B.C. Crown prosecutors considering charges against 3 RCMP officers in death of Indigenous man
CTV
British Columbia's police watchdog has completed its investigation into the 2021 death of an Indigenous man on Vancouver Island, submitting its report Friday to provincial prosecutors, who will now consider charges against three Mounties in the case.
British Columbia's police watchdog has completed its investigation into the 2021 death of an Indigenous man on Vancouver Island, submitting its report Friday to provincial prosecutors, who will now consider charges against three Mounties in the case.
While the contents of the report remain sealed, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said in December 2022 that investigators found reasonable grounds to charge the officers in the death of Jared Lowndes. The IIO has not said precisely which charges the officers could face.
At least one Campbell River RCMP officer opened fire on Lowndes in the parking lot of the Tim Hortons in the 2000 block of South Island Highway on the morning of July 8, 2021.
Police were attempting to pull over the 38-year-old father of two for an outstanding warrant when he failed to stop, the RCMP said shortly after the shooting.
The incident began just before 5:30 a.m., when an officer approached a parked Audi. The dark blue vehicle pulled away, making contact with a police vehicle as the officer approached, according to the IIO.
The Mountie did not pursue the driver but alerted fellow officers in the area. The vehicle was located again around 9 a.m. when police stopped it and attempted to apprehend the man in the drive-thru lane of the Tim Hortons.
The Campbell River RCMP said their officer boxed the vehicle in before using their police service dog to confront the driver.
