In a surprising move, Oklahoma’s Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond dismissed felony assault charges against a police officer involved in a troubling incident with a 71-year-old man. The case stemmed from a traffic dispute that quickly escalated into an altercation.
The incident occurred on October 27, following a minor traffic accident in Oklahoma City. Police Sgt. Joseph Gibson, 28, was arguing with Lich Vu, 71, when the situation took a violent turn. Body camera footage showed Gibson slamming Vu to the ground, breaking his neck and causing a brain bleed and eye socket injury. The video sparked outrage and led to criminal charges, but Drummond decided to step in and drop the felony assault charge against the officer.
In a statement, Drummond defended his decision, saying, “I will not allow Oklahoma police officers to face criminal charges for actions that follow their training.” He acknowledged the tragedy for Vu and his family but argued that the officer didn’t act with criminal intent.
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, who had originally pressed charges against Gibson, expressed disappointment over the AG’s intervention, stating she was “surprised and disappointed” by Drummond’s decision to remove the case from her office.
This case has stirred up strong emotions and questions about police conduct and accountability in Oklahoma. What are your thoughts? Let us know!
