Records Seized in Probe of Fatal Fire
Search warrants have been served and records seized at two businesses as part of the investigation into the death of a security guard in the fire last year at the First Interstate Bank building in downtown Los Angeles.
Andy Reynolds, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, said investigators served the search warrants at Honeywell Corp. in Commerce and Pedus Security in Los Angeles.
Honeywell installed and maintained the fire alarm system at the 62-story building, while Pedus was in charge of security at the structure, one of the tallest buildings in California.
Alexander Handy, 24, a security guard for Pedus, perished in 2,000-degree heat when an elevator he was in became stuck.
The blaze injured 40 people, gutted four floors and caused smoke and water damage to other floors.
The district attorney’s office began an investigation into the blaze last July to determine if criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter, should be filed.
Jan Chatten-Brown, a special assistant to Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, said that even though search warrants were served at Honeywell and Pedus--the first such warrants executed in the probe--investigators do not necessarily consider the two companies suspects.
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