The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its review of the case of a drug suspect who was subjected to excessive force by police officers during a traffic stop in northeast Florida, officials announced on Friday. In a letter to Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, James Felte Jr., the Justice Department’s criminal section chief, stated that the arrest of Le’Keian Woods did not constitute a prosecutable violation of federal civil rights laws.
Woods’ attorneys had requested a federal investigation shortly after his arrest on September 29. In response to the closure of the review, attorney Harry Daniels expressed disappointment but stated that they would seek justice through the civil courts.
According to Woods’ legal team, he suffered a ruptured kidney, vomiting, and migraine headaches as a result of the altercation. Mug shots taken after the incident showed him with severe facial injuries, including swollen eyes, bruises, and cuts.
Sheriff Waters defended his officers’ actions, claiming that they were justified because Woods resisted arrest even after being tased and subdued. The officers were aware of Woods’ criminal history, including accusations of murder, probation for armed robbery, and connections to firearms and drug trafficking.
The closure of the Justice Department’s review marks the end of the federal investigation into Woods’ case. The decision not to pursue federal charges means that any further legal action will be decided by a jury in civil court.
