The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office recently published a new report providing additional information about an arrest where officers appeared to forcefully restrain a suspect who was already handcuffed.
We have also obtained the suspect’s booking photo. We’d like to caution you, it may be distressing to view.
Le’keian Woods, a 24-year-old, is shown in the photo with a bruised and swollen face.
The video of his arrest near Toledo Road and Powers Avenue on Friday has gained widespread attention.
Woods’ family and members of the community, in a conversation with Nick Gibson of Action News Jax, emphasized their desire for accountability from the involved officers.
During a discussion with Woods’ mother, Natassia Woods, on Sunday, she expressed her belief that it was unjust for the officers to use force against her son.
“I could not believe they would do that to a person. Because if you kick a dog, or do something to an animal, you’re going down. So it’s OK to beat a human down like that, and there ain’t no pressure?”
As per Woods’ arrest record, he fled from the police when they attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
A segment of the video circulated on social media seems to depict an officer forcefully handling Woods while he was already subdued on the ground in handcuffs. Later, Woods is shown with a visibly injured and swollen face.
The report states that Detectives conducted surveillance earlier that day at a gas station located on Toledo Road and Powers Avenue, just prior to the encounter with Woods.
Officers noticed a Dodge Durango parked at a gas pump, although no one was actively refueling.
During a press conference on Monday evening, JSO (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office) stated that the officer warned Woods of an imminent taser deployment as he was attempting to flee.
The officer discharged the taser once, but it had no discernible effect. Upon the second deployment, Woods fell directly forward onto his face, striking the pavement, as shown in the body-worn camera footage.
Woods was apprehended on charges of armed trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as armed possession of a controlled substance. JSO indicated that he will be returned to Leon County due to a probation violation.
On Tuesday afternoon, Woods’ family and their legal representatives plan to address this incident outside of JSO headquarters.
