National

Reserve Deputy Turns Himself in to Face Manslaughter Charge

Published

10 years ago

April 14, 2015

In this Friday, April 10, 2015, photo, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Billy McKelvey, left, speaks next to Jim Clark, an independent consultant, during a news conference about the investigation of the death of Eric Harris in Tulsa, Okla. Police say a reserve sheriff’s deputy thought he was holding a stun gun, not his handgun, when he fatally shot Harris during an arrest that was caught on video in Tulsa. (Cory Young/Tulsa World via AP)

JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press
ALLEN REED, Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A 73-year-old Oklahoma volunteer sheriff’s deputy who authorities said fatally shot a suspect after confusing his stun gun and handgun was booked into the county jail Tuesday on a manslaughter charge.

Robert Bates surrendered to the Tulsa County Jail and was released after posting $25,000 bond. Bates’ attorney, Clark Brewster, told reporters that his client would not make a statement, then ushered him into a waiting SUV.

Brewster said Bates is due to make an initial court appearance April 21.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office said Bates, an insurance executive who was volunteering on an undercover operation in Tulsa, accidentally shot 44-year-old Eric Harris on April 2. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler charged Bates on Monday with second-degree manslaughter, punishable by up to four years in prison.

A video of the incident recorded by a deputy with a sunglass camera and released Friday shows a deputy chase and tackle Harris, who authorities said tried to sell an illegal gun to an undercover officer.

A gunshot rang out as the deputy wrestled with Harris on the ground and a man says: “Oh, I shot him. I’m sorry.”

Harris was treated by medics at the scene and died at a hospital.

In a phone interview after the booking, Brewster said “there’s no question” his client is not guilty and described Bates’ actions after the shooting as “honest and transparent.”

A spokeswoman for Kunzweiler said he would not comment on the case Tuesday.

In the video, another deputy appears to restrain Harris by holding his head to the ground with his knee. When Harris complains that he has been shot and is struggling to breathe, a deputy replies in a profanity-laden outburst that he was shot because he ran and that he should stop talking.

A Harris family statement released Tuesday said while there are “many good deputies” at the sheriff’s office “who perform their jobs in the right way,” Harris’ treatment “clearly shows that there is a deep-seated problem within” the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

“Sheriff (Stanley) Glanz’s recent public statements also make it clear that he does not even see the problem and has no plans to change the practices within the TCSO,” the statement said. “While Sheriff Glanz acknowledges that an ‘error’ was made when Eric was killed, he has yet to even apologize to our family.”

A spokesman for the sheriff’s office declined to comment on the statement Tuesday.

Andre Harris, the victim’s brother, has said he does not believe the shooting was racially motivated. Bates is white and Harris is black.

Tulsa Police Sgt. Jim Clark, who investigated the shooting as an independent consultant at the request of the sheriff’s office, concluded that Bates had been so engrossed in the stress of the moment that he did not think clearly about what he had in his hand when he fired his handgun rather than a stun gun.

___

Reed reported from Little Rock, Arkansas.

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 9, 2024

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Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.