PROSECUTOR SAYS ALLEGED DRAGGING WAS THEFT ATTEMPT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- The black teenager who said he was dragged along the
street last month by racially abusive teens was trying to steal their money
after a collapsed drug deal, prosecutors said Thursday.

Police investigating Baron Manning Jr.'s claims were unable to find
sufficient evidence to back his allegations, said St. Clair County State's
Atty. Robert Haida.

Manning's "version of the events of June 11 and 12 stand in stark contrast
to all the other statements and evidence in this case," Haida said.

Despite the allegations of drug dealing and attempted robbery, Haida said
he had no plans to charge anyone in the case due to insufficient evidence
and credibility problems.

Manning, 17, told police that three white teens in a Jeep hailed him as he
walked along the street, grabbed him and drove away, dragging him about
three blocks while gouging one of his eyes and shouting racial slurs.
Manning suffered injuries to his head, arms, legs and eye.

Haida said investigators believe the teens were trying to buy marijuana
from an acquaintance of Manning.

They say that Manning dived into the Jeep when the deal collapsed in an
attempt to steal the teenagers' money.

One of the teens has acknowledged that Manning was dragged but has denied
Manning's racial accusations.

Rev. Johnny Scott, who has worked closely with the Manning family as
president of the East St. Louis chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, said there are too many inconsistencies in
the police version.

"If there were drugs involved, why didn't they charge someone with drugs?"
Scott asked.

He again accused authorities of showing favoritism to the white teens, at
least one of whom is the son of a St. Clair County attorney. Authorities
have not named the white youths.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski