Oklahoma AG Drops Assault Charge Against Officer in Incident With Elderly Man

The attorney general justified the decision by citing the officer's adherence to training, despite the injuries sustained by the 71-year-old man.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond dismissed an aggravated assault charge against Sgt. Joseph Gibson, 28, who threw 71-year-old Lich Vu to the ground during a traffic stop in October.
Body camera footage showed Vu touching Gibson’s arm during an argument over a traffic ticket, prompting the officer to throw him to the ground, resulting in a neck fracture, brain bleed, and other injuries.
Drummond stated the officer’s actions aligned with his training and lacked criminal intent, adding that no individual should physically engage with law enforcement officers.
The decision has drawn criticism from Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, who initially filed the charge, calling the officer's use of force unreasonable.
The incident has sparked outrage within Oklahoma City's Vietnamese community, with concerns raised about Vu's difficulty communicating with the officer due to language barriers.