Ruling on fired officer's cause of death could take 12 weeks

The cause of death for George Holcombe, a former Philadelphia police lieutenant who died this week while awaiting a hearing on aggravated assault charges, will not be determined for eight to 12 weeks as an investigation continues, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office said Thursday.

Holcombe, who was fired in November, was slated for a preliminary hearing next Friday on charges resulting from a confrontation in November involving an ex-girlfriend.

Holcombe, 42, was arrested after threatening to kill the woman, and when police arrived, he allegedly assaulted them. He faced charges of aggravated assault on a police officer - a felony - as well as simple assault and resisting arrest, among other offenses. - Caitlin McCabe