Petition for sheriff’s investigation goes to judge

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A petition calling for a grand jury investigation into the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office has enough signatures to be sent to a judge who will decide whether to empanel a jury.

The Tulsa County Election Board said Tuesday that 6,647 of the 8,952 signatures on the petition are valid. Five thousand valid signatures were needed.

The petition drive began after volunteer deputy Robert Bates fatally shot an unarmed Eric Harris on April 2. Bates has said he mistook his gun for a stun gun.

The petition calls for an investigation of Sheriff Stanley Glanz and whether volunteer deputies received preferential treatment for giving gifts to Glanz or the sheriff’s office.

Bates was a friend of Glanz and donated tens of thousands of dollars in cash and equipment to the office.