An Oklahoma police officer is under investigation following the release of body-worn camera footage that shows him forcefully throwing a 70-year-old man to the ground during a traffic ticket dispute. The Oklahoma City Police Department reported that the elderly man, Lich Vu, was hospitalized after the October 27 incident, suffering from “serious injuries,” including a brain bleed and a neck injury.
According to USA TODAY, Thuan Nguyen, President-elect of the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma, visited Vu in the hospital last week, finding him on a feeding tube. Nguyen expressed the community’s concern for justice, emphasizing that “these things don’t happen to another person.”
The officer involved, Joseph Gibson, has been placed on administrative leave while the department conducts an internal investigation. Findings will be sent to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office upon completion of the review. “The Oklahoma City Police Department is dedicated to transparency and accountability,” said the department in a statement, asking for public patience as the investigation unfolds.
The incident began with a minor vehicle collision involving Vu, who initially refused to sign a citation for an improper U-turn. Bodycam footage shows a tense interaction between Vu and Officer Gibson, with Vu eventually challenging the officer and saying, “I’m ready to go to jail.” The exchange escalated when Vu appeared to tap Gibson’s chest, prompting Gibson to forcibly throw him to the ground. Vu lay motionless afterward as a bystander requested an ambulance.
In response, local Vietnamese American leaders met with the Oklahoma City police chief, seeking accountability and change. Nguyen highlighted issues of implicit bias and language barriers in community-police interactions. With more than 1,000 people reportedly killed by law enforcement this year in the U.S., according to Mapping Police Violence, community advocates are calling for increased awareness and training on citizens’ rights in encounters with police.