Prosecutors in California , the US , have dismissed charges against Vietnamese student, Ho Phuong, of brandishing a deadly weapon and resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office announced on Feb. 23.
Prosecutors say that it was unlikely a jury would convict Phuong and that they are still investigating whether to bring charges against the officers who arrested Phuong.
Phuong, who has never committed crimes, came to the US three years ago to study mathematics and accounting at San Jose State University .
Phuong said that the quarrel between himself and his roommate, Jeremy Suftin, began after Suftin poured soap into his piece of meat on the evening of Sept. 3, 2009. The two fought each other and Phuong threatened Suftin with his beefsteak knife. Suftin called the police as he considered Phuong’s act as a serious threat and four police came to the scene.
His other roommate captured the Sept. 3 arrest on a cell phone camera showing that police officer, Kenneth Siegel, hit Phuong a dozen times with his baton while another officer named Steven Payne, Jr., used a stun gun on Phuong.
Phuong told the Mercury Times newspaper that he did not resist but was only looking for his short-sighted glasses when police pushed him to the wall. He said that the police did not treat him as a human being.
The four police officers have been suspended from their duties.
Phuong’s lawyer Nguyen Hoang Duyen said that he has filed a lawsuit against the officers for six charges, including assault, abuse of power and causing mental and physical harm.
Duyen said he has proof that police did not act in accordance with regulations and used force in a brutal manner.
Attorney Terry Bowman who represents the four officers affirmed that Phuong should be held responsible for resisting arrest.
The Vietnamese public and overseas Vietnamese in the US expressed their discontentment regarding the San Jose police beating of Ho Phuong./.
Prosecutors say that it was unlikely a jury would convict Phuong and that they are still investigating whether to bring charges against the officers who arrested Phuong.
Phuong, who has never committed crimes, came to the US three years ago to study mathematics and accounting at San Jose State University .
Phuong said that the quarrel between himself and his roommate, Jeremy Suftin, began after Suftin poured soap into his piece of meat on the evening of Sept. 3, 2009. The two fought each other and Phuong threatened Suftin with his beefsteak knife. Suftin called the police as he considered Phuong’s act as a serious threat and four police came to the scene.
His other roommate captured the Sept. 3 arrest on a cell phone camera showing that police officer, Kenneth Siegel, hit Phuong a dozen times with his baton while another officer named Steven Payne, Jr., used a stun gun on Phuong.
Phuong told the Mercury Times newspaper that he did not resist but was only looking for his short-sighted glasses when police pushed him to the wall. He said that the police did not treat him as a human being.
The four police officers have been suspended from their duties.
Phuong’s lawyer Nguyen Hoang Duyen said that he has filed a lawsuit against the officers for six charges, including assault, abuse of power and causing mental and physical harm.
Duyen said he has proof that police did not act in accordance with regulations and used force in a brutal manner.
Attorney Terry Bowman who represents the four officers affirmed that Phuong should be held responsible for resisting arrest.
The Vietnamese public and overseas Vietnamese in the US expressed their discontentment regarding the San Jose police beating of Ho Phuong./.
