Gov. Robert Bentley today apologized to the government of India for the injuries suffered by an Indian grandfather during an encounter with a police officer while visiting his family in Madison. 
 
 "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 Consul General Ajit Kumar in Atlanta. "I sincerely hope that Mr. Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs." 
 
 Bentley said he has instructed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to conduct an investigation into the incident parallel to one being done by the FBI. 
 
 "I wish to assure you and the government of India that we will see that justice is done arising from the use of excessive force under color of state law upon a citizen of India," Bentley wrote. 
 
 Bentley also thanked Kumar for his visit to Alabama on Monday. 
 
 Read Gov. Bentley's letter.pdf 
 
 Former Madison Police Officer Eric Sloan Parker, 26, pleaded not guilty today to third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. Parker was fired after the Feb. 6 incident. 
 
 This story was edited at 5:48 p.m. to correct quote from Bentley's letter to say "citizen of India." ||||| Sureshbhai Patel, 57, had recently arrived to the United States to help his son and daughter-in-law care for their 17-month-old child.Less than a week later, Patel was approached by the Madison Police Department in response to a suspicious person call. Sureshbhai, who does not speak English, struggled to communicate with the police. In an attempt to search him, Patel was forced to the ground by an officer and severly injured (left partially paralyzed).Patel underwent surgery the next day at Huntsville Hospital where doctors performed a cervical fusion. Sureshbhai faces a long recovery and is only beginning to regain feeling in his arms and one leg.The family has hired a local attorney to sue the Madison Police Department.(Aakash) - I'm a member of the Indian community supporting this cause. I've spoken directly with Hank Sherrod (family attorney) and Chirag Patel (the son of Sureshbhai) to get approval for starting this Go Fund Me. All donation withdrawals from the Go Fund Me will be managed by the family of Sureshbhai -- I can not personally authorize or request any withdrawals from this campaign.Please reach out directly if you have any questions, thank you for your support.Video:Link to Articles:
– Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has apologized to the government of India for "the unfortunate use of excessive force" that left an Indian man partially paralyzed and in need of spinal surgery, AL.com reports. Officer Eric Parker allegedly slammed Sureshbhai Patel, 57, to the ground while he walked in Madison, where he was visiting his son and helping look after his grandson. "I deeply regret" the action and "the injuries sustained by Mr. Patel," Bentley wrote in a letter to Consul General Ajit Kumar in Atlanta. "I sincerely hope that Mr. Patel continues to improve and that he will regain full use of his legs." Parker, 26, who was fired following the incident, pleaded not guilty to third-degree assault in writing yesterday. A bench trial is scheduled for April, AL.com reports. "We will see that justice is done arising from the use of excessive force under color of state law upon a citizen of India," Bentley continued in the letter. Though the FBI is already investigating, Bentley also called on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to review the incident. Patel has since been moved from a hospital to a rehabilitation center, where his lawyer says he is recovering but still unable to walk, the Times of India reports. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $190,000 for his recovery. Meanwhile, Patel's lawyer has filed a federal lawsuit claiming Madison police used excessive force and weren't authorized to search Patel. He says the incident wasn't race related but is instead "about police abuse of power and police accountability."