Pubdate: Thu, 18 Aug 2005
Source: Galveston County Daily News (TX)
Copyright: 2005 Galveston Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.galvnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/164
Author: Scott E. Williams, The Daily News

WITNESSES DESCRIBE MAN'S STRUGGLE WITH POLICE

GALVESTON -- A contentious exchange between a prosecutor and a witness for 
the defense dominated proceedings in County Court No. 2 Wednesday.

Testimony continued in the trial of an island man whose arrest spurred an 
investigation into claims of excessive force by police.

Patrick James Woods, 37, faces a charge of resisting arrest. The charge 
carries a possible jail term of up to a year.

Sheridan Lorenz, daugh-ter of billionaire developer George Mitchell, 
testified Wednesday that officers repeatedly struck Woods as he lay on the 
ground in the 1000 block of 28th Street.

Prosecutor Brian Keller spent much of Wednesday afternoon cross-examining 
Lorenz. He asked her about apparent inconsistencies in statements she has 
made about the arrest.

Keller was reading questions from a typed sheet he held, titled "Mere 
misperceptions -- or lies?"

The biggest point of contention appeared to be a change in Lorenz's story 
about handcuffs. She originally said Woods was cuffed as police beat him. 
Later, she said he might not have been handcuffed.

Lorenz told jurors Wednesday that she did not see Woods' hands during the 
altercation with police so she "drew the conclusion he had on handcuffs."

However, she maintained patrol officers had abused Woods before arresting 
him on May 8.

Police officers testified to what police reports stated -- that officers 
saw Woods with something apparently in his mouth in what they called a 
"heavy narcotics area."

Police said Woods clenched his jaw when officers asked him to open his 
mouth, making officers suspicious he was trying to hide drugs.

The officers, who testified Tuesday, said a struggle ensued. However, both 
said the amount of force they used to bring Woods into custody was not 
undue. Both also denied kicking or hitting Woods as he lay helpless.

Woods was not charged with any type of drug offense stemming from the 
encounter with police.

Keller also questioned Lorenz about her original claim that Woods' beating 
lasted for five minutes. She later said it lasted two minutes.

The afternoon of testimony was an often-contentious one, as Keller and 
Lorenz interrupted each other regularly.

Defense attorney Anthony Griffin, hired by Lorenz to represent Woods in the 
case, made frequent objections to Keller cutting off Lorenz's answers and 
to Keller making statements to her, instead of asking questions.

Griffin is also representing Lorenz in a libel suit Woods' two arresting 
officers filed against her.

Woods appeared less excited. On at least two occasions in court Wednesday, 
Griffin quietly nudged his client, whose head was down and eyes closed.
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