A Promising Political Career Gone Awry For John Manning -- He Says He Quit To Defend Himself

John Manning's resignation from the Seattle City Council yesterday seemed the least of the former police officer's concerns.

Dressed in red jail clothes and flanked by two lawyers, in a courtroom packed with reporters, Manning was described by King County Deputy Prosecutor Robin Fox as a dangerous man whose actions had become "more volatile and unpredictable."

Fox was referring to Manning's second arrest for actions involving family members in two months, a stunning turn of events for a man whose career seemed so promising just one year ago when he won an upset election to the City Council. Thoughtful and popular, the former police sergeant was even nationally recognized for his work in promoting "community policing," in which neighbors and police work together to solve problems.

Now, he sits in jail. District Court Judge Darcy Goodman set Manning's bail at $50,000 cash - an amount his attorneys doubt he could post. If he doesn't, Manning would stay in custody at least until tomorrow, when the prosecutor would determine if charges would be filed against him in this latest incident.

Manning's attorneys are emphasizing that his resignation from the council yesterday is not an admission of guilt, that the new allegations against him are false and vindictive. He's stepping down, they said, to vigorously defend himself - the opposite of what he did last time.

The new round of trouble began last Friday.

Manning had just returned from a National League of Cities meeting in San Antonio, where his estranged wife, Juana Manning, had paid him a surprise visit. Michelle McGovern, Manning's council aide, said he thought that visit signaled progress for the couple, who had been separated since Oct. 23, the day she reported him to police for picking her up and slamming her into a truck she had rented to move out of their South Seattle home.

That assault led to Manning's first arrest and a subsequent guilty plea to a charge of domestic assault. Manning received a deferred sentence on condition he complete a batterer's program, forfeit his right to carry a firearm, and not violate any other laws.

Manning remained on the City Council and was complying with the counseling requirements, which included anger management. During an interview with a Seattle Times reporter Friday afternoon, he described the training as "very intense, very focused on you as an individual and what makes you trigger."

But within hours of that statement, Manning found himself in trouble again.

Between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Manning talked on the phone with Cedric Sampson, the 27-year-old manager of the day care the Mannings own. Sampson said he told Manning that three employees had quit the day care because they were so fed up with another employee - Manning's 19-year-old stepdaughter, Artemia Manning.

Sampson said Artemia caused trouble at the center, which led to morale problems because Juana Manning had sided with her daughter.

The news was disturbing to Manning, who has a long history of conflict with Artemia.

His attorneys were even more outspoken yesterday, denouncing the stepdaughter as out to get John Manning.

"Mrs. Manning herself has confirmed that this young woman has a major problem in her relationship with him," said attorney Jeffery Robinson.

Artemia Manning has declined comment.

Manning attended church services Friday night at Gethsemane Church of God In Christ, in South Seattle. He was joined by Sampson, who said Manning was paged at about 9:30 p.m. He left to make a phone call, came back, got his Bible, and said he had to leave.

Sampson said he was told by one of Manning's sisters, who spoke with Manning in jail, that the page came from a woman friend of Juana's, who was baby-sitting the Mannings' 8-year-old daughter. (The girl and a 15-year-old son are still living with John Manning at home. Artemia and another 13-year-old daughter live with Juana.)

The woman wanted one of the Mannings to pick up the 8-year-old. John Manning called Juana and told her to get the girl, Sampson said, and then Manning headed for Juana and Artemia's apartment. He later told police he had his wife's permission to go there to pick up clothes for the girl.

When he arrived at the apartment, Artemia Manning was there, along with a 27-year-old man, police said, and they refused to let Manning enter.

Manning knew the man from the day care. Juana Manning had hired him earlier in the year, without Manning's knowledge, and when he found out, Manning ordered her to fire him, according to Sampson. She dismissed him Oct. 22, the day before Manning was arrested for assaulting his wife as she was loading up the moving truck.

When Artemia Manning wouldn't let him in, police said Manning went around the corner of the building and forced open a sliding-glass door. The metal frame was torn away and bent from force.

Police say Manning entered the apartment and assaulted the 27-year-old man, who they say suffered a facial cut and scratches. Police also took fingerprints from a butcher knife with which they say Manning armed himself. Manning's attorneys say no knife was involved.

At yesterday's bail hearing, Robinson labeled the 27-year-old a "disgruntled employee" who was the aggressor in the scuffle. Manning, he said, "did nothing more than remove this man's hands from him."

Moreover, Robinson stressed that Manning surrendered to police and was not - as the prosecutor contended - a volatile man.

But prosecutor Fox persisted, saying Manning's aggression had shown a "pattern of escalation." She had asked Goodman to impose a $150,000 bail, but the judge lowered it to $50,000.

Manning could be charged with burglary and domestic violence in connection with Friday's incident. But even if he's not charged, his legal troubles persist.

Roger Lubovich, the Kent City Attorney who handled Manning's October domestic-violence case, said that prosecution was deferred with strict conditions after Manning entered a guilty plea. Now, the mere probability that Manning may have violated a law could revoke the deferral, leading to possible re-sentencing and jail time.

Manning's resignation from the City Council is effective immediately. By mid-afternoon yesterday, council members were meeting to discuss his replacement - a difficult task, according to council President Jan Drago.

"He's been a good council member and colleague," she said of Manning. "He stepped right up and learned complicated transportation issues. This will leave a gap on the Council."