The video footage released last Friday captures intense moments where an Oklahoma City officer is accused of using excessive force against 71-year-old Lich Vu, a local Vietnamese man, over a dispute that arose from a traffic violation. The video, filmed through the body camera of the officer, has stirred anger among people within the Vietnamese community in Oklahoma City.
The altercation started over a citation issued for alleged improper turning. Vu refused to sign the ticket. Things deteriorated from there when Vu, apparently because of some misunderstanding related to language, was slammed to the ground by the officer. Since the incident, Vu has been in the hospital under surgery to correct a brain bleed and a fractured neck, his family said.
This is unjustified and excessive,” said Thuan Nguyen, president-elect of the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma. “The community is heartbroken and deeply concerned. We are part of Oklahoma’s history,” he added, “and we deserve fair treatment.”
The video and the accompanying statement, issued both in English and Vietnamese, the Oklahoma City Police Department uploaded on the internet and guaranteed full transparency. They guaranteed full transparency and promised that their review process would be complete, and findings would be forwarded to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office for any criminal offense they deem suitable.
As the investigation continues, calls for accountability and responsibility are never-ending. The impacted policeman was sent on administrative leave pending the completion of the internal investigation which officers said may take a long time. This incident has brought some issues with the non-English speakers living among the residents and how they are met by the police. Members of the community are demanding changes such that no such incidents take place in the future.
To Read More: Global