Oklahoma

In Oklahoma City, a violent traffic stop reignites debate over police reform

Published

2 weeks ago

December 12, 2024

In Oklahoma City, a violent traffic stop reignites debate over police reform

OKLAHOMA CITY — The use of force by a police officer against an elderly resident during a traffic stop has sparked outrage and calls for accountability from the Oklahoma City Police Department, which is in the process of implementing reforms designed to curtail such incidents.

Prosecutors have charged Sgt. Joseph Gibson of the Oklahoma City Police Department with aggravated assault and battery after throwing Lich Vu to the ground during an October traffic stop, leaving him with a severe neck injury. He’s been released on bail and is on administrative leave. A trial date has not been set.

WATCH NOW: Oklahoma City works to reform police force after Black Lives Matter protests

Gibson stopped Vu on Oct. 27 for an “improper U-turn” that led to a collision with another vehicle.

Body cam footage released by police and the surveillance camera of a local business showed the two arguing for several minutes about the traffic accident. Vu is heard telling Gibson he won’t sign the citation and that he was “ready to go to jail.” Vu is seen touching Gibson with a flick of the wrist and telling him to “shut up.”

Surveillance footage of Oklahoma City Police officer Joseph Gibson arresting Lich Vu, 71. Vu sustained injuries to his head and neck during the incident. Still image courtesy of Oklahoma City Police Department

Gibson then grabbed Vu’s arm, spun him around and said “get on the ground.” Vu’s head hit the pavement.

Vu was hospitalized for more than a month with a broken neck, a brain bleed and orbital fracture. He went home with family the first week of December, his daughter, Teresa Vu, told PBS News.

The incident sparked outrage within the local Vietnamese American community, which boomed in the 1970s after the resettlement of thousands of refugees following the Vietnam War.

“As a community, we were hurt by this incident,” said Thuan Nguyen, president-elect of the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma. “Clearly they weren’t communicating well, but it should not have happened the way it did. We look to police for protection, instead we see this.”

The case has also renewed focus on the city’s police department. Two years ago, the city accepted 39 recommendations from an outside consulting firm to improve policing tactics. This included its de-escalation policy and more training in crisis response situations.

One recommendation on the list — No. 21 — was meant to address how officers respond to calls and mitigate conflict without escalation. The recommendation given to police was for there to be a “comprehensive community education plan” that allowed for information to be made clear for people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency.

Oklahoma City Police spokesperson Valerie Litttlejohn told PBS News that implementation of all 39 recommendations has taken time but that Recommendation No. 21 has not been fully implemented yet. They aim to have the measure fully implemented next year.

Littlejohn said that in order to graduate from the police academy, all officers go through required training, including de-escalation education. She said Oklahoma City officers go through basic Spanish lessons and that there is a bilingual unit made up of several officers who speak different languages, including Vietnamese.

If no officer from the bilingual unit is available to respond to an incident, Oklahoma City officers also have access to a translation services hotline to call during stops.

In an Instagram post about her father’s condition, Vu’s daughter, Teresa, shared photos of his injuries from the incident and said he was already weak from bone cancer. She also said English was her dad’s second language, suggesting that the barrier played a role in the conflict.

“This is not how you treat someone that is 5’3″, 115 [pounds] with bone cancer after a car accident,” she wrote in the Oct. 28 post.

But the family fears the damage might be permanent.

“He suffers from a lot of confusion and is dizzy,” Nguyen said. “He may not be able to walk again.”

The Oklahoma City Police Department released the bodycam footage of Vu’s arrest on Nov. 8, in a post written in English and translated to Vietnamese.

“We want our community to know that this case is being thoroughly investigated, and the review process will take time to complete,” the post read. “We ask for your patience as we work to conclude this investigation.”

In charging documents filed Dec. 5, prosecutors included an affidavit from the officer conducting the department’s internal investigation. With feedback from the department’s instructors for de-escalation and defensive tactics, the officer concluded that Gibson’s use of force was “not reasonable,” considering Vu’s size, age, and the seriousness of the crime.

District Attorney Vicki Behenna said in a statement to local media that her office takes all use-of-force incidents seriously.

“We evaluate the law and the facts in each individual case,” Behenna wrote. “In this particular case determined the officer’s actions were an unreasonable use of force.”

