OCPD Investigates Incident Involving 70-Year-Old Man & Officer Placed On Administrative Leave

On October 27, an interaction between an Oklahoma City Police officer and an elderly man led to the man’s hospitalization.

OCPD is investigating the incident and has placed the officer involved, Joseph Gibson, on paid leave.

According to police, 70-year-old Lich Vu was involved in a car crash and was detained after refusing to sign a traffic citation.

A photo shared on social media by Vu's daughter shows him handcuffed on the ground next to an officer, while another image reveals facial injuries sustained during the encounter.

Oklahoma City Police released a statement to News 9 saying:

"We understand the concerns this has raised in our community, and we want to assure you this incident is being taken very seriously. An investigation began immediately after the incident occurred and is currently ongoing."

News 9 first reported on the incident on October 31 and has since collected more information from police and official records, including body camera footage provided by OCPD.

Initial story: 70-Year-Old Man Hospitalized Following Police Incident

Here is what we know:

What the video provided by police shows:

OCPD released body camera footage of the interaction on Nov. 8, 2024, along with a statement:

Vu can be seen in the video refusing to sign a ticket.

In the video, he began arguing with the officer before hitting him in the chest with the back of his hand and telling him to “shut up.”

The officer grabbed the elderly man’s arm and threw him on the ground.

The video showed Vu motionless on the ground while being handcuffed. 

Link to video: https://youtu.be/3SQQMVytLwo

Editors Note: The contents of the video may be disturbing to watch. Viewer discretion is advised.

What the police report says:

According to the police report, the incident began with a car crash on Northwest 39th Street near Meridian Avenue, where a driver struck Vu’s vehicle after he made an improper u-turn.

The report said the drivers confronted each other before officers arrived.

Police say Vu allegedly tried to reach into the other driver’s car and made comments about punching her, though he did not touch her.

The officer issued tickets to both drivers, but Vu reportedly refused to sign his ticket.

Police say that during an argument with the officer, Vu struck the officer’s chest with the back of his hand.

In the police report, the officer said as he was attempting to restrain Vu, Vu fell to the ground. 

The officer's report states,

"I pulled on Lich's arm, and he fell to the ground. While Lich was falling, I instructed get on the ground, knowing that Lich was going to the ground. While he was falling his face was parallel to the ground. Lich's forehead hit the ground. I observed a laceration and a knot on his forehead. I placed Lich in handcuffs and observed Lich not respond and appeared to be unconscious. It appeared to me that Lich was breathing. I called for Fire, EMSA, and a supervisor over the radio."

What the family tells us:

Vu’s family said they believe the officer used excessive force. 

Photos provided by Vu's daughter show him handcuffed on the ground during the incident.

Vu’s daughter told News 9 that he had surgery on Friday to repair a brain bleed. She added that her dad has a fractured neck, causing him to need a feeding tube. 

She said the incident had caused her father to be in ICU for several days following the incident.

Vu's daughter also shared on social media that he is still hospitalized as of Nov. 12 but is now conscious.

What the District Attorney says about the investigation:

The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office released a statement on Nov. 12 that said:

The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office is aware of a use of force incident involving an Oklahoma City Police officer and an elderly man that occurred on October 27, 2024. While the incident was recorded on body worn camera, as well as a camera from a nearby business, a thorough investigation must take place. That investigation is currently ongoing.

PLEASE NOTE:

• The DA’s Office does not investigate cases.

• The DA’s Office does not make arrests.

• The DA’s Office cannot charge a case until the investigation has been completed and presented to our office.

We believe in transparency and when the investigation has been presented to our office, thoroughly reviewed, and a charging decision made, that information will be released to the public.

What OCPD Chief Ron Bacy said about the investigation:

In response to growing public concern, Chief Bacy emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, explaining how the investigation will proceed.

“I think anyone can acknowledge that the video is disturbing, and we understand the community concerns that have arisen from it,” Bacy said. “We definitely understand that emotions are high right now. What’s important for people to understand is, as chief of police, my job is to ensure a fair and thorough investigation to provide due process for all involved parties.”

The chief addressed questions about the fairness of an internal investigation, given that police officers are investigating one of their own. Bacy said the process would be independent and thorough.

“When we complete our investigation, this is a criminal investigation, and it’s going to be forwarded to and reviewed by a prosecuting authority, which is completely independent from the police department,” Bacy said. “They will make an assessment on that on their own. On the back end of the criminal investigation, we’ll have an administrative investigation, which will also be internal. Once all of those cases reach final disposition, they will be presented to our Public Safety Community Advisory Board. This board is comprised of members appointed by the city council and the mayor’s office, and it provides the community perspective on this incident and feedback as well.”

Other Information:

News 9 discovered that the officer, Gibson, has been with OKCPD for six years and does not have a publicly available disciplinary record. However, it is worth noting that use-of-force complaints are not considered open records.