Alabama governor apologizes for police assault that left visitor from India partially paralyzed

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) has written a letter to the government of India, apologizing for the actions of two police officers who seriously injured a man visiting from the country.

Sureshbhai Patel, 57, was in the city of Madison to help care for his 17-month-old grandson, Time reports. He was stopped by two police officers near his son's house, and was left partially paralyzed after he was thrown to the ground. "I deeply regret the unfortunate use of excessive force by the Madison Police Department on Sureshbhai Patel and for the injuries sustained by Mr. Patel," Bentley wrote to Ajut Kumar, Indian Consul General in Atlanta. "I sincerely hope that Mr. Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs."

An investigation is already underway by the FBI, and Bentley said he has initiated another by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. One of the officers, 26-year-old Eric Parker, was fired after he turned himself in once dashcam footage of the incident was released, Time says. He has pleaded not guilty to assault charges.

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