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Eric Parker Returns to Active Duty

Eric Parker
Brynn Anderson
/
Associated Press
Former Madison police officer Eric Parker enters federal court in Huntsville

A Madison police officer is returning to active duty today after being acquitted of civil rights charges earlier this year.

Eric Parker is back on the Madison Police Department and is returning to active duty today. The move comes after acting police chief Major Jim Cooke decided Parker’s sidewalk stop and takedown of Sureshbhai Patel in February 2015 did not violate department policy.

Parker faced state and federal charges after slamming the 58-year-old man to the ground during a confrontation. Patel was partially paralyzed and underwent spinal surgery.

Two federal civil rights trials last year ended in hung juries, and a judge ultimately acquitted Parker of charges. The State of Alabama dropped its assault charges against Parker as well.

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