Brickbat: Swift Justice

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said she won't file felony charges against Officer Kevin Dave of the Seattle Police Department, who fatally struck Jaahnavi Kandula with his patrol car in January 2023. "Our legal analysis reveals that the PAO (Prosecuting Attorney's Office) lacks sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Kevin Dave was impaired by drugs or alcohol, driving in a reckless manner, or driving with disregard for the safety of others," Manion said in a statement. Dave reached speeds of up to 74 mph while responding to an overdose call, but he used his siren only at intersections instead of running it continuously. He struck Kandula in a crosswalk in an area where the speed limit is 25 mph, applying his brakes less than a second before hitting her. Dave's case has been referred to the city attorney's office which will consider a misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner.

Comments

[The Margrave of Azilia]

If only there were some way to warn people in crosswalks that there’s an emergency vehicle approaching rapidly.

[MWAocdoc]

If only local prosecutors would prosecute police officers with the same zeal that they prosecute the rest of us, using the same tricks and bullying tactics that work so well on people who don't have a politically powerful public employee union to protect them.

[Rossami]

I had the same thought. I'd be okay with this decision if I believed it was applied consistently. Unfortunately, the available evidence continues to show a stark double-standard.

[The Margrave of Azilia]

I did some checking and found she was an Indian citizen, and that the Indian government and media have expressed concern.

(It's hardly the first time that American police killing a foreign national has led to international complications. You may remember the cop who killed that Australian lady in Milwaukee.)

Reverse the situation and imagine an innocent American getting run down and killed by a policeman in India. We might get some articles in the U. S. media about how the political climate in India has led to police abuse, etc.

[swillfredo pareto]

You may remember the cop who killed that Australian lady in Milwaukee.

I assume you are talking about the shooting of Justine Damond, which was in Minneapolis. A cop "got spooked" when she slapped his car. There were no mostly peaceful protests involving arson after that one, no one really knows why.

[MatthewSlyfield]

It was even worse than you describe.
The officer who killed her fired through the driver's window from the passenger seat. He's lucky he didn't hit his partner.

[The Margrave of Azilia]

Oops, I don't know whether to apologize to Minneapolis or Milwaukee.

[kevrob]

Don't bother. Midwesterners will just apologize right back.

[LIBertrans]

The dead Australian lady doesn't know why. So that's no and one. Everyone else understands qualified immunity makes it safe to murder with a badge just like when Bert Hoover was prez.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Our legal analysis reveals that...

...defunding the police isn't a thing here anymore.

[Davy C]

Using the siren only at intersections implies turning it *off* between intersections. That's an actual choice made by the officer, and shows recklessness, I think.

He's responding to an overdose call. It's not like the siren will tip off a criminal that he's coming.

[Commenter_XY]

Here comes a QI case...was it 'clearly established'?

You're right, of course. The cop sounds guilty of manslaughter, to me.

[Longtobefree]

He would be charged if his name was Trump!

[Nazi-Chipping Warlock]

I mean, yes, even if he hadn't done anything.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

There were 1326 od deaths alone in King County last year (around 4,000 calls to 911). Why was this one such an emergency?

[sarcasmic]

IIRC it wasn't even a fatal overdose, making it even less of an emergency.

[Dillinger]

>>speeds of up to 74 mph while responding to an overdose call

does he show up with narcan?

also, you know who would have good insight? Diane(Paul.)

[sarcasmic]

What would be manslaughter for a little person is just Thursday for a cop.

[Azathoth!!]

He was turning his siren on and off as he approached and left each intersection?

Nah. That's a lie.

[LIBertrans]

The peeg was altruistically responding to a government-created drug problem. It's too bad he didn't run down a fanatical prohibitionist judge or prosecutor. That would add mystery to the obvious immunity outcome.

[Incunabulum]

a

[AT]

I don't see any mention of Tay-Tay anywhere in here. What the heck.