Oklahoma court to look at blocking Tulsa grand jury probe
Jul 2, 2015, 6:54 PM
The Oklahoma Supreme Court said Thursday it will consider whether to stop a grand jury investigation into an embattled sheriff whose longtime friend and volunteer deputy fatally shot an unarmed man.
Attorneys for Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz want justices to toss out a lower court’s decision to empanel a grand jury on July 20. The state Supreme Court late Thursday appointed a referee to hear evidence and arguments in the case on July 14.
More than 6,600 Tulsa residents petitioned for the investigation into whether Glanz neglected his duties and whether reservists who gave gifts to the sheriff were shown special treatment. Glanz’s lawyers say some signatures were gathered improperly and the petition should be tossed.
District Judge Rebecca Nightingale on Tuesday rejected Glanz’s claims. Terry Simonson, a spokesman for the sheriff, said Glanz is appealing to the high court because the law has been applied incorrectly.
“He has the same rights as every citizen in Oklahoma to defend the position he believes in and the right to appeal based upon that conviction,” Simonson said. “That’s what he did today.”
The petition drive began after reserve deputy Robert Bates, 73, shot and killed Eric Harris on April 2. Harris ran from authorities during a gun-sales sting operation and Bates maintains he confused his stun gun and handgun. Bates has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the slaying.
Internal memos from 2009 that were leaked following the shooting raised concerns about the training of Bates, who has donated thousands of dollars in equipment and vehicles to the sheriff’s office. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting and a Texas-based firm has been hired by the county to audit the agency.
A citizen’s group called We The People Oklahoma circulated the petition seeking the grand jury investigation and has repeatedly called for Glanz to resign. Organizer Marq Lewis decried the sheriff’s office decision to appeal to the state Supreme Court.
“This is another attempt to attempt to assassinate the power and the will of the people,” Lewis said.
Attorney Dan Smolen, who represents the Harris family, criticized Glanz’s appeal in light of a prior statement in which the sheriff said he welcomed a grand jury probe.
“Since then, he has done everything in his power to thwart and stall the inquiry,” Smolen said. “Sheriff Glanz is desperately clinging to power and losing more of the public’s confidence with each passing day.”
___
Follow Allen Reed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Allen_Reed
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.