Arrow points to suspect grabbing police officer's Taser
(Des Moines, IA) -- A Des Moines Police Department review of a case has found an officer was justified using force in a September 30, 2021 arrest. The case involved the arrest of Lentern Woods near 6th and University. Police say Woods was running in and out of traffic and refused to comply with an officer's orders. Police say Woods then punched the officer and grabbed his Taser. The officer used fist and knee-strikes get the Taser back, and handcuffed Woods.
Charges against Woods include: Assault on a Peace Officer Causing Injury, Interference with Official Acts Causing Injury and Disorderly Conduct.
” It is never our goal to have a physical confrontation with an individual, however, in this instance Officer Button had no choice but to intervene with Mr. Woods for the safety of Mr. Woods and the public. Ignoring his behavior and the inherent associated risks was not an option. We have a duty to intervene. We were aware of this incident when it occurred, and it was fully investigated by supervisors and commanders, as with all force incidents.” - Chief Dana Wingert
Police have released a summary of the entire incident:
• A Des Moines Police Department patrol officer was driving through the 600 block of University Avenue, responding to an unrelated call for service, when he heard loud yelling and screaming.
• The officer, 7-year-veteran Senior Police Officer Joshua Button, recognized the source to be a man known to him, through prior contacts, as 39-year-old Lentern Woods. SPO Button has never arrested Woods prior to this incident.
• SPO Button saw Woods making violent punching actions towards others in the area while continuing to scream.
• SPO Button saw Woods run through vehicle traffic, placing himself at risk of serious injury or death, on University Avenue.
• Woods stopped on the median and then began to sprint towards the marked Des Moines Police Department patrol car SPO Button was driving, still punching violently in the air.
• Woods then ran through vehicle traffic again, stopping on the street corner.
• SPO Button parked his vehicle and got out to talk with Woods. Woods approached SPO Button in a highly agitated and aggressive manner.
• SPO Button began conversation to calm Woods, however Woods responded by walking quickly away from the officer.
SPO Button told Woods to stop, hoping to engage in conversation. Woods refused and continued walking away
SPO Button told Woods to stop and place his hands behind his back. Woods ignored the officer.
• Concerned that Woods would again run into traffic, SPO Button attempted to take Woods into custody.
• SPO Button took ahold of Woods to stop him, and Woods immediately turned towards the officer in an aggressive manner.
• In an attempt to restrain and handcuff Woods, SPO Button forced Woods to the ground.
• Woods immediately punched the SPO Button in the face.
• SPO Button attempted to gain control of Woods however Woods continued to fight against the officers’ efforts.
• Woods aggressively grabbed at items on the SPO Buttons belt and vest, including grabbing and pulling at the officers Taser in an apparent attempt to remove it from the holster. (Image attached to this press release)
• After delivering “fist-strikes” and “knee-strikes”, SPO Button was able to free the Taser from Woods’ grasp, and handcuff Woods.
• Woods was charged with: o Assault On A Police Officer - Causing Injury o Interference With Official Acts – Causing Injury o Disorderly Conduct The Des Moines Police Department is familiar with Woods from prior contacts. Two have involved similar behaviors:
• In June of 2021, Woods was arrested at the same location after Woods was reported to be intoxicated and acting violently. In that case, officers reported that Woods “walked through the street with little regard for traffic, making erratic behaviors, kicking the air for no particular reason”, made comments “threatening to assassinate officers”, and “threatened to fight officers several times”. Woods initially resisted officers attempts to place him in handcuffs during this incident but was eventually secured.
• In July of 2017, Woods was arrested after a female victim reported that Woods had licked the back of her neck, bit her ear, and rubbed the inside part of her leg. Officers reported that during Woods arrest, he made several threats “to kill” and officer, and that he was going to take the officers gun “and shoot him”.
This use of force incident was thoroughly reviewed by the Des Moines Police Department and based on the facts, the force was determined to be appropriate given the totality of the circumstances, including the assaultive behavior of Woods.