A Seattle police officer who fatally struck a graduate student with his cruiser after responding to a report of an overdose avoided criminal charges and was instead charged with a traffic violation.
Officer Kevin Dave was charged with second-degree negligent driving in connection with the Jan. 23, 2023, crash that claimed the life of 23-year-old Jaanabi Khandula. KING5 reported.
The violation was filed Friday in city district court and carries a civil fine of up to $5,000.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office announced late last month that Dave would not face criminal charges in Kandula’s death.
An officer responding to a 911 call regarding a report of an overdose struck an Indian student who was driving 114 mph in a 25 mph zone, even though she had the right of way. Thrown a foot.
Officer Daniel Oderer, who was called to the scene to see if Dave was impaired, spoke by phone to Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan, but forgot to turn off his body-worn camera. Ta.
He was heard laughing and suggesting Kandula’s life had “limited value” and saying the city “should write a check.”
The graduate student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus arrived in the United States from Bengaluru, India, in 2021 and was scheduled to graduate in December 2023.
Prosecutors said in a report released in June 2023 that Dave had emergency lights on but did not have a siren continuously activated.
The report also noted that Kandula apparently saw his car approaching and tried to run across the road.
Also, when they announced that Dave would not be charged with felony vehicular homicide, authorities said he may have been wearing wireless earphones that could have impaired his hearing.
“Beyond a reasonable doubt, Ofc. Dave had a conscious disregard for safety,” the prosecutor’s office said in its report, noting that the accident was also due to his speed. NBC15 reported.
“Even if it could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that a uniformed police officer traveling 114 miles per hour in a marked patrol car with lights and sirens blaring in response to a legitimate emergency call was negligent. “Negligent driving does not meet the legal standard for a felony and was charged under Washington state law,” the report states.
Officials say Dave responded to Kandura at the intersection, applied the brakes and managed to slow the car to 103 mph at the time of the collision.
Seattle Police Department filed a subpoena with the City Attorney’s Office after the King County Prosecutor’s Office announced its decision not to file criminal charges.
On Sunday, a solidarity walk was held to demand justice for Kandula.
“If we weren’t here, who would stand by her? If we weren’t here, no one would know what happened to her,” said Aman Mahajan, who took part in the walk. he said. told KOMO News.
Mahajan added: “If someone else had been behind the wheel, would they have been charged with the same traffic violation? So why are the authorities being given special treatment?”
Deepali Jamwal, one of the walk organizers, said: “It’s not right to walk with impunity right after someone’s life has been taken. We need to take responsibility.”
A petition addressed to state officials in Seattle and Washington, including Gov. Jay Inslee, and President Joe Biden had more than 234,000 signatures as of Monday morning.
“The Indian community across the country and around the world is demanding justice for Jaanavi Khandula and holding the police officers accountable,” the petition said.
“Not only was she brutally mowed down, but the conversations the officers had after the incident were absolutely disgraceful and a disgrace to humanity. We must remove these officers from their duties without pension. We demand that this incident be treated as manslaughter and prosecuted.”
Mr. Oderer claimed that he did not know that his cruel laughter and jokes were taken out of context during a private call and were being recorded on a department-issued body camera.
At the end of his conversation with Solan, he said the city should pay for the tragedy caused by his fellow officer.
“$110,000. She was 26 years old anyway,” he said, incorrectly stating the victim’s age. “Her worth was limited.”
Oderer later claimed that he was reacting to Solan’s comments, which were not seen on camera.
“This comment was meant to mock lawyers. It was a sarcastic way of saying that you shouldn’t bring up crazy arguments to minimize payouts, echoing what lawyers who are tasked with negotiating a case say. ,” he said.
“I understand that without context this comment could be construed as horribly crass. Without context I was actually participating in a conversation about the ruthlessness of the legal system. “This comment is insensitive to the victim’s family,” Oderer added.
Kandura’s family said they were “truly disturbed and saddened to hear the ill-advised comments” made on the body camera video.
Oderer is currently awaiting a disciplinary hearing, which was originally scheduled for Monday but was postponed to April 1, KING 5 reported.
The report said his chain of command and the Office of Police Accountability determined that he had acted in an unprofessional manner.
The officer reportedly faces penalties ranging from about two weeks’ suspension to up to termination.
“The Office of Police Accountability is responsible for the disciplinary investigation and process regarding Officer Oderer’s comments,” King County Prosecutor Leesa Mannion said in a statement.
The Indian government also requested a death investigation through the San Francisco Consulate General.
with post wire
