Shocking video footage showed the moment when a police officer slammed a 70-year-old man to the ground.
The incident occurred in Oklahoma City on October 27th, when Lich Vu, 70, and a woman got into a car accident.
An unnamed officer arrived at the scene and issued both individuals a ticket.
According to Daily Mail, Vu received a ticket for an ‘improper U-turn.’
Vu became upset that he was receiving a ticket and refused to sign the citation.
The officer said Vu would be arrested if he didn’t sign it.
In the footage, it appears Vu taps the officer’s vest and tells him to ‘shut up.’
The officer slammed Vu to the ground and placed him under arrest.
WATCH:
Oklahoma City Police slammed 70 year old Mr. Vu, 5'3" 115 lbs Bone Cancer patient head first leaving him in the hospital with a skull fracture.
Does the officer's response seem justified? pic.twitter.com/jOZAZmGl5z
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) November 11, 2024
Here’s another angle:
SHOCK VIDEO: Oklahoma City police release footage of officer slamming 70-year-old man to the ground pic.twitter.com/VFHwFrme8R
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 10, 2024
Daily Mail reports:
Bodycam footage showed Lich trying to explain what happened during the collision, as he lightly tapped the cop on his chest and told him to ‘shut up,’ before the officer slammed him to the pavement and handcuffed him.
The elderly driver was taken to the hospital where he is now being treated for a brain bleed and neck fracture, according to an update posted to Facebook by his daughter Teresa Vu.
Video of the confrontation started with the cop telling Lich that he was issuing him a ticket, as the driver sat in his car.
After telling Lich that he was getting a ticket for an ‘improper U-turn’, the elderly man immediately said: ‘I didn’t U-turn.’
The cop then specified that at the intersection where Vu and the woman collided, he should not have been next to her, and instead behind her.
The officer then asked Lich to sign the citation as the old man appeared confused.
‘So, I’m writing and issuing you a citation for improper U-turn,’ the officer said as Lich chimed in: ‘Me, citation?’
‘She hitting me and I got the citation,’ Lich added just before he got out of the car to point at the road where the accident occurred.
KFOR reports the officer is under investigation for the incident.
Oklahoma, USA 🇺🇸 – A police officer forcefully threw a 70-year-old man to the ground after the man told him to “shut up.” More details in thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Lp1fJ49H9G
— Githii (@githii) November 11, 2024
WATCH:
A 70-year-old man was taken to hospital after an officer tackled him during an argument about a traffic violation in Oklahoma City.
The officer was placed on administrative leave after being accused of using excessive force.https://t.co/IkyUpqEjlc pic.twitter.com/2yDIcczo37
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 9, 2024
Per KFOR:
In a report, the officer writing, “I perceived Lich touching me that things were going to escalate.”
He went onto say, “I placed Lich in handcuffs and observed Lich not respond and appeared to be unconscious.”
Lich later regained consciousness and was treated for his injuries at a local hospital.
Oklahoma City police said Friday, they’re dedicated to transparency and accountability.
As for the officer, he’s still on administrative leave. The department says it will soon hand over the findings of its investigation to the District Attorney’s Office.
“The Oklahoma City Police Department is investigating a use of force incident involving an officer, and today, we are releasing video footage from the case,” the Oklahoma City Police Department stated.
“The incident occurred on October 27, 2024, when an officer was involved in an encounter while investigating a traffic collision. During the officer’s investigation, there was a use of force and an elderly man sustained serious injuries that required hospitalization. An investigation was immediately initiated, and the officer was placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation. The incident remains under investigation and will be presented to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office soon,” it continued.
“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,” it added.
Watch the full video release: