A grand jury is set to investigate an Oklahoma sheriff and his agency after a volunteer deputy and close friend of the sheriff fatally shot an unarmed suspect.
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Bates has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the killing of Eric Harris, who had run from deputies after allegedly being caught in a sting targeting illegal gun sales.
Last week, Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz’s legal team lost an effort to stop the investigation into his office.
Harris’ death quickly led to scrutiny of the management of the sheriff’s office, and particularly the relationship between Glanz and Bates, who also has donated thousands of dollars in cash and equipment to the sheriff’s office. Part of the petition asks jurors to look into how such donations affected the treatment of reserve deputies. The grand jury’s findings are read in open court.
Okmulgee County District Attorney Rob Barris will come to Tulsa to assist the jurors in the investigation. Bates said he mistook his revolver for a stun gun. “This is action the people can take themselves”. The “Tulsa World” is reporting that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that it would not block the grand jury from convening.
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A petition was circulated by “We the People Oklahoma” calling for a grand jury investigation into the office. “This is what we kept pushing our message for”.
