Former Madison police officer Eric Parker, 26, was indicted on one federal felony charge March 27 as a result of the bodily harm he inflicted on Sureshbhai Patel on Feb. 6. (File photo/Contributed)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

Former Madison Police officer Eric Parker is now facing federal charges stemming from his Feb. 6 confrontation with 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel.

U.S. District Attorney Joyce Vance announced March 27 in Birmingham that Parker was indicted on a federal felony count of using unreasonable force against Patel that resulted in bodily injury. The indictment was filed March 26.

The indictment went on further to state that Parker violated the U.S. Constitution “specifically, the right to be free from unreasonable seizures, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by one acting under color of law.”

The charge could put Parker in federal prison for the next 10 years.

Vanita Gupta, acting assistant attorney general with the Civil Right Division in the U.S. Department of Justice, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger Stanton also attended the press conference announcing the charges.

“Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and protect the public. The public must be able to trust the police,” Vance said in a press release from her office. “Law enforcement officers who violate their oath to protect and use excessive force must be brought to justice.”

The federal civil right charge is in addition to the third-degree assault charge Parker faces in Limestone County. Parker has elected to undergo a bench trial on April 29 in the County’s district court.

His confrontation with Patel occurred on Hardiman Place Lane, which is in the Limestone County portion of Madison.

Police Chief Larry Muncey recommended Parker be fired on the same day he was arrested, on Feb. 12, six days after the incident.

Patel underwent cervical fusion surgery after Parker slammed his to the ground. After the surgery Patel was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Huntsville, where he has now been for over a month.