Attorney General dismisses assault charge against officer who broke 71-year-old man's neck

In Oklahoma, an incident involving a police officer and a 71-year-old motorist, Lich Vu, on October 27 received widespread attention. During an argument over a traffic ticket related to a minor accident, officer Joseph Gibson was recorded on body camera footage using substantial force against Vu. He threw Vu to the ground, resulting in serious injuries including a broken neck and a brain bleed. Following an investigation and the release of video evidence, the charge against Sergeant Gibson was filed on December 5 by Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna. On December 27, Attorney General Gentner Drummond intervened and dismissed the aggravated assault charge against Gibson, asserting that the officer acted within his training guidelines. Drummond's statement emphasized that he would not allow law enforcement officers to be prosecuted for actions in line with their training, arguing that Vu's actions in touching the officer during the encounter contributed to the escalation. Vu's family has expressed concern for his well-being following the incident. The incident sparked outrage within Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community due to their belief that Vu, who struggled to communicate effectively with the officer, did not understand the situation fully. Drummond reiterated that physical contact with law enforcement officers is unacceptable regardless of the individual's understanding of the language. Many in the community view the dismissal of the charges as a troubling precedent for police accountability. Additionally, former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, representing Gibson, supported the decision to drop the charges, describing it as well-reasoned. The Oklahoma City Police Department is still conducting an internal investigation regarding the use of force and whether Sergeant Gibson violated any departmental policies, which could lead to non-criminal consequences for him. Mark Nelson, the president of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police, noted the inherent risks involved in law enforcement work and expressed hope for Vu’s recovery.