Strawberry Girlfriend Won’t Press Charges

The girlfriend of Darryl Strawberry told Glendale police Thursday that she will not file criminal charges against him for alleged assault, a police spokesperson said Friday.

For now, Strawberry’s fate as a Dodger rests with the district attorney’s office, which will review the case and decide whether to file charges.

“It happens quite often that victims of domestic violence change their minds after they file the initial report and leave it up to the district attorney’s office,” said Chahe Keuroghelian, public information officer for the Glendale police. “The case is in the process of being forwarded to them.”

Strawberry was arrested Saturday for allegedly striking his live-in girlfriend, causing a one-inch cut above her right eye. He will still be arraigned Sept. 30 in Glendale Municipal Court if charges are filed. However, charges are seldom pursued by the district attorney’s office in domestic violence cases when the alleged victim declines to be involved, Sgt. Leif Nicolaisen of the Glendale police said recently.

Since the arrest, the Dodgers have indicated that Strawberry’s future as a Dodger will be determined by the judicial process. They have distanced themselves from the outfielder and indicated that if he is convicted they will seek a way to void the remaining two years of his contract, for which he would earn $8 million.

The decision by Strawberry’s girlfriend not to press charges has not changed the Dodgers’ stance. “. . .We will continue to monitor the situation to see what is determined by the district attorney’s office,” Claire said. “All of these things have their proper steps.

”. . .In the meantime, we expect Darryl to continue to adhere to his rehabilitation program (for his surgically-repaired back) as he has this week, and we will continue along that path. . . . But there are two basic parts to this. He needs to continue with his program so he can rehabilitate his back and by the same token, these other issues have to be addressed.”

Suzanne Childs, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, told the Associated Press on Friday that its policy is to file a criminal complaint when there is evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime has been committed.

“In domestic violence situations, when we feel it’s appropriate to file a criminal charge, we will do so, regardless of whether the victim wishes to cooperate,” Childs said.