The Oklahoma City police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man onto the bottom after a visitors cease has been charged with one rely of aggravated assault and battery, the native district lawyer introduced Thursday.
Body digicam 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 photographs 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 a press release that her workplace takes “all use-of-force incidents very critically” and “on this specific case decided the Officer’s actions have been an unreasonable use-of-force.”
Under state regulation, an assault and battery is taken into account aggravated when nice bodily damage is inflicted and when it’s dedicated by “an individual of sturdy 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 go away.
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 1 yr within the Oklahoma County Detention Center and/or a effective of as much as $500.
The incident sparked outrage among the many Vietnamese neighborhood.
“I really feel like that is the due strategy of justice in its finest kind,” 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 dwelling, however remains to be recovering.
“Still in a whole lot of state of confusion,” Nguyen stated. “I do know that he might not have the ability 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 may be very disappointing to see a police officer face felony prices for actions taken in good religion whereas serving within the line of responsibility. Sgt. Gibson adopted his de-escalation coaching and protocol when assaulted,” President Mark Nelson stated in a assertion. “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 of.”
“We are deeply involved concerning the impression this charging determination can 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.