Rep. Shelton Calls for Independent Investigation Into Reserve Deputy Shooting of Unarmed Man

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 15, 2015) – State Rep. Mike Shelton today called on the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Attorney General to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting of an unarmed man in custody by a Tulsa County Reserve Deputy on April 2.

Reserve Deputy Bob Bates claimed that he believed he had pulled his stun gun when he shot Eric Harris with his service pistol during a struggle with police. Today, Bates was charged with second degree manslaughter, according to Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler. Shelton wants the OSBI and Attorney General to investigate in order to ensure the victim’s family and the public can feel confident the investigation is thorough and unbiased.

“There are too many variables here for me and anyone else to believe that this investigation is going to be impartial,” said Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. “We simply cannot afford to have the public’s trust in our law enforcement eroded any further. We need to remove the appearance of personal and political biases from this case, so I hope these public agencies will intervene immediately.”