
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 9, 1990                   TAG: 9005090428
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PEOPLE

Todd Bridges, star of the defunct TV show "Diff'rent Strokes," won't be charged with possession of drugs, a Los Angeles prosecutor said Tuesday.

Bridges, 24, who has had numerous run-ins with the law, and Steve Mallen, 36, were arrested Saturday after police allegedly found 2 ounces of cocaine in their car.

"We are rejecting the case against [Bridges] because, after evaluation, it's rather clear there is insufficient evidence to show he had any control of the substance," Deputy District Attorney Norm Shapiro said. Mallen was charged with possession of cocaine for sale.

Bridges faces retrial July 30 on a charge stemming from the February 1989 wounding of Kenneth "Tex" Clay, who was shot eight times at a crack house.

by CNB