Posted on 06/28/2006 12:16:48 PM PDT by BerniesFriend
Basin fugitive captured
June 27, 2006 07:04 PM CDT
Javon Woods is in custody Tuesday and his two-day jump from justice is over. Woods no doubt finds the Saint Martin parish jail a more hospitable place to sleep than the Atchafalaya basin.
State police say he was suffering from dehydration, wasp stings and bruises when he was pulled from the water this afternoon. His skin was sensitive and sore due to the long exposure to water but overall he's in good condition.
KATC's Marcelle Fontenot was there when woods emerged from the water about two o'clock Tuesday afternoon and the two day man hunt came to an end.
After four hours of searching, Saint Martin parish sheriff's officials captured 24 year old Javon woods.
According to state police Woods hid himself inside a cypress tree hole about a half-mile from where he jumped over the basin bridge Monday after a high-speed pursuit.
He spent about 28 hours in the Henderson swamp.
Woods told state police he kept seeing the helicopter fly over and that he covered himself in mud to avoid the infrared sensors.
Woods has been booked into the Saint Martin parish jail.
"All this area here there's gators. Airboats scared them off, but you can come just about anytime and see gators out here," says mayor Collette.
Lucky for Javon Woods the same airboats hunting for him frightened the gators. The Atchafalaya basin is second nature to Henderson Mayor Sherbin Collette.
Henderson officer Mack Lloyd helped in the search and says Woods spent the night on this tiny island not far from the bridge.
When a St. Martin parish deputy spotted him this morning woods ran into the swamp where authorities would later find him hiding inside a stump like this one.
A state police spokesman tells TV-3 Jovan Woods will be charged with a moving violation, flight from an officer and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Three other men believed to have been traveling with Woods, all from Florida, were arrested yesterday without incident. They too are jailed Tuesday on drug charges.
Hey, it worked in "Predator."
I've seen people come out of the swamps, after an overnight, stay totally incoherent. He would have turned himself in, if he made another night alive. It isn't that dangerous, until they get spooked and start doing stupid things. I guarantee that most city boys will get spooked, it is just another world for them.
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