Le'Keian Woods Files Federal Lawsuit Against Police Department After Viral Beating

Attorneys for Le'Keian Woods, a Florida man who was violently beaten by Jacksonville officers, have filed a federal lawsuit against the officers involved in the 2023 incident. Viral footage from last September showed Woods bruised and bloodied after a traffic stop, his face swollen with two black eyes, igniting public outrage. At a recent news conference, Woods recalled his experience, saying, "I was stopped at a traffic stop and I ran. I got kind of scared; I knew they was going to shoot me. I panicked and I ran." He continues to suffer from "a lot of migraine pain, a lot of eyesight pain" due to the encounter.

Woods' attorney, Harry Daniels, announced the lawsuit targeting Detectives Beau Daigle, Trey McCullough, Hunter Sullivan, and former Detective Josue Garriga, claiming they violated Woods' Fourth Amendment rights. The lawsuit argues that Woods, who weighed around 150 pounds, was overpowered by three deputies each weighing over 200 pounds. "He had already been tased, he was already disoriented," Daniels said, emphasizing that officers kneed Woods in the head "multiple times."

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office claims that Woods was suspected of a drug transaction before officers initiated a traffic stop. Woods ran while other individuals at the scene were being handcuffed, according to body camera footage. The sheriff's office later claimed the video created "the illusion of an inappropriate use of force." Sheriff T.K. Waters defended the officers last October, stating, "Just because force is ugly does not mean it is unlawful or contrary to policy." However, Daniels refuted these claims, denying Woods' involvement in any drug deal.

Body camera footage captured detectives pursuing Woods across various terrains before using a stun gun. After Woods fell, officers struck him in the face, injured his jaw, and continued to apply force. Woods was hospitalized with serious injuries, including a ruptured kidney. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting police without violence, with more severe charges dropped.

Daniels condemned the officers' actions, stating, "Was the running of Le'Keian Woods justification of deadly force? I can answer that question: 'no.'"

Link: NBCNews