An Oklahoma City Police officer faces charges following a violent encounter with a 71-year-old Vietnamese man that left the elderly man with serious injuries. Sergeant Joseph Gibson, 28, was charged with one count of aggravated assault and battery after body-worn camera footage showed him throwing Lich Vu to the ground during a dispute over a traffic citation on October 27.
Affidavits suggest that Vu, who had been in a minor traffic accident prior to the altercation, was arguing with Gibson about the nature of the incident when he touched the officer's arm. The situation escalated sharply and, as reported by CBS News, Vu was then forcefully taken down, resulting in a brain bleed, a broken neck, and an orbital fracture. Vu remains hospitalized due to the severity of his injuries.
The case, which has sparked significant public outcry and concern from the local Asian community, led Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna to directly file the charge against Gibson without convening a grand jury. "The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office takes all use-of-force incidents very seriously," Behenna stated, as per a KFOR report. "We evaluate the law and the facts in each individual case, and in this particular case determined the Officer's actions were an unreasonable use-of-force."
Despite the charges, the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 123 expressed support for Gibson. According to a statement obtained by NonDoc, FOP president Mark Nelson said, "The OKC FOP stands behind Sgt. Gibson, who handled this call for service with professionalism. It is very disappointing to see a police officer face felony charges for actions taken in good faith while serving in the line of duty." Nelson also emphasized that Gibson followed his training when "assaulted" by Vu, acknowledging the injuries sustained by Vu but urging that every detail of the incident be considered.
Community reactions have been both powerful and, emotional, with Thuan Nguyen, President-Elect for the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma, telling NonDoc that the force used was "very, very much uncalled for excessive force." The incident has further illuminated systemic issues within policing and the use-of-force protocols that are supposed to guide when, and how, such measures are deployed. OKC resident Lou Esjornson voiced her concerns to the City Council, remarking, "This is the type of behavior we have come to expect from our police department," calling for accountability and radical change.
If Gibson is found guilty, the charge of aggravated assault and battery could result in up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both, according to the information provided by the DA's office.
