JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Department of Justice told Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters on Friday that his department is not under investigation for how officers handled Le'Keian Woods.
He's the Jacksonville man who was arrested on Sept. 29 after running from police during a traffic stop. Woods was taken down and physically restrained by the officer and was struck by officers 17 times in the process. Woods sustained injuries during the incident including his eyes being swollen shut. The arrest was caught on video and went viral sparking outrage by some in the community decrying "police brutality."
Woods' attorney, College Park, Georgia-based Harry M. Daniels, sent media outlets a news release Tuesday which included a Oct. 23 letter the DOJ sent to his office stating the federal authorities were "aware of" and are "monitoring" the case involving his client.
JSO took issue with the inference that the department was under any federal investigations concerning Woods' case. JSO sent out a news release Friday that included a letter the DOJ sent to Sheriff T.K. Waters stating his department was not under any federal investigation relating to Le'Keian Woods' arrest.
"Specifically, we reviewed information to include videos of the arrest and the use of force against Mr. Woods," a portion of the DOJ letter states. "Based on the known information, this incident does not give rise to a prosecutable violation of the federal civil rights laws. As a result, we are closing our review of this matter. ... Please know that the Civil Rights Division's Special Litigation Section does not currently have an open investigation into this conduct or the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office."
