Reserve Deputy Robert Bates Turns Himself in at Tulsa Jail for Stun-Gun Mix-Up

[George II]

Source: ABC News

Apr 14, 2015, 11:44 AM ET

By EMILY SHAPIRO via Good Morning America

A 73-year-old reserve deputy turned himself in at the Tulsa, Oklahoma County Jail today on a second-degree manslaughter charge in connection with the deadly shooting of a suspect.

Robert Bates, an unpaid, volunteer reserve deputy, "shot the victim with a Smith & Wesson Revolver which at the time he shot it he believed it to be a Taser gun," according to court filings.

The suspect, Eric Harris, died after the April 2 shooting.

Bates' attorney Clark Brewster spoke briefly today, saying the charges are unwarranted.


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/reserve-deputy-robert-bates-73-turns-tulsa-jail/story?id=30309123

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WTF is an UNPAID 73-year old doing with either a Smith & Wesson or a stun gun, chasing down "criminals"?

[geek tragedy]

1. So now shooting someone to death is a "stun-gun mix-up?"

Who wrote the headline--his defense lawyer?

[Paladin]

4. Somehow, I don't think Bates' defense attorney is going to have to work too hard.

Sounds like he can buy the chief a new cop car, throw in the insurance for free, and walk away a free man.

[cstanleytech]

6. Considering you are dealing someone as old as he is I can believe it was a mixup

but that doesnt absolve him of his guilt of which there is zero question of because he is guilty.

[Hoppy]

12. Little bit of agism, eh?

[George II]

17. Those who are REALLY guilty in this tragedy are the clowns who allowed a 73 year old guy...

....strut around town in a uniform carrying a gun and taser, thinking he's a cop!

[cstanleytech]

21. Oh they were negligent all right and hopefully they will soon be out of a job. nt

[TheNutcracker]

2. Similar job description for George Zimmerman who shot Travon Martin!

[jmowreader]

14. Nope.

Robert Bates was a "reserve deputy." I can't find on the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office website the application to become a reserve deputy, but did find the Oklahoma County reserve deputy application:

https://www.oklahomacounty.org/sheriff/fieldservices/reserveapp.pdf

If you read it, you'll see it calls for the reserve deputies to go through the same screening as the regular deputies, they have to swear the oath regular deputies swear, and there's training - probably quite a lot of training.

George Zimmerman was a Neighborhood Watch volunteer. The requirements to become one are "showing up."

[George II]

18. Worse - Zimmerman wasn't wearing a uniform and badge.

[KamaAina]

3. What is Johannes Mehserle doing in Tulsa?

For those of you just joining us, Mehserle is the former BART cop (not to be confused with Bartcop ) who, he claims, killed Oscar Grant at Fruitvale Station on New Year's Eve as a result of a similar mixup.

[herding cats]

5. What a headline.

It was but a mix up...a minor error on his part whilst he was playing at being a police officer.

[Kelvin Mace]

7. So, he's looking at six months in jail

if this case is any guide:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BART_Police_shooting_of_Oscar_Grant#Closing_arguments_and_verdict

[FarPoint]

8. Maybe the new trend for LEO's to get off clean is via court process.

They never charged Wilson in Ferguson.... Got mass protesting as a result. Zimmerman case proves they can sell any defense to a jury....get off free.

[Chakab]

9. Wouldn't a better headline be "Incompetent who had no business wearing a badge turns himself in"?

[Kingofalldems]

10. He'll get unsupervised probation.

He's rich.

[angrychair]

11. the video gets me

He says something to the effect of "opps, sorry, I shot him" in a way that sounds like he spilled water on someone. Fuck this piece of shit. This isn't a Judge Dredd comic book or movie, its real life and real people. Given the amount of latitude we have given cops, why have a legal sytem at all? Fuck it!! Lets just have an enforcement branch of government. Police, most if not all, have the mindset to beat or kill with impunity as they know, even if they get fired (which is unlikely), they will never go to jail. You cannot condone or premise that type of mindset and then act surprised when citizens keep dying or end up in the hospital with serious injuries.

[Lurks Often]

13. Police Reserve officers often uses to supplement & assist the regular police

often due staffing issues or budget issues. Here is a link to an application for a different county in OK:
https://www.oklahomacounty.org/sheriff/fieldservices/reserveapp.pdf

It's not unheard of for many departments to have police reserve officers who volunteer for free.

The basketball player Shaq O'Neal has been a police reserve officer for Los Angles Port police and Miami Beach police: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaquille_O'Neal#Law_enforcement

Former CNN anchor Lynne Russell was a Deputy Sheriff Reserve in Fulton County, GA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_Russell

Connecticut had/has constables and some towns required you supply your own firearm and duty belt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constable#Connecticut

[Jack-o-Lantern]

15. The Taser is always worn on the opposite side of the firearm on the duty belt...

...A mix-up is almost imposable. I believe Bates knowingly drew and brandished his weapon to be fully involved in the excitement of a real live police action which I’m sure he always craved. The results were tragic and criminal.

[Jesus Malverde]

19. no duty belt these guys were plain clothes...nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. Ooops! My Bad!

[MicaelS]

20. He's a rich guy playing at cop.

Hope he's got enough money to pay the judgement against him. Take the fucker to the cleaners.