county or district health department; a long-term care facility; or a physician's office, clinic, or outpatient treatment facility during the course of or as a result of the performance of the duties of the health care worker or other person employed by or practicing at the hospital; the county or district health department; any health care facility owned or operated by the State of Alabama; the long-term care facility; or the physician's office, clinic, or outpatient treatment facility; he or she causes physical injury to any person. This subdivision shall not apply to assaults by patients who are impaired by medication or to assaults on home health care workers while they are in private residences.
(7) For a purpose other than lawful medical or therapeutic treatment, he or she intentionally causes stupor, unconsciousness, or other physical or mental impairment or injury to another person by administering to him or her, without his or her consent, a drug, substance or preparation capable of producing the intended harm.
(b) Assault in the second degree is a Class C felony.

Sorry but charging this Officer with 3rd degree assault is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. It is a misdemeanor charge that would allow him to continue a career in law enforcement.

Is there anyone here who thinks that it is a good idea to allow a law enforcement Officer to continue his career in law enforcement after watching this video? He paralyzed another man, who was breaking no laws, just because he could not speak English.

Furthermore.... I the difference between 3rd degree assault and 1st or 2nd degree assault is the level of injury. I think causing enough damage as to cause a person to become paralyzed and require that a person's spine be fused qualifies as a "serious" injury and not simply "causing injury".

a reply to: MrWendal

Ya I have backed away from putting this back to the caller, was heated when I said it and tried to back peddle cause, well no good reason other then being ornery.
Foot in mouth, I apologize.
The caller has a right to call, but I do still think the initial call does influence the response until the cops are able to figure it out them self's but that doesn't always happen right away and they will fall back on what the initial call says/said when it comes to those great pressers we get to see.

This really all comes down to the cops that couldn't handle a man that didn't understand what was going on and felt since words couldn't make him listen, physical force was the next best thing.

And yes, it is very possible race had something to do with this, sorry but that is world we live in. We are talking alabama here.

Those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
What facts do you have that it wasn't racially motivated?

Race issues in this great country are a real thing, something that has not be overcome and still exist.
It needs to be brought up.
Not like jesse and al, but not eliminating it as a possibility cause "we are tired of hearing about it"

And just cause some white people get beat up too doesn't mean it doesn't exist, I really hope that wasn't the point of bringing that up.

originally posted by: Anyafaj

So glad to see the police notice what we as a whole noticed.

I'm glad to see this creep getting fired!

They didn't. What the Police are charging this Officer with is a joke. Some people would be happy to see him being charged, but the reality is that his department is actually protecting his career by charging him the way they are and not the way they should be.

a reply to: Sremmos80

I have not said racism doesn't exist. It does. What I have said is that I would not cry racism without evidence of racism. If you have audio of one of these Officers calling the man a "dot head" then I would be in line with you 100% and saying that race is a factor, but that has not happened here. There is nothing being reported that indicates race played a role.

You asked me to prove race is not a factor, but I can not prove a negative. No one can.

And yes this is Alabama where racism was once VERY prevalent, but guess what? People in the north owned slaves too. Linking a video from 60 + years ago is not evidence of racism today no more than me mentioning that Richmond Virgina has the second largest Slave market in the US behind New Orleans. Does that make the people in Richmond racist today? No.

If you have any evidence that race played a role in this case, please share it. It's your claim, so what are you seeing that proves racism? Not every person of color who gets beat up by Cops is beaten because of race. That is my point by showing white men beaten by Cops. Not that racism doesn't exist. It's that Cops beat up everybody these days and it is no longer a racial issue. THAT was my point.

originally posted by: sosobad
a reply to: MrWendal

If it had been this fella walking down the street would the cops have still been called? Please

I probably would've been even more suspicious, LOL.

This story is terrible and it goes to show that this LEO brutality problem is not getting any better.

I hope they sue and win a lot of money for the injuries he suffered. This man's life is forever changed and for what?

Ridiculousness at it's finest.

a reply to: MrWendal

I am not saying it did without a doubt, just that it is a possibility that it did.
I can speculate that it did have a role just as you can speculate it didn't.

And yes the video is 60 years old, but it happened and there are still people in that mind set.
It was also just to show how the state mentality was at that time where people are still alive and kicking.

I will agree most cops are equal opportunity givers of their beat downs.
But I won't ever throw out the idea that race had no part in some one going that little bit extra on some one.

Like you said in your post outlining why his charge is bs, one which I agree 100%, this cop put some extra sauce on this take down.

a reply to: MrWendal

Well then what was the valid reason for calling the cops then? Reports say he was simply walking down the road, so why were they called? And yes if the curtain twitcher had spotted the guy I posted I believe 100% that the man would have continued on his merry way.

a reply to: sosobad

Well then what was the valid reason for calling the cops then?

I would hazard a guess because the caller was sitting at home being spoon fed fear from the media was in his/hers mind doing then right thing and helping keep the neighborhood safe....if that was the case pretty damn sad....

originally posted by: hopenotfeariswhatweneed
a reply to: sosobad

Well then what was the valid reason for calling the cops then?

I would hazard a guess because the caller was sitting at home being spoon fed fear from the media was in his/hers mind doing then right thing and helping keep the neighborhood safe....if that was the case pretty damn sad....

Oh don't worry I am under no illusion that the media feeds into the problem, granted yes he/she probably thought they were doing a service but as the reports state so far all this man done was go for a walk. That does not constitute a call to the cops or the vicious assault he then received from said thug cop.

Also to add after the assault, the cop started brushing off his shoulders cleaning him up like it was some service he was doing. #ing sick

a reply to: sosobad

I totally agree....So many cops these days are thugs with a badge and are beating our fellow citizens with impunity...even worse the corruption does not stop there it goes all the way to the top ....it is a really sad place this world we live in and it seems to be getting worse....there is an evil taking over and it is seemingly far from over

a reply to: Anyafaj

The Indian guy is moving forward the case into a lawsuit. And sues the officers in person. Which is good - they acted way beyond their badge on this case. The guy went by on his business, they took him down without ANY legal reason - and thus should be fired and made liable for pain caused.

Indian guy sues the cops

a reply to: MrWendal

In a 911 call to police that day, the caller identifies Patel as "a skinny black guy" he had never seen before walking around the neighborhood. The caller also said that he was following Patel from a distance, and that he was afraid to leave for work and leave his wife alone at home.

www.nbcnews.com...

Here you go, still wanna think race had no part to play in it?