やつがある instead of いる?

I've just read a chapter of Kochikame and there was a scene where Ryo-san scolds a kouhai: 道をききにきたやつまでおどかすやつがあるか！(sic)
Is there any particular reason for やつ being treated as an inanimate object? Also i believe it's not the first time i saw "～があるか" with animate objects, so i presume it might be some sort of a set phrase?

Yes, it would be a kind of set phrase, I think. There are similar expressions, but the verb いる is used for other words such like ～バカがいるか！or ～マヌケがいるか！.

I see. Thanks, Toritoribe!