LAKE HAVASU CITY — A 3-year prison term is stipulated in a plea deal unveiled December 5 for a Lake Havasu City man arrested for an assortment of criminal charges following an August 25 police chase. Drugs were seized in the incident resulting in the arrest of Timothy Woodward, 46.
Woodward pleaded guilty to an unlawful flight charge and another count reduced to unlawful use of means of transportation. Various drug, unlawful imprisonment and endangerment charges are dismissed in the agreement entered before Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle.
The factual basis for the convictions detailed by deputy county attorney James Gilmore closely aligns with the Lake Havasu City Police Department’s incident report.
The more detailed police narrative indicated that officers spotted an F-150 at the intersection of Challenger Drive and Highlander Avenue and recognized the driver and the passenger from prior contacts and involvements. The report said Woodward was driving and accelerated after the patrol unit pulled behind the truck, and ignored police lights and sirens directing a traffic stop.
The victim passenger who owned the vehicle told authorities that he ordered Woodward to stop as the pursuit was underway. The unidentified man self ejected into a Highland Avenue driveway from the vehicle that was traveling at a speed of 20 miles an hour or more.
Woodward was able to gain some distance during the time the patrol unit stopped to assist the passenger, who suffered minor injuries, quickly rose to his feet and urged that his truck be retrieved.
The police narrative noted Woodward gained further distance in the chase because the truck was better equipped to navigate terrain as it rolled through trails and the desert before being parked on a dirt lot on Truckee Drive. The report said surveillance video from area residences showed that Woodward fled on foot Oro Grande Boulevard about 90 seconds before police arrived.
Drugs were evident where the vehicle was parked.
“Approximately 28 pills (fentanyl) were located falling out of the cab onto the gravel from the driver side as well as a usable amount of white crystal like substance (methamphetamine) located on the driver seat,” the police report said.
Ongoing investigation did not produce Woodward’s arrest until September 12. Sentencing is scheduled January 13.
