An Oklahoma City police officer, Sgt. Joseph Gibson, was charged with felony assault after he slammed 71-year-old Lich Vu to the ground during a traffic ticket dispute on October 27, resulting in a broken neck and brain bleed for Vu.

Body camera footage showed the officer throwing Vu to the ground after Vu touched him during the argument.

Prosecutors deemed Gibson’s actions an unreasonable use of force. Vu, who remains hospitalized, also suffered a broken eye socket.

The incident sparked outrage in Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community, as Vu appeared to have difficulty communicating with Gibson, CNN has reported.

The police union expressed concern over the charges, but defended the officer’s actions, citing de-escalation training.

Written by B.C. Begley