Manning Jr. Is Arrested, Charged

UCLA senior cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. was arrested Tuesday night and charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an April incident outside a Westwood bar.

Manning, a two-time All-Pacific 10 Conference pick and the Bruins’ most charismatic leader, was in custody for three hours and released on $60,000 bail at 9:15 p.m.

Coach Bob Toledo said that Manning, 21, would remain with the team and play pending the outcome of the legal process.

According to Manning’s attorney, Daniel Davis, Manning acted in self-defense after he and friends were confronted by a group of men inside Madison’s Neighborhood Grill, a restaurant and bar popular among students.

“A number of individuals acted aggressively toward a friend of Ricky’s in the restaurant,” Davis said. “The other party was sent out of the restaurant. When Ricky and his friends came out, the other men were waiting.”

The fight took place outside and resulted in undisclosed injuries. Davis said the “deadly weapon” is Manning’s fist and that Manning suffered a hand injury.

Manning is an NFL prospect who signed a $375,000 contract with the Minnesota Twins in 1999. Davis said he has no criminal record.

“The assailants were intoxicated and Ricky was not drinking,” Davis said. “People sue and get money for it. I would daresay that in the three months [since the incident] they’ve sobered up and are pulling on the golden ring.”

Toledo said Manning informed him about the fight the next day. Manning was disciplined and required to undergo anger management counseling.

Manning, who could not be reached for comment, believed the incident was forgotten and that neither side had filed charges, Davis said.

Before his arrest Tuesday, Manning discussed his role as a team leader. He is one of nine Bruins on an advisory council that is charged with policing players’ off-the-field behavior.

“Football players are aggressive dudes and things happen when guys go out in public,” he said. “The young guys look up to me and other seniors and they see from us what is OK and not OK. I’m not afraid to say I’ll be my brother’s keeper.”

Toledo said that he believes Manning’s version of events, that the player was acting in self-defense. Davis said the other men were not students and were older and bigger than the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Manning and his friends.

“Ricky is an outstanding young man and a leader on our team,” Toledo said. “From what he has told us, he was not the aggressor in the incident and attempted to avoid the confrontation. We stand behind Ricky and have confidence in the legal system.”

Manning is the fourth Bruin player in the last two years involved in a serious fight.

Defensive end Asi Faoa, a junior, was charged with assault after punching another student at a fraternity party in the spring of 2000. Faoa pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges a year ago but has yet to serve his 180-day sentence. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 11 to arrange for work furlough.

Faoa settled a civil suit with the victim, agreeing to pay Rodrigo DeZubiria $100,000 if Faoa plays in the NFL within three years after leaving UCLA.

Linebacker Audie Attar was dismissed from the team this summer after punching the younger brother of former UCLA quarterback Scott McEwan in the face at the Westwood Brewing Company.

Attar, who transferred to Division I-AA Idaho State, had been involved in other fights, including punching Bruin baseball player Charles Merricks in 1999.

Also, C.J. Niusulu, a freshman defensive lineman, faces felony battery charges stemming from a July 17 fight at a drive-in theater in Barstow. The incident occurred a month before Niusulu reported to UCLA, and he has practiced with the team.

Niusulu, 18, was arraigned Tuesday and had his case continued until Sept. 26, according to the Barstow District Attorney’s office.

Toledo’s policy has been to dismiss a player convicted of a felony and to suspend a player convicted of a misdemeanor for one or two games. Players have been allowed to suit up until their cases are resolved.

Toledo said earlier Tuesday before Manning’s arrest: “Football players are big, strong athletes in the limelight. The unfortunate thing is that guys out there constantly want to challenge these [players] because of who they are and get them in trouble.

“Football players are by nature aggressive individuals. Because of their makeup, sometimes they don’t walk away. Some do, but some don’t back down, and that’s wrong. So I have to discipline them, suspend them.”

Toledo is not optimistic that he has seen the last fight involving a Bruin player.

“It’s not over, it’ll never end,” he said.

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Freshman quarterback Matt Moore sprained his left knee while dropping back to pass during a drill Tuesday and is questionable for today’s scrimmage at the Rose Bowl.

Moore already trailed freshman Drew Olson in the race to back up starter Cory Paus and last weekend told his former coaches at Newhall Hart High that he probably would redshirt.

Receiver Craig Bragg, the team’s most dangerous big-play threat, is running at full speed after spending a week hobbled with hamstring and knee pain. He will play in the scrimmage.