JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man from Florida is taking legal action against the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, claiming‌ he endured a brutal beating during a traffic stop that later gained​ widespread attention ⁢through social media.

Last year, a man featured ‍in a viral video filed a federal⁢ lawsuit on Thursday, alleging‍ that police officers severely infringed upon his⁣ rights.

Le’Keian Woods, ⁢aged 25, is represented by attorneys who​ claim in the lawsuit that he sustained⁣ serious injuries during his arrest in September 2023. These injuries include a traumatic brain injury, a ruptured‌ kidney, nerve damage, and other related issues. The arrest led⁤ to Woods receiving ⁢a⁢ misdemeanor charge for resisting police without violence. A bystander recorded⁤ the incident on video, which showed Woods handcuffed‍ with visibly swollen eyes and facial injuries.

Attorney⁣ Harry Daniels commented on the police’s actions, noting that‍ they included hitting Woods⁢ with their fists, knees, ⁣and elbows after he fled ⁤from a traffic stop⁢ and was⁣ tased.

During a news conference ⁤on Thursday with his attorneys, Woods explained that he ran because he was afraid of being shot during the encounter. He expressed that he does not regret the choices he made that day. Police records from the incident indicated that Woods was hit at ‌least 17 times.

Additionally,⁤ there is a distinct allegation ​against Sullivan and Daigle for aiming⁢ their guns at the people in the vehicle during the traffic stop. Moreover, another claim against Sullivan states⁢ that he forcibly slammed Woods’ face into the ground after Woods had been ​handcuffed. As of Thursday, there was no immediate response from the officers involved.

The event ignited ‌anger at both local and national levels as footage circulated on social media. In ‌the⁣ weeks following, a ‍Jacksonville-based⁢ social justice group joined forces with Woods’ family to condemn the officers’ behavior and advocate against police violence, as reported by First Coast News.

Concerns regarding the arrest were raised ⁢with the U.S. Department of Justice, which announced‌ that it was‌ “keeping an eye” ‍on the situation.

In November 2023, the department halted⁣ its ⁢investigation,⁤ stating that the “incident does not constitute a ⁣prosecutable violation of federal civil rights laws.”

What⁣ transpired with⁤ Le’Keian Woods?

The incident was recorded by​ a passerby.

Footage captured officers taking ⁤Woods into custody following‌ a traffic stop, showing at least three officers forcefully restraining him on the grass next to a vehicle. Daniels has claimed that Woods was assaulted ‍by the officers after being stopped for supposedly not‍ wearing⁣ his seat belt.

The arrest ⁢report and ⁢body camera video‌ indicate that officers believed they witnessed Woods involved in a drug deal at a gas station and suspected he‍ might be ​armed. They tried to pull him over but ended up chasing Woods and his two friends, who​ were driving in a pickup ⁣truck, to the end of an apartment complex ⁢driveway.

A report indicates ‍that authorities were prepared to⁣ carry out a “high-risk takedown” at the specified ⁣location. While Daigle was issuing orders to those inside, Woods reportedly‌ escaped from‍ the front ​passenger seat of the vehicle and ran through ​the apartment complex.

Sullivan pursued Woods and⁣ utilized his taser, ​according to the ‌report. Three⁣ officers—Sullivan, Garriga, and McCullough—repeatedly Woods‍ was hit and kneed by the ​officers​ while they attempted to place him in handcuffs.

Following Woods’ arrest,‌ the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated ‍that it believed the officers acted appropriately ​during the⁢ situation. Initially, Woods faced felony charges, including ⁣armed trafficking in amphetamines and cocaine.

However, these charges were ⁢eventually ⁤dismissed after his​ lawyer argued that Woods was merely a passenger in the vehicle and had no connection‌ to the drugs. He ultimately pleaded guilty to resisting arrest without violence ⁤and received a sentence of nine days in jail.