Quỳnh Nhu Nguyen, 54, is a lifelong resident of Oklahoma City, whose “Asian District” was once known as “Little Saigon.” More than 20,000 people of Vietnamese descent are thought to live in the surrounding area.

While Nguyen has never had a personal incident with police, she fears this kind of encounter as she cares for her elderly parents.

“My dad doesn’t speak English very well,” Nguyen said. “He can get frustrated sometimes and it makes me worried about if he got upset in the wrong situation.”

Nguyen said the incident with Vu brought her tears as she watched footage of the officer slamming him to the ground. To her, it seemed like a simple misunderstanding.

“I had to go and have a talk with my dad after,” she said. “I told him, ‘You must keep your words to yourself if you are ever in that situation. It scares me to death thinking about what could happen.”

The Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police said it believes Gibson handled the incident with Vu “with professionalism” and that he followed de-escalation training protocol.

“It is very disappointing to see a police officer face felony charges for actions taken in good faith while serving in the line of duty,” the organization’s president, Mark Nelson, said in a statement. “We recognize the injuries that Mr. Vu sustained, and we are sympathetic to him and his family. However, we believe strongly that every detail of this incident matters and needs to be considered.”

“We are deeply concerned about the impact this charging decision will have on the ability of officers to rely on their training and professional judgment to preserve order and protect the public,” the statement read.

If convicted on aggravated assault and battery charges, Gibson could face up to five years in prison, or up to one year in the Oklahoma County Detention Center and could be fined up to $500.

To Thuan Nguyen, the charges brought against Gibson are a sign of justice.

He’s heard from members of his community and the incidents they’ve had with police over the years. He said he’s often had to respond to accidents on behalf of clients of his insurance firm, who are arguing with police about the fault of an accident or the reason for a citation.

He believes there’s a cultural bias at play in the treatment of Vietnamese people by police. But he wants to help change that.

His group is planning meetings about how to interact with police for the beginning of 2025. He’d love for some police officers to be there as well to learn about Vietnamese culture and how best to communicate or inform people of the law.

For Nguyen, this is an opportunity for change.

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Oklahoma

Honduran man arrested in Oklahoma after alleged North Texas abduction and robbery

Published

5 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Honduran man arrested in Oklahoma after alleged North Texas abduction and robbery

NORTH TEXAS – A Honduran man is accused of abducting a 22-year-old Haltom City woman at gunpoint, forcing her to withdraw money from a bank, and driving her more than 20 miles to an apartment complex where she escaped and summoned help, police said.

Eduardo Javier Ordonez Godoy, 35, of Honduras

Oklahoma County Detention Center

Eduardo Javier Ordonez Godoy, 35, of Honduras, was taken into custody when he was found inside her vehicle in Oklahoma City on Christmas Day, according to the Haltom City Police Department.

Police said Ordonez Godoy, who has “no known local address,” is facing aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges. He is being held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, with an “active ICE detainer hold” due to his immigration status.

The woman’s abduction from Acacia Apartments, 5000 Denton Highway, in Haltom City occurred at about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday while she was walking to her vehicle, police said.

After threatening the woman and forcing her to withdraw an undisclosed amount of cash, police said Ordonez Godoy drove the victim 22 miles to Camden Apartments, 3900 Grapevine Mills Parkway, in Grapevine.

When she escaped, Ordonez Godoy fled in her vehicle, which police entered into law enforcement databases “with a note of the violent nature of the offense,” although the victim wasn’t physically harmed, according to police.

Ordonez Godoy was apprehended in her vehicle with evidence connected to the offense in the 2100 block of SW 39th Street on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, police said.

In addition to the Haltom City charges, the Oklahoma City Police Department has also charged Ordonez Godoy with unauthorized use of a vehicle; use of a firearm while committing a felony; receiving, possessing, or concealing stolen property; and carrying or possessing a firearm by an illegal alien, the news release said.

The investigation is continuing, police said, and additional charges may be filed.

Doug Myers

Doug Myers is a digital content producer for CBS Texas. A longtime journalist, Doug has worked for four newspapers in Texas and Louisiana and for three television stations in Texas. He has also spent time as a digital content manager for a national trade association and as communications director for a state agency.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma vs. Navy live updates: How to watch, odds, predictions for Armed Forces Bowl

Published

17 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma vs. Navy live updates: How to watch, odds, predictions for Armed Forces Bowl

College football bowl season continues Friday as the Oklahoma Sooners square off against the Navy Midshipmen in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

The Sooners are seeking a much-needed confidence boost after a challenging first season in the SEC, while Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables tries to avoid a second consecutive seven-loss season. Moving forward, the Sooners will turn to true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. to lead the offense at quarterback after starter Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal and subsequently committed to Auburn. This season, Hawkins Jr. made five appearances for the Sooners, achieving a 62.3% completion rate, while throwing for 536 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. On the ground, he recorded 143 rushing yards and one touchdown.

