TULSA, Okla., April 21 (UPI) -- A 73-year-old Oklahoma volunteer sheriff's deputy, who said he accidentally shot and killed an unarmed suspect during a weapons sting, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter.
In his initial court appearance Tuesday morning, Robert Bates was granted permission to take a vacation in the Bahamas. He is free on $25,000 bond. Bates, a retired insurance executive who volunteered with the sheriff's office in Tulsa, is expected back in court July 2.
The plea came one day after the FBI decided not to investigate Bates of civil-rights violations in the shooting death of Eric Harris on April 2. The FBI said it will consider "re-evaluating the matter should new information or evidence come to the surface."
Bates has said he meant to draw his Taser stun gun to stop Harris during a sting operation, but instead drew and fired his .357-magnum revolver. Harris died a short time later. Bates can be heard on sheriff's office video of the shooting saying, "I shot him. I'm sorry."
Monday, Harris' family attorney said Bates was not certified on the weapon fired and his personal weapon was not on the city's approved list of firearms. The Tulsa World newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported some of Bates' supervisors were told to certify him even after he failed to meet some qualifications. Sheriff Stanley Glanz, Bates' longtime friend, disputed the claims.
