Bates faces arraignment today
Ponca City Now - July 13, 2015 7:57 am
TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A former Oklahoma volunteer sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed man faces arraigned on a second-degree manslaughter charge.
Former Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office reserve deputy Robert Bates is scheduled to appear Monday in Tulsa district court.
Bates has pleaded not guilty in the April 2 shooting death of Eric Harris, saying he confused his stun gun and handgun.
After the shooting and a leaked memo from 2009 that raised concerns about Bates’ training, a judge ordered a grand jury to investigate whether reserve deputies who gave donations to the sheriff have been given special treatment. Thousands of residents signed a petition to empanel the grand jury, which convenes July 20.
Bates donated thousands of dollars in cash and equipment to the agency and was the sheriff’s campaign manager.
