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The B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS) has confirmed they are not approving charges in the fatal Campbell River police shooting of Jared Lowndes.

The BCPS concluded that the evidence available did not meet their charge assessment standard.

害羞草研究所淭he BCPS is not able to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officers committed any offence in relation to the incident. As a result, no charges have been approved,害羞草研究所� a statement from BCPS says.

BCPS provided an overview of events as they took place on July 8, 2021. That morning, a member of the Campbell River RCMP detachment stopped to investigate a suspicious vehicle near Campbell River. A license plate search found the owner 害羞草研究所� Lowndes 害羞草研究所� had an arrest warrant outstanding for a conditional sentence order breach related to a firearms offence.

The report states the driver of the vehicle reversed quickly as the officer approached, and 害羞草研究所渟ped off through a grassy portion of a park and onto the roadway.害羞草研究所�

Another RCMP officer later spotted the vehicle north of Campbell River. Other RCMP members were called to assist, including the on-duty police service dog officer and the dog.

The report says Lowndes drove to a restaurant, where three officers attempted to pin his vehicle in place with their vehicles as he approached the drive-thru window.

害羞草研究所淢r. Lowndes was able to quickly reverse out of the drive-thru lane, then drove at a high rate of speed through the parking lot pursued by (the police service dog officer) in their police vehicle. Lowndes continued to maneuver through the parking lot, reversing and striking another vehicle while trying to find a way out of the parking lot as the police vehicles converged on him. He drove from the back of the lot toward the only exit in the front when his path was blocked by another police vehicle. Mr. Lowndes then attempted to drive backwards through the drive-thru lane but was blocked by the police vehicles.害羞草研究所�

The report states 害羞草研究所渟everal officers害羞草研究所� approached Lowndes害羞草研究所� vehicle with their guns drawn, and they 害羞草研究所渓oudly instructed Mr. Lowndes to 害羞草研究所榮how me your hands.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 As two officers approached the car, the report says Lowndes discharged bear spray, prompting the police service dog officer to lift the dog into the car.

害羞草研究所淢r. Lowndes grabbed a large knife from the passenger seat and began stabbing the dog,害羞草研究所� the report says. 害羞草研究所淢r. Lowndes also stabbed (the police service dog officer) with the knife, resulting in multiple cuts and wounds on their left hand.害羞草研究所�

The report says that officers shouted to Lowndes to 害羞草研究所渟how me your hands,害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渃ome on, give up.害羞草研究所� One officer climbed on to a police vehicle and aimed their firearm at Lowndes through the front windshield.

害羞草研究所淒uring this time Mr. Lowndes is heard saying things to the effect of 害羞草研究所榊ou害羞草研究所檙e going to have to f害羞草研究所敽π卟菅芯克鶖-g kill me害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 not coming out, just f害羞草研究所敽π卟菅芯克鶖-g kill me,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 the report says. 害羞草研究所淚n response, a Taser was deployed twice; however, it appeared to have no effect on Mr. Lowndes. He used the knife to cut away the Taser wires.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淢r. Lowndes moved to the passenger side of his vehicle with the knife still in his hand. Officers shouted, 害羞草研究所榙rop the knife, drop the knife,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 the report says. 害羞草研究所淢r. Lowndes opened the passenger door and pushed PSD Gator out. PSD Gator was pulled away from the car by a police officer and died at the scene.害羞草研究所�

Lowndes emerged from the car, still holding the knife, the report says. Shots were fired by two officers 害羞草研究所渁lmost simultaneously,害羞草研究所� two shots hit Lowndes, mortally wounding him, and one other missed. Lowndes died at the scene.

BCPS uses a two-part test to determine whether charges are approved: whether there is a 害羞草研究所渟ubstantial likelihood of a conviction害羞草研究所� and whether the public interest requires a prosecution.

The charges considered were, for the first officer, manslaughter, discharge of a firearm with intent and/or assault with a weapon. The charges considered for the second officer were for discharging a firearm with intent and/or assault with a weapon, the third were aggaravated assault and/or assault with a weapon (the police dog).

The report says that the officers were acting in the course of their duties, had reasonable grounds to perceive that Lowndes posed a risk to himself or others.

害羞草研究所淭he central question in this case is whether the force used by the three officers was objectively necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances,害羞草研究所� the report says.

The report cites Lowndes害羞草研究所� use of bear spray as a 害羞草研究所渟ignificant escalation of violence,害羞草研究所� and says the use of the police dog was a 害羞草研究所渄irect response to the risk.害羞草研究所� The report also says that 害羞草研究所渢he officers reasonably believed that if Mr. Lowndes exited the vehicle still armed with the knife, there was a significant risk he would harm them or others.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淐onsidering all the circumstances, the Crown would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the force used was unnecessary, unreasonable, or disproportionate. Therefore, there is no substantial likelihood of conviction in relation to any of the proposed charges,害羞草研究所� the report concludes.

The full 11-page report is available online.

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