Deputy Robert Bates charged with Manslaughter

ABC News: Robert Bates

The deputy shot the man and says I'm sorry. He has the taser on his chest...why? And he is saying he thought he shot the taser instead of the gun. I don't see this going in his favor, no way. He looks very calm like he does have a defense though, a stupid one at that.

@thegerg: well he is saying he thought he shot the taser. How dumb is he to put his gun at an easy reach and the taser on his chest. Should be the other way around.

This thing was weird all the way around. I guess he bankrolled the department with a lot of equipment purchases, and in exchange they allowed him to become a "volunteer reserve deputy". Now there are rumors that his training records were falsified or something.

The guy is 73 and potentially untrained. In all likelihood he legitimately made the mistake (hence the charge of manslaughter rather than homicide) of firing a gun rather than a taser. In my mind, the more interesting portion of the story may end up being how he got to be in this position in the first place.

Exactly, lets examine how some dumbass was involved in a sting operation in the first place.

Watch this guys "apology" that aired on tv.. Its fucking disgusting.. IN which he says that accidentally shooting and killing a man is the SECOND worse thing in his life, after he got diagnosed with cancer of course.

i bet fox news tried so hard to get him free

............ His apology did more harm than good.. He not only made himself out to be a victim but he had the idiocy to say that this is only the "second worse thing" that has happened in his life.. The first thing? Death of a loved one maybe? The suffering of a loved one? Nope when he was fucking diagnosed with cancer himself.. How can any one even defend this "apology", it is cringe worthy for it, and sways my opinion even further against him if anything.. I was neutral up until I saw this damned thing.

@thegerg: idk but the man is too incompetent

Why was a 73 year old there in the first place? That's incredibly irresponsible. Also, if the sherif's department falsified his papers, I hope they receive some hell too.

BS he wa s competent to get into the coast gaurd, he knows the difference between a revolver and a taser. He lied ad tred to cover it up,he is a murderer.

This guy was 73 years old. There's no way he should have been in that situation. I blame the police department more for their incredibly terrible policy than some senile old guy.