U.S. attorney Joyce White Vance released a response to Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala’s order of acquittal of Madison Police officer Eric Parker:
“My office was fully committed to retrying this case and seeking justice for Mr. Sureshbhai Patel,” said U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance. “We believe that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the government, as it must be at this stage in the case, was sufficient to let a jury decide whether a crime was committed. Instead, the judge has ruled the case is over and there will not be a retrial. The law protects non-citizens and citizens alike from the use of excessive force by police officers,” Vance said. “Where you were born shouldn’t change how you are treated by the police. Everyone in this country must be able to trust law enforcement. We remain committed to prosecuting those few officers who cross the line and use unreasonable force.”
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