Police: Ruptured testicle investigation hampered by lack of cooperation

Philadelphia's top law enforcement officials held an unusual news conference this afternoon, assuring the public that an investigation was underway into the alleged police abuse of a North Philadelphia boy early last month.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and District Attorney Seth Williams also pled with the alleged victim and his mother to cooperate with the investigators, noting that neither would agree to be interviewed by the department's Bureau of Internal Affairs.

"We don't normally confirm on-going investigations," Williams said. "But given the nature of this case we felt it was important to let the public know that we have been vigorously investigating this case since it occurred."

Darrin Manning, 16, had emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicle after he was stopped by police on Jan. 7 and allegedly roughed up. Manning said a woman officer pulled on his scrotum as she frisked him near Broad Street and Girard Avenue.

Manning told the Daily News that during a second pat down the officer yanked hard. "She grabbed and squeezed and pulled my private parts and I felt something pop."

Manning was later charged with with three misdemeanors: reckless endangerment of another person, simple assault, and resisting arrest.

Following his surgery at Children's Hospital, Manning's mother, Ikea Coney Manning, said the boy might never be able to father children.

Manning's attorney, Lewis Small, said the incident stemmed from an illegal stop-and-frisk and that it should be "obvious" why his client had not spoken with police.

"The African American community does not trust the police," Small said. "We are willing to talk, but we'll talk with the District Attorney's office. Following the press conference, that looks like it's going to happen, now.

"We got what we wanted."