Prosecutors in Washington state announced on Wednesday that they will not pursue felony charges against a Seattle police officer involved in a tragic incident where a graduate student from Bharat was fatally struck. The decision comes after Officer Kevin Dave hit 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call on January 23, 2023. Kandula was crossing the street in a designated crosswalk when she was struck by the police SUV traveling at 74 mph in a 25 mph zone.
In a memo addressed to the Seattle Police Department, the King County prosecutor’s office cited several factors leading to the decision not to pursue felony charges against Officer Dave. These factors included the presence of emergency lights, reports of the siren being heard by other pedestrians, and observations that Kandula may have attempted to cross the intersection after noticing the approaching police vehicle. Additionally, it was noted that Kandula might have been wearing wireless earbuds that could have affected her ability to hear the approaching vehicle.
While felony charges were deemed unwarranted, there remains the possibility of lesser charges such as negligent driving. However, as of Wednesday, the case had not been referred to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office for possible misdemeanor prosecution. The Seattle Police Department has not provided immediate clarification on whether they might refer the case to the City Attorney’s Office.
Jaahnavi Kandula’s death sparked widespread outrage, particularly after the emergence of a recording from another officer’s body-worn camera last September. In the recording, Officer Daniel Auderer made callous remarks, suggesting that Kandula’s life had “limited value” and that the city should simply “write a check.”
Diplomats from Bharat and local protesters demanded an investigation into Kandula’s death. The Office of Police Accountability, the city’s civilian watchdog, found last month that Officer Auderer’s comments significantly damaged the department’s reputation and eroded public trust.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is currently considering the appropriate punishment for Officer Auderer in response to his derogatory remarks. Gino Betts Jr., director of the accountability office, described Auderer’s comments as “derogatory, contemptuous, and inhumane.”
In response to the investigation findings, Officer Auderer acknowledged that his remarks sounded callous but claimed they were intended to criticize a legal system that would assign a value to Kandula’s life.
While acknowledging the appalling nature of Auderer’s comments, King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion emphasized that they did not influence the legal analysis regarding Officer Dave’s potential charges. Manion reiterated that it is the responsibility of the Office of Police Accountability to handle disciplinary proceedings related to Auderer’s comments.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild, of which Auderer is the vice president, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The union has previously characterized Auderer’s comments as “highly insensitive” and suggested they were taken out of context.
Jaahnavi Kandula was a graduate student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, and her tragic death has brought attention to issues of police accountability and public trust in law enforcement.
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