Tulsa officer Betty Shelby surrenders to police, posts bond

Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby turned herself in early Friday morning as she faces first-degree manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Terence Crutcher.
Shelby was charged Thursday and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She surrendered to police early Friday morning. She was booked into the Tulsa County Jail at 1:11 a.m. CT. She posted $50,000 bond around 1:30 a.m. CT.

An affidavit said Shelby became "emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted" on a Tulsa street while dealing with Crutcher, an unarmed black man, on Sept. 16. The criminal complaint said Shelby's fear "resulted in her unreasonable actions which led her to shooting" Crutcher. She is accused of "unlawfully and unnecessarily" shooting him after he did not comply with her "lawful orders."

Police also acted quickly to provide videos of the shooting to black community leaders and members of Crutcher's family and then released them to the public, The Associated Press reported.
The possible penalty for conviction on first-degree manslaughter in Oklahoma is four years to life, according to district attorney spokeswoman Susan Witt.

Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said her family is pleased with the charge, but she and her attorneys want to ensure a vigorous prosecution that leads to a conviction.
Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said: "We are happy that charges were brought, but let me be clear — the family wants and deserves full justice.”
Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the police department for quickly providing evidence to the district attorney.
"These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails," Bartlett said in a statement. "We will continue to be transparent to ensure that justice and accountability prevails."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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