Authorities: Man Attacks Jailer, Takes Pepper Spray

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was accused of assaulting a public servant Thursday after he attacked a Gregg County jailer and took a can of pepper spray from her hand, Gregg County sheriff�s deputies said. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Neal Woods III, 58, will remain in the jail under a $7,500 bond after the assault, according to Gregg County judicial records. Woods was being held in the jail on a $2,500 bond after he was accused Saturday of driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction.

�Inmate Woods was constantly yelling and banging on his door to the point where he was disrupting jail operations as well as risking injury to himself,� the probable cause affidavit for his arrest said. He was being held in Holding Cell #3. To gain compliance, a jailer opened the door and sprayed a half-second burst of pepper spray to his face, according to officials. �Immediately upon being sprayed inmate Woods lunged toward (the jailer) grabbing her arm and shoving her into the wall causing her to feel pain. Inmate Woods was also able to take possession of the canister of OC spray and had to be physically restrained by jail staff in order to retrieve the canister.” At last report, Woods was held in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $10,000.