A man whose arrest sparked outrage online and raised questions about the use of force policy at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is expected to enter a plea this morning.
Le’Keian Woods is charged with tampering with evidence, resisting police and possession of a controlled substance.
Woods, who has been out on bound, was supposed to be arraigned last month, but his attorney waived his appearance, which frustrated Judge Mark Borello. This time, Borello said, Woods must be in court.
Cellphone video showing Woods’ arrest last September went viral on social media.
DISCLAIMER: The footage contains graphic content and profanity. Viewer discretion is advised.
The video coupled with his mug shot sparked outrage and criticism online.
In the days after Woods’ arrest, Sheriff T.K. Waters responded to the criticism, saying the video was manipulated and did not tell the full story.
In early October, Woods’ attorneys issued a letter to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), asking for a review of what his lawyers said was an excessive use of force. The DOJ concluded that Woods’ arrest did not violate his civil rights.
In a follow-up news conference, Waters released the body camera footage worn by responding officers that day. It showed Woods running from them while the other men he was with complied.
Officers chased Woods down and a taser was used twice, which caused him to fall face down onto the ground, which is why his face is bloody and swollen in the mug shot.
Several of the charges against Woods were either downgraded or dropped altogether. He was originally facing two counts of armed trafficking, but those charges were dropped, and his original charge of resisting an officer with violence was replaced with resisting without violence.
The arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m., and News4JAX will be inside the courtroom to provide updates.
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