Tulsa officer indicted in shooting of Black man

The state multicounty grand jury has indicted a white Tulsa police officer in the shooting of a Black man during a traffic stop in March.

The indictment comes at a time of increased scrutiny of law enforcement nationwide because of the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

Grand jurors returned the indictment Thursday charging Aaron Russell, 29, with a misdemeanor: reckless conduct with a firearm. The maximum punishment for the offense is six months in the county jail and a $500 fine.

“I was completely shocked by that,” his attorney, Scott Wood, said of the indictment. “He did everything related to this incident pursuant to his training.”

Russell is accused in the misdemeanor charge of discharging a handgun multiple times without justifiable cause toward a vehicle operated by Michael Devon Delaney.

Grand jurors chose not to indict Russell on the more serious felony charge of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Police reported in March that Delaney suddenly accelerated March 21 while an officer was partially in the vehicle trying to get him out. Police reported the officer fired his service weapon

and Delaney was struck in the arm.

Police also reported in March that officers saw what appeared to be a pistol in the vehicle. Police later determined it was a BB gun.

Russell is away from the police department on military leave until next August, his attorney said. “We'll see what happens.”

Delaney pleaded guilty in July to a misdemeanor of obstructing of officer during the traffic stop March 21 and other crimes from 2019.

Presenting the evidence to the grand jury that led to the indictment was Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler.