OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.–Members of Oklahoma’s Vietnamese community are calling for change and transparency after the release of body-camera footage showing an Oklahoma City Police officer’s brutal takedown of a 71-year-old Vietnamese man.
“The last I heard, Mr. Vu is still in the hospital and we are all hoping for his recovery,” Cindy Nguyen, co-founder of the Asian Task Force of Oklahoma, told the Black Wall Street Times Monday morning.
Released on Friday, the footage depicts an October 27 verbal, traffic dispute between Mr. Lich Vu and an unnamed OKCPD officer. In the roughly six minute video, the officer tries to issue the elderly man a citation for a traffic violation, but the man argues and refuses to accept it.
Growing frustrated, the officer has trouble communicating with Mr. Vu, and at one point, Mr. Vu points his finger at the officer, telling him to shut up. The officer responds by grabbing the elderly Vietnamese man’s hand, twisting it around his back and violently shoving him to the ground with his head hitting the cement.
As the man lays lifeless, the video shows the officer putting him in handcuffs. A woman who accompanied Mr. Vu asks the officer if he will call an ambulance. “Yeah, I’m gonna call an ambulance,” the officer responds.
According to Mapping Police Violence, OKCPD had the seventh highest rate of police killings of any U.S. city per population in 2023. Overall, the state had the third-highest rate of police killings of civilians per 1 million population.
Oklahoma Vietnamese community demands change
Following the release of the footage, the Asian Task Force of Oklahoma released a statement calling for OKCPD to take “strong action” against the officer and include interpreters to solve language barriers.
“OKC residents of color, especially those with limited English proficiency, have frequently reported negative and violent interactions with officers who show little patience or desire to communicate effectively across language barriers,” the statement read. “This incident speaks to a troubling tendency to apply violence rather than compassion or understanding to some of our most vulnerable residents.”
OKCPD has placed the officer on paid administrative leave while it investigates the incident, KOCO reported. Their findings will be presented to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office.
“The Oklahoma City Police Department is dedicated to transparency and accountability. We want our community to know that this case is being thoroughly investigated, and the review process will take time to complete. We ask for your patience as we work to conclude this investigation,” OKCPD stated Friday.
Leaders want “different approach”
Meanwhile, leaders of the Vietnamese community in Oklahoma say tens of thousands call OKC home. “We are a part of Oklahoma’s history. We belong to Oklahoma’s history,” Thuan Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma, told KOCO.
“Some of the statements that I saw doesn’t seem to jive with what the body camera portrayed … it could have been taken in a different way and in a different approach instead of having to body slam a 71-year-old Asian male who has language barriers,” Nguyen said.
Notably, the outrage has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), where at least one Oklahoma Republican lawmaker spoke out.
“I cannot find any justifiable reason for this behavior from this Oklahoma City law enforcement officer. This must be addressed immediately,” newly elected Oklahoma House Rep. Gabe Wooley (R-Broken Arrow) posted.
Mr. Lich Vu remains in the hospital with serious injuries weeks after the Oct. 27 encounter as his family, friends and communities across the country wait and hope for his recovery.
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This victim of this force, unnecessary excessive violence, was injured and being that old have a strong chance of dying or have a long recovery. The l man was willing to go to jail. The gentleman’s civil rights were violated. I predict a lawsuit and high payout around 2.5 million dollars. Th cop will be charged with battery of some sort.
Sorry for this avoidable act.
PS. If the man dies, the cop may be charged with negligent, wreckless homicide.manslaughter ?At least three years in prison . I hope.