United States Attorney Joyce White Vance
Northern District of Alabama
FORMER MADISON POLICE OFFICER INDICTED ON USE OF UNREASONABLE FORCE AGAINST A MAN HE WAS QUESTIONING
BIRMINGHAM – Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger C. Stanton today announced the indictment of a Madison police officer for using unreasonable force against a man he was attempting to question in February.
The one-count felony indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges that ERIC SLOAN PARKER, 26, of Toney, while acting in his official capacity as a police officer on Feb. 6 in Limestone County, injured a man by slamming him to the ground. The indictment identifies the victim only by initials, “S.P.”
“Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and protect the public. The public must be able to trust the police,” Vance said. “Law enforcement officers who violate their oath to protect and use excessive force must be brought to justice.”
According to the indictment, Parker’s actions deprived the victim of his right under the U.S. Constitution to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures, which includes the right to be free from unreasonable force by someone acting under color of law.
An indictment is only an allegation and does not constitute evidence of guilt on the part of the defendant.
The FBI investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey, Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell E. Penfield and DOJ Trial Attorney Henry C. Leventis of the Civil Rights Division and are prosecuting the case.
