Olowokandi Case Will Go to D.A.

Manhattan Beach police detectives said Thursday they have concluded an investigation into allegations that Clipper center Michael Olowokandi assaulted a former girlfriend early Saturday morning and are prepared to present their case to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The investigation included other alleged instances of domestic violence at Olowokandi’s home, according to Detective Karl Nilsson.

“I don’t want to say whether they involved the same woman or another woman,” said Nilsson, one of two detectives assigned to the case. “My investigation has led us to believe there have been other instances. I have no evidence of a prior arrest, though.”

Police have a follow-up interview scheduled with Olowokandi’s former girlfriend, Suzanne Ketcham, who says she plans to recant her original statements to them and a representative of the district attorney’s special victims unit.

Ketcham now says she attacked Olowokandi in a jealous rage when he returned home with an unidentified woman and his brother after a game against the Nuggets in Denver. Depending on what Ketcham tells the police and the district attorney’s representative, police might wish to reopen their investigation.

The district attorney’s office also is expected to announce, perhaps as soon as today, whether it intends to file charges against Olowokandi, 26, who was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of cohabitant abuse, false imprisonment and robbery--all felonies. Olowokandi is free on bail of $50,000 and arraignment has been set for Jan. 2.

Olowokandi said Thursday he would hire an attorney. He also said police had not formally questioned him.

“I can’t let them wear me down,” Olowokandi said. “I think that’s their tactic right now. I’m not going to let it happen.”

Olowokandi denied striking Ketcham, 23, his girlfriend for about two years. She said she suffered injuries ranging from small scratches on her hands to a cut inside her mouth. Nilsson said Ketcham was hospitalized early Saturday, treated and released.

“It’s not unusual for victims of domestic abuse to recant,” Nilsson said. “Most domestic partners don’t want to see their loved one put in jail.... [But] domestic violence is something we take very seriously.”

Nilsson said he spoke to Ketcham in “great detail” and videotaped her statement earlier this week.