Le’Keian Woods’ mother hopes recent arrest of ex-JSO officer can result in his charges dismissed
The mother of Le’Keian Woods is reacting to the recent arrest of a former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer facing several charges after he was accused in a sex crime investigation with an underage teen. Former Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officer, Richard Garriga, has been arrested and facing several charges related to a sex crime investigation with an underage teen. Garriga was accused of using excessive force during the arrest of Le'Keian Woods in September. The Department of Justice cleared Garriga and other officers but added his name to the “Brady List” due to the allegations. Natassia Woods, the mother of Woods, expressed hope that Garriga's lawyers could help dismiss the remaining charges for Woods. This could impact cases involving Garriga involved in the fatal shooting of Jamee Johnson.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Aleesia Hatcher in
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of Le’Keian Woods is reacting to the recent arrest of a former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer facing several charges after he was accused in a sex crime investigation with an underage teen.
Garriga was accused of using excessive force during the arrest Woods’ arrest in September. A JSO body-worn police video captured a foot chase in a Jacksonville neighborhood showing the voice of Garriga telling Woods to stop fighting, following attempts to escape as police conducted a traffic stop.
“I was like it’s not even six months that he just did this to Le’Keian. And now this happened to him,” Natassia Woods said. “I think it is positive that we could wing out all the bad apples in JSO. So, once we can get all the bad apples out there, we can get a better system. And then we can get more support from JSO to support the county of Duval.”
The Department of Justice cleared Garriga and other officers, but because of the recent allegations against the former JSO officer, his name was added to the “Brady List.”
This could impact cases Garriga was a part of like Woods and the fatal shooting of Jamee Johnson.
“I’m hopeful, anticipating that his lawyers can probably come up with something that will help dismiss the rest of the charges for Le’Keian,” Natassia said. “I think it is a good thing because now we can see, was he really helping or was he really hurting? I’m just happy that nobody else child has to be a victim or abused by this officer. We have taken a bad apple out of the bunch,” she said.