On the other hand, the Midshipmen head into the Fort Worth, Texas, on a high note after defeating arch rival Army 31-13, finishing the regular season with a record of 9-3 and placing third in the American Athletic Conference. Navy is led by quarterback Blake Horvath, who has returned from a thumb injury. Horvath completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,261 yards, along with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, Horvath recorded an impressive 1,099 rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

Follow along for scores and highlights from the Armed Forces Bowl as Oklahoma takes on Navy:

When is the Armed Forces Bowl between Oklahoma and Navy?

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen kicks off at noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

How to watch Oklahoma and Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl

The Armed Forces Bowl game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Oklahoma take on Navy with a Fubo subscription

Oklahoma vs. Navy: Armed Forces Bowl odds

The Oklahoma Sooners are favorites to defeat the Navy Midshipmen, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Friday, Dec. 27

Spread: Oklahoma (-1.5)
Moneyline: Oklahoma (-120); Navy (+120)
Over/under: 43.5

USA TODAY: Writers split on winner

Scooby Axson: Navy
Jordan Mendoza: Navy
Paul Myerberg: Oklahoma
Erick Smith: Oklahoma
Eddie Timanus: Navy
Dan Wolken: Oklahoma

ESPN: Navy 24, Oklahoma 20

Adam Rittenberg writes: “The Sooners return to a Big 12 stadium seeking a better result than their last appearance in Fort Worth, a 55-24 loss to TCU in 2022. They take on a Navy team capable of piling up points with a new offense coordinated by Drew Cronic and featuring dual-threat quarterback Blake Horvath. But Navy’s offensive mojo slowed in the second half of the season, and Oklahoma will need to lean on its own stout defense after quarterback Jackson Arnold and others are headed to the portal. Sooners coach Brent Venables is trying to avoid his second 6-7 season in three years, ahead of a pivotal 2025 campaign. Oklahoma’s defensive opt-outs are worth watching, and there are more guarantees on the Navy side.”

Docs Sports: Take Navy

Staff writes: “The Midshipmen have earned 4,131 total yards for the year. When it comes to getting in the endzone, Navy has amassed 13 touchdowns through the air and 33 touchdowns via the ground. Navy has accumulated 195 first downs as an offense, and they have been called for 57 penalties for 475 yds. As a team they have an average of 247.4 yards via the ground game ranking them 8th in the nation. Concerning scoring points, the Navy Midshipmen are averaging 32.3 points per outing.”

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Oklahoma

What channel is OU football vs Navy on today? Time, TV schedule to watch Armed Forces Bowl

Published

1 day ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

What channel is OU football vs Navy on today? Time, TV schedule to watch Armed Forces Bowl

Oklahoma football has one more shot to close out its 2024 season on a high note.

The Sooners (6-6) take on Navy (9-3) in the Armed Forces Bowl at 11 a.m. CT Friday in Amon G. Carter Stadium, located on the TCU campus in Fort Worth, Texas, with a chance to finish 2024 with a winning record. Oklahoma earned a clutch upset victory over Alabama on Nov. 23 to become bowl-eligible and keep alive the second-longest bowl streak in the nation.

The last time the Sooners played, LSU defeated them 37-17 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team will look to bounce back and close out coach Brent Venables’ third year with a winning record. He has a 22-16 record with Oklahoma.

Watch Armed Forces Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Navy defeated Army 31-13 to earn the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on Dec. 14, having defeated Air Force earlier in the season. The Midshipmen are seeking their first 10-win season since 2019. Navy is 1-0 all-time vs. Oklahoma, earning a 10-0 win on Oct. 2, 1965, in Norman.

Here’s how to watch the Oklahoma vs. Navy game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is Oklahoma vs Navy on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The Sooners will take on the Midshipmen on ESPN. Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst) will be on the bowl matchup broadcast.

The game can also be streamed on the ESPN app (with a cable login) or Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers select users a free trial.