Oklahoma's Republican attorney general is dismissing a felony assault charge against a police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man to the ground, breaking his neck.

Summary

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond dismissed a felony assault charge against Sgt. Joseph Gibson, a police officer who slammed 71-year-old Lich Vu to the ground during a traffic ticket dispute, breaking his neck.

Drummond stated the officer acted within his training and lacked criminal intent, adding that Vu should not have touched Gibson.

The dismissal sparked criticism from Oklahoma County DA Vicki Behenna and outrage in Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community, citing Vu’s language barriers during the incident.

Gibson’s actions were initially deemed an unreasonable use of force by prosecutors.

  • rhombus@sh.itjust.works
    33·
    7 days ago

    This is absolutely blatant corruption, why is this something an Attorney General can unilaterally do? Charges were already brought by the DA, it was going to court, and he intervened to dismiss it. The power to shutdown any criminal case is an extremely dangerous power for anyone to have.

    • LordGimp@lemm.ee
      10·
      6 days ago

      It’s obstruction of justice. Politicians won’t learn they’ve fucked around enough until citizens start ambushing pieces of trash like this in public. They want law and order? We will bring them the order of law. Unilateral accountability starts with motivated citizens like you and me.

  • Kalysta@lemm.ee
    23·
    6 days ago

    I hope the victim gets millions in the civil suit and that oklahoma votes out that gross as fuck AG

    • Alph4d0g@discuss.tchncs.de
      10·
      6 days ago

      It’s a likely outcome and taxpayers will bear the brunt. If we increased the civil payout to billions, I suspect there would be greater pressure to get this slimy fuck out ASAP because the cost is too high and actually stings enough to cause action.

  • bean@lemmy.world
    15·
    7 days ago

    As attorney general, I will not permit Oklahoma police officers to face criminal prosecution for conduct adhering to their training,” Drummond said in a statement.

    Gotta protect that elder abuse training.

  • Snapz@lemmy.world
    171·
    7 days ago

    Gentner seems like the CEO of Oklahoma attorneys. He seems to be denying the justice Oklahomans deserve.

  • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
    4·
    7 days ago

    I haven’t seen a video if there is a video… but is this like the 1 in a billion times the word SLAMMED in a headline is actually right!?

  • leadore@lemmy.world
    53·
    7 days ago

    “However, our members often have to make split-second decisions, and they cannot control the outcome of every situation,” Nelson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, when someone resists law enforcement, they increase the risk of harm to themselves or others.”

    He had to make a split-second decision?!! About what? Cannot control the outcome? You mean the outcome of you deciding, with all the time in the world, to throw an old man to the ground on his face so hard it broke his neck and smashed his eye socket? What outcome was not totally under your control here? You had total control over a fragile old man. Resists law enforcement? total bullshit. god I hate these stories, I really need to stop myself from reading them. It’s not like I can do a damn thing about it but get upset. Fuck them all.

  • PoopSpiderman@lemmy.world
    49·
    8 days ago

    Oklahoma is an extremely red state, and red states produce the most insatiable boot lickers. The DA prosecuting the case was blindsided by this asshole. Drummond is a scumbag. Oklahoma’s government is full of scumbags.