Typically an article like this would be available to paid subscribers only. But, this case is too important. The lies being fed to the mainstream media from anti-police activists are too brazen.
The attempt to make LeKeian Woods into a sympathetic victim is like trying to transform Jussie Smollett into Tyre Nichols. We cannot allow that.
Read, like, share, and subscribe to fight against this dishonest narrative
All They Need
That’s the image. That’s the knee on the neck. That’s all Ben Crump and his army of anti-police activists need to promote their bullshit.
And, if you just look at the photo of Mr. Woods - it looks bad. Well, he looks injured. The lie is that he was beaten and brutalized by white police officers for no reason. The truth is that he was on probation, caught dealing drugs, ran from police, refused to stop, resisted a lawful arrest, and sustained the facial injuries as he landed on the pavement due to the deployment of a Taser.
There was zero excessive force utilized by police officers. And we have the body cam video to prove it (watch it here). But, all of those objective facts will be intentionally omitted from the vast majority of reports on this case.
What Happened
According to Mr. Wood’s attorney (Harry Daniels) he was pulled over for an alleged seat belt violation. This is a lie.
Police officers observed Mr. Woods dealing drugs at a gas station. He left the scene in a vehicle and officers conducted a traffic stop. Two other occupants of the vehicle cooperated with police and were arrested without incident. Mr. Woods, however, ran from police officers.
An officer initiated a foot pursuit after Mr. Woods. During the chase the officer warned Mr. Woods that he would be “tased” if he did not stop. Mr. Woods kept running and eventually the officer deployed the Taser. The first deployment had no effect but the second application achieved the desired result (neuromuscular incapacitation).
Mr. Woods locked up and fell to the ground. He landed on his face and sustained the facial injuries featured in the famous picture.
Mr. Woods continued to resist arrest and when other officers arrived on scene he was handcuffed. Police officers utilized zero force once he was handcuffed and under control.
Contrast that to the public statement made by Harry Daniels (Mr. Wood’s attorney) who stated that the police contact was over for an alleged seat belt violation. No other information was provided. How many millions of people will hear that, retweet that information, and never learn the truth? It is infuriating that attorneys can lie to the public on behalf of their client.
I was Right
This all started when cell phone footage - taken from a distance - captured police officers utilizing force in an effort to gain control of Mr. Woods - who was actively resisting. The short cell phone video immediately went viral and caused faux outrage and massive virtue signaling. However, after viewing the cell phone footage I tweeted:
In a world where objective truth matters - a little experience will beat reflexive virtue signaling every time.
Do Not Resist Arrest
In the vehicle with Mr. Woods were two other men - who were also suspects of drug trafficking.
As police made initial contact one of the men informed the officer that he was carrying a gun. The officer responded, “I appreciate you telling me” and then gave him specific instructions on where to keep his hands. The man and the other passenger were then subsequently arrested without incident. No use of force, no injuries, no claims of racism or excessive force. The men cooperated with police officers and were treated to a boring arrest (watch here).
The thing is - if a person does not run from, fight with, or attack a police officer - there is virtually a zero percent chance of being harmed during an interaction with law enforcement.
There is a reason that the two men were arrested without incident and Mr. Woods was tased and sustained a facial injury. That reason is that Mr. Woods exhibited active resistance and his friends exhibited basic human decency.
None of this is complicated. Not being harmed by cops is a very easy thing to achieve.
Who is Le’Keian Woods?
Simply put. Mr. Woods is a career criminal. Mr. Woods is a drug dealer. He literally profits off of selling poison to the most vulnerable members of society.
Mr. Woods also previously faced a second-degree murder charge stemming from an attempted robbery during a drug deal in a Tallahassee apartment complex where his roommate was shot to death.
From this latest incident Mr. Woods faces charges of: armed traffic of methamphetamine, armed traffic of cocaine, armed possession of a controlled substance, resisting an officer with violence and violation of probation.
Final Thoughts
This case is a hoax.
Police officers did not utilize excessive force.
The attorneys who outright lied in public statements will receive zero professional backlash. If anything they will gain more fame and wealth.
Sheriff T.K. Waters released the body camera footage quickly and did an in depth media briefing - where he defended the actions of the officers. He exhibited impressive leadership.
Once the media spreads the narrative from anti-police activists - it is nearly impossible to correct the record.
One of the things that you forgot to mention was that officers were watching a location known for suspected gang and drug activity by what the Sheriff's Office referred to as undocumented violent criminal groups. When they saw Mr Wood's vehicle pull into the gas station and no one pump gas they were immediately suspicious. When they first observed Mr woods, the officer recognized him as someone who was a convicted felon and a known drug dealer and also observed what he believed to be a firearm hanging out of Mr Wood's right front pants pocket, the very same pocket that Woods kept reaching into even after he was handcuffed. So, even if police used a pretextual reason for the stop, aka the seatbelt violation, that is completely legal under Florida law unlike some of these communist cities in this country who have denied police this very useful tool that has been okayed by the Supreme court. As you pointed out, the only person against who force was used was the only person who refused to comply with lawful commands and resisted arrest.