Oklahoma Police Officer Under Investigation After Incident Leaves Elderly Man Hospitalized

On October 27, a vehicle collision in Oklahoma City led to an incident that has raised concerns and drawn attention to the police’s use of force. Lich Vu, a 70-year-old man involved in the accident, sustained serious injuries after an encounter with a police officer who is now under investigation.

The collision occurred on Northwest 39th Street near Meridian Avenue, where Lich and a woman, who was the other driver, had crashed their vehicles. When the unnamed officer arrived on the scene, he issued citations to both individuals: to the woman and to Lich, citing him for making an "improper U-turn." Lich, visibly upset by the citation, argued with the officer and refused to sign it, insisting he hadn’t committed the violation. The officer warned him that he would be arrested if he continued to refuse.

Body camera footage shows Lich attempting to explain his side of the story, tapping the officer’s chest while telling him to “be quiet.” At that point, the officer reacted by throwing Lich to the ground and placing him in handcuffs. The impact left Lich with a brain bleed and a neck fracture, and he was subsequently taken to the hospital.

Lich’s daughter, Teresa Vu, expressed her outrage on social media over the treatment her father received, noting that he also suffers from bone cancer and that English is his second language. “You don’t treat someone who is 5'3", weighs 115 pounds, and has bone cancer this way after a traffic accident,” she wrote in a Facebook post. She added that while her father is “somewhat better,” he still has severe injuries and difficulty swallowing, requiring feeding through a nasogastric tube.

The Oklahoma City Police Department stated that the incident is under investigation, and the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending a review of the use of force. While the department has affirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, the officer’s disciplinary record is not publicly available.

The case has sparked strong reactions on social media, with many closely following updates as Lich continues to recover. Teresa Vu has made it clear that she intends to seek justice for her father, regardless of his health condition.