The Oklahoma City police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man onto the ground after a visitors cease has been charged with one depend of aggravated assault and battery, the native district legal professional introduced Thursday.
Body digital camera footage from the Oct. 27, 2024 incident confirmed Sgt. Joseph Gibson cease Lich Vu, 71, for an unlawful U-turn after a minor incident.
In the footage, Vu denied making U-turn, stated his automobile was hit by one other individual and the officer requested him to signal the quotation. Vu finally acquired out of the automobile and the 2 acquired right into a verbal argument that escalated.
Security video footage from a close-by enterprise confirmed that Vu appeared to the touch the officer’s arm and Gibson instantly grabbed Vu’s hand, pulled it behind his again and threw him onto the ground. The interplay occurred inside seconds and pictures confirmed Vu hit the pavement headfirst.
Vu was hospitalized with vital accidents together with an orbital fracture, neck fracture and mind bleed.
District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna stated in an announcement that her workplace takes “all use-of-force incidents very significantly” and “on this explicit case decided the Officer’s actions had been an unreasonable use-of-force.”
Under state legislation, an assault and battery is taken into account aggravated when nice bodily harm is inflicted and when it’s dedicated by “an individual of strong well being or power upon one who’s aged, decrepit, or incapacitated.”
Oklahoma City police declined to remark Friday on the cost, however stated Gibson stays on administrative depart.
If convicted by a jury, the vary of punishment for aggravated assault and battery is zero to 5 years within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections or zero to at least one yr within the Oklahoma County Detention Center and/or a nice of as much as $500.
The incident sparked outrage among the many Vietnamese group.
“I really feel like that is the due technique of justice in its greatest type,” Thuan Nguyen, the President-Elect for the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma, informed NBC affiliate KFOR, on the officer cost.
Nguyen stated that he’s stayed in contact with the Vu household and he’s now at house, however remains to be recovering.
“Still in loads of state of confusion,” Nguyen stated. “I do know that he might not be capable to stroll once more.”
The Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police stated Thursday it stands in help of Gibson, who they allege “dealt with this name for service with professionalism.”
“It could be very disappointing to see a police officer face felony expenses for actions taken in good religion whereas serving within the line of obligation. Sgt. Gibson adopted his de-escalation coaching and protocol when assaulted,” President Mark Nelson stated in a statement. “We acknowledge the accidents that Mr. Vu sustained, and we’re sympathetic to him and his household. However, we imagine strongly that each element of this incident issues and must be thought-about.”
“We are deeply involved in regards to the impression this charging determination could have on the power of officers to depend on their coaching {and professional} judgment to protect order and shield the general public,” the assertion concluded.
