The Latest: Indicted Oklahoma sheriff says he tried to be transparent, make good decisions

TULSA, Okla. – The latest on the grand jury investigation into the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, which came under fire after a volunteer deputy fatally shot an unarmed man (all times local):

6 p.m.

Tulsa County’s sheriff says it’s been an honour serving the community, and he regrets if any of his actions may have led to the grand jury investigation of his office.

Sheriff Stanley Glanz released a statement Wednesday after he was indicted on two misdemeanour counts. One accuses him of not promptly releasing documents in an internal investigation related to volunteer deputy Robert Bates, who is accused of fatally shooting an unarmed man in April.

Former sheriff’s officials told grand jurors that they felt pressured to sign off on memos saying Bates was qualified for duty.

Glanz says he’s always tried to be transparent during his 27 years as sheriff, and that it greatly affected him to hear that some employees didn’t believe he had an open-door policy.

The grand jury also suggested that Glanz resign, and the sheriff said he planned to do so. In his statement Wednesday, Glanz didn’t comment on the charges but said he’d told grand jurors he would step down if they concluded that was best.

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4:45 p.m.

A local civil rights organizer who helped push for an investigation into the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office says the results of the probe represent a win for residents.

Marq Lewis leads We the People Oklahoma, the group that organized a petition drive calling for a grand jury to investigate the sheriff’s office following the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a volunteer deputy.

Thousands of people signed the petitions, prompting prosecutors to call a grand jury to investigate the office. The grand jury indicted Sheriff Stanley Glanz on Wednesday on two misdemeanour counts.

Lewis says the results of the investigation are “a statement to never bet against the citizens, the people of Tulsa County. We are citizens who count, we matter and we make a difference.”

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3:40 p.m.

An attorney for Tulsa County’s sheriff says the longtime law officer plans to plead not guilty to two misdemeanours handed down by a grand jury investigating his office.

Attorney Scott Wood said Sheriff Stanley Glanz will enter the pleas at a Nov. 10 hearing.

A grand jury issued the indictments Wednesday after finishing its investigation into Glanz’s office. The grand jury was called to investigate after a volunteer deputy, Robert Bates, fatally shot an unarmed man in April.

Grand jurors accused Glanz of refusing to perform his official duties for not promptly releasing documents as part of an internal investigation of Bates, one of Glanz’s longtime friends.

The grand jury also accused Glanz of wilful violation of the law in an unrelated incident involving a stipend he received for a vehicle allowance.

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2:45 p.m.

A lawyer for Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz says Glanz plans to resign following his indictment by a grand jury investigating his office.

Attorney Scott Wood said Wednesday that Glanz will resign before a Nov. 10 hearing on the indictments issued Wednesday.

The grand jury was seated to investigate Glanz’s office after volunteer deputy Robert Bates fatally shot an unarmed man in April.

The grand jury had recommended Glanz be removed from office. He was indicted on two misdemeanour counts.

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2:30 p.m.

A grand jury has indicted an Oklahoma sheriff on two misdemeanours as part of an investigation into his office following a volunteer deputy’s fatal shooting of an unarmed man in April.

The grand jury’s findings announced Wednesday also recommended that Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz be removed from office.

The panel accused Glanz of refusing to perform his official duties for not promptly releasing documents as part of an internal investigation of volunteer deputy Robert Bates, one of Glanz’s longtime friends.

Bates has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Eric Harris.

The grand jury also accused Glanz of wilful violation of the law in an unrelated incident involving a stipend he received for a vehicle.

12:45 p.m.

A grand jury has submitted several sealed envelopes to a judge as part of its investigation into an Oklahoma sheriff’s office that came under fire after a volunteer deputy fatally shot an unarmed man.

Grand jurors completed their investigation Wednesday into the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and released several recommendations to Tulsa County District Judge Rebecca Nightingale.

The recommendations include improving training and documentation at the office, and making its internal affairs department more autonomous. The changes appear to address a leaked 2009 memo that questioned the training of reserve deputy Robert Bates, who fatally shot a man during a sting operation in April.

But the panel also gave Nightingale several sealed envelopes with its findings, which could include more recommendations or a decision on whether criminal charges are warranted. A hearing to reveal the contents of those envelopes is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

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11:50 a.m.

A grand jury called to investigate after a volunteer Tulsa County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a restrained man has finished its investigation.

The grand jury gave its report to a judge Wednesday after spending months meeting in private and hearing from nearly two dozen witnesses, including Sheriff Stanley Glanz. Tulsa County District Judge Rebecca Nightingale says the report is expected to be released later Wednesday.

The office has faced criticism since Glanz’s friend, retired insurance executive Robert Bates, fatally shot Eric Harris in April while working as a reserve deputy.

Bates has said he mistook his handgun for a stun gun. He’s pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter.

A 2009 memo released by attorneys for Harris’ family indicates Bates was given special treatment. The grand jury investigation was launched after a group collected thousands of signatures calling for an independent investigation into Glanz and his office.

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9:45 a.m.

An Oklahoma sheriff’s deputy involved in a sting operation with a volunteer deputy who fatally shot an unarmed man has resigned from the agency.

Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Justin Green said Wednesday that deputy Michael Huckeby (huk-uh-BEE) submitted his resignation effective Thursday. Green gave no other details.

Huckeby was involved in an April gun-sales sting with reserve deputy Robert Bates, who fatally shot Eric Harris during the operation. A video of the shooting shows Huckeby placing his knee on Harris’ head as he lay on the ground after being shot.

Bates has said his mistook his hand gun for his stun gun. He’s pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter.

A grand jury is investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the sheriff’s office.