Florida Police Criticized for Focus on Black Youths : Crime: Civil rights groups claim racism in the investigation of a British tourist’s murder. Officials deny charges, and decry reports of arrests.

Law enforcement officials squabbled Friday as civil rights groups stepped up criticism of police for interviewing black teen-agers with troubled pasts in an effort to find suspects in a British tourist’s murder.

In the glare of international media attention, police denied that charges of racism and leaks about black teen-age suspects are jeopardizing their investigation.

Authorities also disputed comments made by state Deputy Atty. Gen. Pete Antonacci that a 13-year-old with a record of 56 arrests and a 15-year-old are the leading suspects.

Gary Colley, 34, was fatally shot Tuesday during an attempted robbery at an Interstate 10 rest stop where he and his girlfriend, Margaret Ann Jagger, had pulled over for a nap.

Jagger, who was wounded in the attack, arrived home in Britain on Friday and issued a statement that police read at a briefing.

“I still love America and intend to return,” the 35-year-old Jagger said. Colley’s body was returned on the same plane. He was the ninth foreign visitor slain in Florida since October, 1992, and the second in less than a week.

Jefferson County Sheriff Ken Fortune said two teen-agers remain in custody for an unrelated auto theft. But he and John Joyce, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, countered Antonacci’s claim that they were prime suspects.

“Mr. Antonacci does not have any direct bearing on this case,” Joyce said. “There are inaccuracies involved.”

Antonacci, who left Tallahassee for a trip and could not be reached Friday, also said authorities were seeking a 17-year-old who may have been driving the stolen getaway car. No charges were announced against anyone.

“They have to follow through on leads but not go door-to-door harassing everyone,” said the Rev. Reece Joyner, who appeared at a Tallahassee news conference.

The American Civil Liberties Union is considering a civil rights lawsuit against Fortune because of evidence that some youths were brought in without probable cause and were not represented by lawyers.

Joyce defended the investigation, saying that fewer than a dozen youths had been brought in for questioning and that others had simply been interviewed around town. Jagger has described the assailants as young black males.