A former D.C. Special Police Officer faces serious charges after a grand jury indictment accused him of excessive force and obstruction, according to federal authorities. Curtis Holloway, 65, is being charged with the civil rights violation of an arrestee, identified as A.J., a 33-year-old woman, and additional counts of obstruction of justice and assault with a deadly weapon under the D.C. code.
On October 13, 2023, Holloway reportedly struck the woman on the head with a firearm as she attempted to flee, an act that has led to the current federal indictment. The U.S. Department of Justice outlined the charges, as announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and others, adding that Holloway also allegedly made false statements to the responding Metropolitan Police Department officers.
The counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, and assault carry a potential maximum sentence of 10 years each, while the obstruction charge could lead to up to 20 years of imprisonment. Sentencing should there be a conviction, will ultimately be determined by a federal judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with various statutory factors.
The FBI's Washington Field Office investigated Holloway's conduct with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section. Despite the indictment, it is important to remember, as the Justice Department reminds us, that "An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
