Watchdog opens door to charges against 3 RCMP officers in Wet’suwet’en man’s death

B.C.’s civilian police watchdog has opened the door to possible charges against three RCMP officers involved in the shooting death of a 38-year-old Wet’suwet’en man in Campbell River in 2021.

Jared Lowndes, a father of two, died on June 8, 2021 following an interaction with police. During the altercation, and RCMP officer was stabbed an injured, and a police service dog was fatally stabbed.

On Thursday, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) said its chief civilian director had forwarded a report to Crown counsel for consideration of charges, after determining three officers may have committed use of force offences.

According to the IIO, the incident began around 5:30 a.m., when an RCMP officer went to check on a parked dark blue Audi, but the person inside drove away.

Around 9 a.m., police stopped the Audi in a drive-thru in the 2000-block of South Island Highway, the IIO said.

“During the interaction that followed, shots were fired by police, and the man was subsequently pronounced deceased,” the IIO said in a media release.

The watchdog said it would not release further information, as it could prejudice a potential prosecution.

The BC RCMP said it would not comment on the matter until the BC Prosecution Service determined whether it would lay charges or not.

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In a previous statement, the National Police Federation, the union representing RCMP officers, expressed condolences about Lowndes death, but went on to say he was responsible for the outcome.

“If Mr. Lowndes had not, however, evaded police, stabbed PSD Gator and injured an RCMP officer, and instead turned himself into the Courts to comply with a warrant for weapons offences, he could be alive today,” wrote National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé.

Lowndes’ family and supporters including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the Pivot Legal Society and the BC Civil Liberties Association have scheduled a protest in Vancouver Thursday afternoon.

Read more: Watchdog deployed to Campbell River after fatal police shooting

“Since Jared’s death, his mother, family, and a community of supporters have been working non-stop on a public advocacy campaign to bring attention to the killing of Jared, as well as all Indigenous people killed by police and in police custody across Canada. In the 16 months since Jared’s death, there have been 74 reported incidents of in-custody deaths in BC alone,” organizers said in a media release.

“It is time for police officers to be held accountable for the unnecessary use of force that too often results in the death of Indigenous community members.”

The IIO said in order for Crown prosecutors to approve charges, they must be satisfied there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered.