The decision not to pursue criminal charges against Seattle police officer Kevin Dave, who was involved in the tragic death of Jaahnavi Kandula, an Indian student from Hyderabad, has been attributed to the "lack of sufficient evidence." This determination was made by the King County Prosecutor's Office, which announced its conclusion on Wednesday regarding the case.
According to a statement from the King County Prosecuting Attorney, after a thorough examination of all available evidence related to the collision that resulted in Jaahnavi Kandula's death, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence under Washington State law to support a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. The decision not to proceed with criminal charges was made following a comprehensive review of the case by senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership.
Despite this legal conclusion, Attorney Leesa Manion acknowledged the profound impact of Kandula's tragic death, describing it as heartbreaking and emphasizing its impact on communities both locally in King County and around the world.
In a memorandum addressed to the Seattle police, prosecutors noted that there was insufficient evidence to establish that Officer Dave demonstrated a "conscious disregard for others' safety," a crucial element in proving criminal liability in such cases.
The fatal incident occurred on January 23, 2024, when 23-year-old Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula was struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Dave while crossing a street in Seattle. Officer Dave was reportedly responding to a drug overdose call at the time, traveling at speeds exceeding 119 kmph. Kandula was thrown approximately 100 feet upon impact with the speeding police patrol vehicle.
While the decision not to pursue criminal charges against Officer Dave was based on the lack of evidence implicating him in criminal wrongdoing, attention has also been drawn to the inappropriate comments made by another Seattle police officer, Daniel Auderer, recorded on his body-worn video. These comments, described as "appalling and deeply troubling" by Attorney Manion, were deemed unprofessional and detrimental to public trust in law enforcement.
However, it was clarified that Officer Auderer's comments, although reprehensible, did not alter the legal analysis of Officer Dave's conduct conducted by the Prosecutor's Office. Responsibility for investigating and addressing Officer Auderer's behavior falls under the purview of the Office of Police Accountability, distinct from the legal proceedings handled by the Prosecutor's Office.
Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding Jaahnavi Kandula's death, it was concluded that the bodycam footage did not establish Officer Dave's fault or warrant a criminal investigation.
Reports from local media suggest that excessive speed was a contributing factor in the collision. Officer Dave was reportedly responding to a "priority one" call initiated by the Seattle Fire Department, though his siren was not continuously activated, and instead, he "chirped" the siren at intersections. Nonetheless, his emergency lights were activated, as stated in a prior announcement from the police department.
Jaahnavi Kandula, a graduate student at Northeastern University's Seattle campus, was posthumously awarded her degree by the university in January 2023, with plans to present it to her family as a tribute to her academic achievements.
