Defendant Robert Bates arrives for his arraignment at the Tulsa County courthouse in Tulsa, Okla., Tuesday. (AP)
A VOLUNTEER sheriff’s deputy plans to vacation in the Bahamas while facing a second-degree manslaughter charge in Oklahoma, his attorneys told a judge yesterday, drawing immediate criticism from the family of the man he killed.
Robert Bates pleaded not guilty during the hearing in Tulsa district court. The 73-year-old former insurance executive has said he confused his handgun for a stun gun when he shot Eric Harris after the suspect ran during a sting investigation involving gun sales.
Bates’ lawyers told the judge that the reserve deputy with the Tulsa County sheriff’s office and his family planned to take their previously planned vacation before his next court date in July.
“It’s really not an issue,” Corbin Brewster, one of Bates’ attorneys, said in an interview after the hearing.
Harris’ family criticised the trip, saying it sends a message “of apathy with respect to the shooting and Eric’s life”.
“At a time when we are still mourning the death of a loved one that he shot down in the street, Mr Bates will be relaxing and enjoying his wealth and privilege,” the family said in a statement yesterday.
Bates was charged after the sheriff’s office released video of the shooting, in which the reserve deputy is overheard apologising for shooting the suspect.
Harris’ family has questioned whether Bates was qualified to conduct police work. Their attorneys allege that the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office violated several of its own policies by not keeping a permanent record of Bates’ certifications and allowing him to carry his personal handgun after training on another weapon.
But Sheriff Stanley Glanz said Bates, who is his longtime insurance agent and former campaign manager, had been properly trained and passed annual firearms certifications required by the state.
Bates, who sold his insurance business for $6m in 1999, was trained to be a Tulsa Police Department patrolman in 1964 but he left the department a year later.
He was out of law enforcement for 35 years before returning for volunteer work in Florida in 2000 and the Tulsa County force in 2008. Bates also made several donations to the Tulsa County sheriff’s office and was Glanz’ campaign manager during the 2012 election.
Comments
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
It is all right for him to take a trip. why was it made public? HE WILL have his day in court. and it is my hope that justice will prevail. It seems he did not intend to kill the man, He made a mistake. The persons who allowed him to work as a Police or arrest Officer should be the ones in Court. It was poor and bad judgment on their behalf.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade Volunteer Sheriff’s Deputy there are lots nice vacation spots right in your home state of Oklahoma. You will be turned away by immigration officials as being considered a "pending before a US Court" Undesirable.
sansoucireader 9 years ago
This was mentioned on CBS Morning News this morning.
bigbadbob 9 years ago
we dont need any more murders in bahamas we have enough already.
John 9 years ago
It's called 'non-black' privilege. He is also a weapons dealer
SP 9 years ago
Astonishing....Let a Bahamian be charged with jay walking and U.S. Immigration wouldn't even let him walk pass the U.S. Embassy let alone enter USA.
Americans and others nationalities literally get away with murder and waltz into Bahamas on vacation.
ObserverOfChaos 9 years ago
maybe he can help clean up some of our "trash"......our politicians and police can't seem to do the job!
bigbadbob 9 years ago
taser taser woops I meant .357 darn big gun Bang your dead, sorry . now off to sun sea and sand to relax .
John 9 years ago
Is that a cobalt color jacket he have on? Sic
Cobalt 9 years ago
Sure is! Maybe he'll leave a slug between your eyes before leaving.
Oh my bad. I forgot baboons are now on the endangered species list. So you're safe........ for now.
Cobalt 9 years ago
But seriously speaking....... how is this man allowed to leave his state of residence while facing murder charges??? What's more........ why has our national security agency not acted in staunch opposition???
SP 9 years ago
Our so called "national security agency" only exist on paper and in the minds of people dumb enough to believe it actually exist. can't even deal with Haitians from the poorest country in the hemisphere.
SP 9 years ago
...................... Bahamas Could Never Afford Global Exposure Like This ...........................
Get this guy a Junkanoo Carnival costume!
http://news.yahoo.com/video/outrage-t...">http://news.yahoo.com/video/outrage-t...
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