Why was a 73-year-old insurance executive involved in an arrest that led to the suspect’s death?
That’s the question the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office should explain.
An Oklahoma reserve sheriff’s deputy has been charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of an unarmed man, who was subdued on the ground, has surrendered to authorities.
Robert Bates turned himself in last Tuesday morning at the Tulsa County Jail. The 73-year-old insurance executive was charged with second-degree manslaughter April 13, in the April 2 shooting.
The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office reserve deputy was released after posting bond. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
Authorities say 44-year-old Eric Harris tried to sell an illegal gun to an undercover officer. They say Bates accidentally shot Harris after confusing his stun gun and handgun. Harris, who is African American, was treated by medics at the scene and died in a Tulsa hospital. Bates is White.
A video of the incident shot by deputies and released at the request of the victim’s request show disturbing conduct by law enforcement.
As the deputy subdues Harris on the ground, a gunshot rings out and a man says: Oh, I shot him. I’m sorry.”
Harris screams: He shot me. Oh my God,” and deputy replies: “you f—-ing ran. Shut the f—up.”
When Harris says he’s losing his breath, a deputy replies “F—your breath.”
“Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of all of this is the inhumane and malicious treatment of Eric after he was shot,” the family said in a statement. “These deputies treated Eric as less than human. They treated Eric as if his life had no value.”
In addition to how the deputies treated Harris there are question on Bates involvement in the arrest. Bates, who was acting in a support role during the sting operation, would not typically confront suspects, said a Tulsa County sheriff’s spokeswoman.
Records show that Bates has been a generous donor to the sheriff’s department since he became a reserve deputy in 2008.
In addition to a $2,500 donation to Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz’s re-election campaign in 2012, records show Bates donated five vehicles, a computer, forensic camera and a hand-held radio to the department from 2009 to 2011.
There is question as to whether Bates’ political donations enabled him to buy involvement in arrests for which he was not qualified including one that lead to the probable, preventable death of a suspect.
(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)