8,800 sign petition for grand jury probe of Tulsa sheriff

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – More than 8,800 people have signed a petition asking that a grand jury investigate an Oklahoma sheriff and whether some reserve deputies received special treatment.

The civil rights group "We the People Oklahoma" submitted the signatures at the Tulsa County clerk’s office Friday. The group wants to know whether Sheriff Stanley Glanz favored deputies who gave his agency money or goods.

One wealthy reserve deputy, Bob Bates, is charged with second-degree manslaughter after killing a suspect in April and has pleaded not guilty.

After Bates said he confused his stun gun with a handgun, sheriff’s department documents surfaced, raising questions about whether Bates was properly trained.

The petition asks a grand jury to investigate whether Glanz neglected his duties. The sheriff’s office didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.