Suspect caught in game warden dragging

A sheriff who says he saw a man hiding in a closet and "went reaching for flesh and just pulled him out of there," arrested a suspect accused of dragging an East Texas game warden.

Newton County Sheriff Joe Walker tells KFDM News he arrested James William Woods Junior, 23, hiding in a closet at a friend's home Thursday morning.

Woods is charged with the 1st Degree Felony of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant for what investigators call the dragging of a game warden following a traffic stop December 4 in Newton County.

Investigators say the game warden, Ellis Powell, 37, and a Newton police officer, stopped Woods' truck and found drugs in the vehicle. Authorities say Woods ran away and then returned to his truck. They say Powell tried to stop Woods but became caught between the doors of the extended cab pickup and was dragged about 100 feet when Woods drove away.

Investigators say Powell fell to the ground, and despite severe cuts and bruises was able to fire several shots at Woods' truck. The officer also fired shots. Powell was released from a hospital December 5. 

A reward totalling $3,000 was offered for information leading to Woods' arrest.

Sheriff Walker says he received a tip about Woods' location. The sheriff, along with deputies, Newton police, game wardens and officers with the U.S. Marshals Service, went to a home in Newton where a friend of Wood's lives.

"He tried to hide when we came into the house," Sheriff Walker told KFDM News. "I came in first. There was a U.S. Marshal with me. We searched room by room and got to a back bedroom. I opened a closet and saw a pile of clothes, and I saw a shirt and some flesh shaking under the clothes. I went reaching for flesh and just pulled him out of there. I knew it was someone and I was sure glad to see it was him. He knew he was caught. He didn't say one word."

Sheriff Walker says Woods didn't have any weapons with him.

Walker says a judge set Woods' bond at $1 million dollar bond for Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant. He could face up to life in prison on that charge. Woods is also charged with evading arrest. His bond on that charge is $100,000. Walker says he's being held without bond for violating parole on a 2007 conviction for assaulting assault on a peace officer. Woods is being held in the Newton County Correctional Center.

Tom Harvey with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service says authorities arrested two other people at the residence. Harvey says the man who owns the house is charged with harboring a fugitive, a 3rd Degree Felony. According to Harvey, the homeowner's brother is a juvenile and has been turned over to juvenile authorities.

Port Arthur attorney Stella Morrison is representing Woods. She represented him on the previous charge of assaulting a peace officer.

KFDM News spoke with Morrison about the case Thursday morning.

"He denies it happened the way officers claim it happened," said Morrison. "The entire episode was filmed by a camera on the officer's patrol car. The film won't tell a lie. Once the film is entered into evidence, the jurors can make a proper and objective decision. Regardless of what is being said by my client, the officers or the game warden, the film will paint the picture the way it really happened."

Morrison hasn't seen the video but says investigators have described to her what they say it shows.

"My client is definitely innocent until proven guilty. I ask everyone to be patient and let the judicial system work the way it's supposed to. I have confidence in the sheriff of Newton County that the case will be handled properly."

The sheriff says he's just glad Woods is behind bars.

"It feels like a big load off our backs," said Sheriff Walker.