Sheriff Stanley Glanz resigned after a grand jury on Wednesday returned two criminal indictments against him, one reportedly for failing to adequately investigate a shooting in his department.
A third indictment was sealed, the
Tulsa World reported, and it was unknown what that charge is in relation to.
The case against Glanz came about after an April 2 fatal shooting by Reserve Deputy Robert Bates, a friend of Glanz's who claimed he thought he was pulling out his stun gun when he killed Eric Harris during a sting operation,
The Associated Press said. Bates is no longer a reserve deputy.
In one indictment, the grand jury accused Glanz of not promptly releasing documents relating to the shooting investigation, AP said. A second indictment did not concern the shooting, but related to a stipend Glanz received for a vehicle.
“I know that my decisions have caused some to criticize me both publicly and privately,” Glanz wrote in a statement quoted by the World. “As sheriff, I take responsibility for all decisions made by me or in my name, but I assure you they were all made in good faith. I truly regret that any of my actions have led to the impaneling of this grand jury and the disruptions in the lives of the jurors and the witnesses.”
It is unclear when Glanz will step down from his position, although his attorney told the World that Nov. 1 might be a possibility. The sheriff is said to be wrapping up a number of issues.
“(Glanz) could have saved the county all this money — thousands and thousands of dollars. All he had to do was step down, but now he’s indicted,” Marq Lewis, leader of We the People Oklahoma and the person who pushed for the grand jury petition, told the World.
The World said numerous allegations were made against Glanz, including abuse of power and special treatment accorded to Bates for his training, specifically at the gun range.
Related Stories:
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.