‘Reasonable Reason’ for Indictment of Three Police Officers Involved in 2021 Campbell River Killing of Indigenous People: IIO

The Independent Investigation Office (IIO) has asked Crown attorneys to consider indictment against the three officers involved in the July 8, 2021 shooting of a Wettsweten man in Campbell River.

A decision is pending regarding the fourth officer involved in the incident.

Jared Lounds, 38, was killed in a police-involved incident in a car park at Willow Point Tim Horton on the Campbell River.

At approximately 5:30 am on July 8, 2021, officers attempted to check a parked vehicle, a blue Audi, according to an IIO press release. The Audi drove away and collided with a police vehicle. Officers did not pursue him at the time, but told other RCMP members about the incident.

Later, at 9:00 am, police located the vehicle again. Cops stopped Tim Hortons Audi at his drive-thru.

“In the ensuing exchange, police opened fire and the man was subsequently pronounced dead,” the release said.

The IIO did not disclose details of the exchange, saying it could “undermine the likelihood of prosecution.”

However, IIO Chief Civil Director Ronald J. MacDonald said, “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the three officers may have committed a crime in connection with the various uses of force.” I judged.

The IIO is preparing a report to be submitted to the BC Public Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of the claims in the coming months.

From there, the BC Prosecution Service will issue a prosecution if it is “satisfied that the evidence gathered by the IIO provides a reasonable likelihood of conviction and that prosecution is necessary in the public interest.” can approve.

The Lowndes family and the Pivot Bar Association are holding a press conference in Vancouver at 4pm. They were informed of his IIO decision by Chief Civilian Director Ronald MacDonald.

“It is time for police officers to be held accountable for the unnecessary use of force that too often leads to the deaths of members of Indigenous communities,” said a release from Pivot. “In the 16 months since Jared’s death, there have been 74 reported cases of his death in custody in B.C. alone.”

The IIO annual report for 2021-2022, which is published at the end of March each year, also states that “indigenous peoples are overrepresented in IIO research.” , representing 28% of those who self-identified their ethnicity. She makes up only 6% of the state’s population.

In 2021-2022, there were 12 cases referred to trial counsel for prosecution consideration. That number has grown from 6 in 2019-2020 to 8 the following year and 12 this year.

More coming.

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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