A 71-year-old man with bone cancer was left with a brain hemorrhage and a neck fracture after being thrown to the ground by an Oklahoma City police officer last month. The incident occurred when the elderly man refused to sign a citation for making an improper U-turn.
Lich Vu, who is Vietnamese and struggles with English, remains in the hospital, on a feeding tube, with his family fearing he may not survive the injuries. Vu, along with his wife, had just left church and were heading to a shelter to feed the homeless when they were involved in a minor collision with another vehicle, according to News 9.
Oklahoma City police officer Joseph Gibson has been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is under review. The body camera footage has been released, showing Gibson grabbing Vu by the wrist and forcefully spinning him to the ground. This happened after Vu lightly tapped the officer on the chest and told him to “shut up” during an argument over the citation, which appeared to provoke the officer.
“Get on the ground,” Gibson commands as he forces Vu face-first onto the asphalt and handcuffs him.
Security footage from a nearby business provided a broader view of the incident, confirming that Vu was not physically threatening the officer. He merely tapped the officer’s chest, who was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Gibson, however, claimed in his report that Vu had struck him with the back of his right hand before gesturing for him to be quiet. He wrote that he pulled Vu’s arm, causing him to fall to the ground. As Vu fell, his forehead hit the asphalt. Gibson observed a knot and laceration on Vu’s forehead and noted that Vu appeared unconscious and unresponsive. He called for emergency services immediately.
Gibson, hired in 2018, earns over $83,000 annually, according to Open Payrolls.
The Backlash
The incident took place on October 27 when Vu attempted a U-turn at an intersection and collided with another car. While the crash video has not been released, body camera footage shows Gibson issuing a citation to the other driver for an expired tag.
Vu, appearing confused, questioned why he was being cited, saying, “She hit me.” The officer explained that signing the citation was not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment of receipt. Oklahoma law permits officers to arrest individuals who refuse to sign citations.
Vu’s daughter, Teresa Vu, expressed her anger on Facebook, criticizing the Oklahoma City Police Department for their treatment of her father, stating, “I will never forget this, especially if my dad cannot recover and passes away.” She added, “No matter our differences, I love you, Dad. I’m sorry this happened to you.”
The Oklahoma City Police Department issued a statement saying the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office would investigate the incident, but it would take time before a decision is made. They assured the public that the case would be thoroughly examined, and they asked for patience during the review process.
More than 10,000 Vietnamese people live in Oklahoma City, particularly in the “Little Saigon” neighborhood, where many settled as refugees following the Vietnam War.
Thuan Nguyen, President-elect of the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma, said, “For a police officer to think that a 71-year-old man could actually intentionally hurt him… Our Asian community feels an implicit bias.”
Nguyen further explained that Vu and his wife had planned to change clothes before going to the shelter but never made it due to the incident. The community has vowed to hold the police accountable, calling for proper training for officers and cadets.
Vu’s daughter provided an update on her father’s condition, stating that he is now conscious, able to speak, and recognizes people, though he struggles with memory. He is unable to swallow due to his neck fracture and has a feeding tube. He will undergo surgery for his brain injury on Friday.
“We’re still going to fight for justice; this isn’t over yet,” she wrote.