Tentative Decision Made Not to Prosecute in Death

Officials in the district attorney’s office in Pasadena have made a preliminary decision not to file criminal charges against five housing project security employees in connection with a struggle that led to the death of a 28-year-old man on project grounds last month.

Robert Earl Holloway, a part-time employee of the Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department, died Jan. 18 after employees of Gold’s Security Patrol chased him through the King’s Villages housing project in Pasadena. He died after he was put in a neck hold during a struggle, the coroner’s office has ruled.

Don Eastman, head deputy district attorney in Pasadena, said his office has tentatively rejected pressing assault charges against four of the employees and involuntary manslaughter charges against the fifth--a dispatcher who allegedly administered the neck hold.

On Thursday, Eastman notified police of the decision. But after the dead man’s mother urged him to continue investigating, he said he would examine the case again and issue a final decision on Tuesday.