Tulsa Police Corruption Investigation Prompts Lawsuit

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa man recently released from prison is suing the Tulsa police department. Bobby Haley's drug conviction was recently thrown out, based on allegations that officers had a witness lie during the trial.

This is just one of many cases falling apart, because of an investigation into corrupt cops. Eleven cases have now been overturned or people released from prison.

One federal agent has pleaded guilty, and other officers could be indicted. Investigators even wiretapped the phones of two Tulsa officers.

By law, the feds have to notify anyone who might've been recorded talking to those officers, and the News On 6 received one of those letters last week.

Read the Wiretap Notification Letter

None of those conversations were about the cases in question.

Hugs and tears were the order of the day two weeks ago when Bobby Haley was released from prison after nearly five years into his 22-year sentence.

5/22/2010 Related Story: Glenpool Man Falsely Imprisoned Free In Time For Son's Graduation

Now that the dust has settled, Bobby Haley is suing the City of Tulsa and its police department.

Read the lawsuit

Documents show the confidential informant who testified she saw Bobby selling cocaine, later admitted her testimony was a lie and claimed two Tulsa police officers told her to do it.

"Ever since then, it's all gone downhill," Haley said. "I knew it was a lie, all over a lie."

Still, who's going to believe a regular citizen over the police, so a jury convicted Bobby and sent him to prison, away from his seven children, away from his parents, away from his life. After four years, eight months and 21 days, a judge set him free.

"It's a great feeling, but, reality hadn't hit," Haley said. "It wasn't until I walked out those doors, as soon as I touched ground, I started believing I was released from prison."

He believes the people responsible for stealing that crucial four years away from his loved ones, ought to pay. They can't give him that part of his life back, so the lawsuit asks for money.

"Because that's the only way to punish, if you will, for a bad act," said Wes Johnson, Attorney.

Bobby also hopes those who are corrupt, are properly punished.

"Whatever they done wrong, they ought to pay for it," he said.

That lawsuit could take two years or more to get through the courts. The lawsuit and the wiretap notification letter name four Tulsa police officers. The News On 6 did not name them because they have not been arrested or charged.