06-28-2006, 09:05 PM
Manhunt ends
Florida man spent night in Henderson swamp
The Florida man who jumped into the Atchafalaya Basin on Monday morning to avoid a drug arrest was captured Tuesday after a deputy spotted him hiding in a tree stump. St. Martin Parish Sheriff's deputies arrested Javon Woods, 24, of Ocala, Fla., at about 1 p.m. Tuesday while patrolling the Lake Pelba area, located in Henderson Bay.
Woods had avoided capture since 8:15 a.m. Monday, when a Louisiana State Police Criminal Patrol Unit attempted to stop him just east of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge for a moving violation. Woods led the unit on a two-mile chase before stopping his car on the bridge and plunging into the water below. A multi-agency manhunt by air and water ensued.
"He was hiding in a hollowed out cypress tree stump," said James Thibodeaux, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's detective who spotted Woods on Tuesday afternoon.
Woods did not resist arrest and was transported to the Butte La Rose boat ramp by sheriff's deputies. Woods appeared weary, nearly naked and covered in mud when deputies led him shackled and handcuffed onto shore. He had discarded his shirt, shorts and shoes shortly after plunging into the Basin.
"Apparently, he had covered himself in mud so that he couldn't be seen, to kind of blend in," said Trooper Willie Williams, spokesman for Louisiana State Police.
Williams said Woods was treated for dehydration, hunger and minor cuts and bruises. He was booked into the St. Martin Parish jail for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, impeding the flow of traffic, speeding, flight from an officer and littering for allegedly throwing two kilos of cocaine worth approximately $200,000, from the window of his car.
"He was cold. He was wet. He was hungry and he was getting weaker," Williams said. "He's out in the elements. He's dealing with critters and creatures he's not familiar with. Trust me when I tell you he was ready to give himself up."
Woods avoided detection until about 9 a.m. Tuesday, when a St. Martin Parish Sheriff's deputy spotted Woods sleeping on a stump. When Woods saw the deputy, he ran.
It was the first time anyone reported seeing Woods since a trooper with the Criminal Patrol Unit watched as he made the 40-foot plunge from the Basin bridge early Monday morning.
Troopers also arrested three men who were traveling in a vehicle behind Woods on Monday. Arrested were Jackie Woods, 19, Collier Morgan, 23, and Charlie Jones, 22, all of Ocala, Fla., for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
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The other people were following and noticed Woods jumping off the bridge so they stopped. The dumbasses also had coke on them.
Can anyone find the swamp boa in the picture?
Florida man spent night in Henderson swamp
The Florida man who jumped into the Atchafalaya Basin on Monday morning to avoid a drug arrest was captured Tuesday after a deputy spotted him hiding in a tree stump. St. Martin Parish Sheriff's deputies arrested Javon Woods, 24, of Ocala, Fla., at about 1 p.m. Tuesday while patrolling the Lake Pelba area, located in Henderson Bay.
Woods had avoided capture since 8:15 a.m. Monday, when a Louisiana State Police Criminal Patrol Unit attempted to stop him just east of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge for a moving violation. Woods led the unit on a two-mile chase before stopping his car on the bridge and plunging into the water below. A multi-agency manhunt by air and water ensued.
"He was hiding in a hollowed out cypress tree stump," said James Thibodeaux, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's detective who spotted Woods on Tuesday afternoon.
Woods did not resist arrest and was transported to the Butte La Rose boat ramp by sheriff's deputies. Woods appeared weary, nearly naked and covered in mud when deputies led him shackled and handcuffed onto shore. He had discarded his shirt, shorts and shoes shortly after plunging into the Basin.
"Apparently, he had covered himself in mud so that he couldn't be seen, to kind of blend in," said Trooper Willie Williams, spokesman for Louisiana State Police.
Williams said Woods was treated for dehydration, hunger and minor cuts and bruises. He was booked into the St. Martin Parish jail for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, impeding the flow of traffic, speeding, flight from an officer and littering for allegedly throwing two kilos of cocaine worth approximately $200,000, from the window of his car.
"He was cold. He was wet. He was hungry and he was getting weaker," Williams said. "He's out in the elements. He's dealing with critters and creatures he's not familiar with. Trust me when I tell you he was ready to give himself up."
Woods avoided detection until about 9 a.m. Tuesday, when a St. Martin Parish Sheriff's deputy spotted Woods sleeping on a stump. When Woods saw the deputy, he ran.
It was the first time anyone reported seeing Woods since a trooper with the Criminal Patrol Unit watched as he made the 40-foot plunge from the Basin bridge early Monday morning.
Troopers also arrested three men who were traveling in a vehicle behind Woods on Monday. Arrested were Jackie Woods, 19, Collier Morgan, 23, and Charlie Jones, 22, all of Ocala, Fla., for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
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The other people were following and noticed Woods jumping off the bridge so they stopped. The dumbasses also had coke on them.
Can anyone find the swamp boa in the picture?
