Vancouver man accused of domestic violence

A Vancouver man who’s accused of attacking his former girlfriend on multiple occasions and stealing her car made a first appearance Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court.

Lennie D. Woods, 19, faces allegations of first-degree kidnapping, felony harassment, fourth-degree assault, reckless endangerment and second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission, all domestic violence-related, in one incident; second-degree assault, theft of a motor vehicle and first-degree robbery, all domestic violence-related, in a second incident; and possession of methamphetamine in a third incident, court records show.

Woods repeatedly punched his former girlfriend in the side of the head and stomach, and forced her into her vehicle against her will on the afternoon of Nov. 23. He then drove her around, recklessly. When the victim told Woods to let her out of the car, he hit her, pulled her hair and threatened to kill her, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

Woods eventually stopped the car in the 3200 block of East 33rd Street at the dead end and told the victim to go down the hill with him, which is out of the public’s sight, the affidavit states. The victim told police she believed Woods was going to assault her and leave her bloody at the bottom of the hill. She attempted to escape again, but he pulled her hair and arm, and bit her left arm, court records said.

The victim was later able to get out of the car and ran to an approaching vehicle for help. Woods chased her and attempted to pull her back into her car. Witnesses intervened, and Woods got back into the victim’s car and sped off, according to court documents.

A separate probable cause affidavit states that at about 5 p.m. Sunday, the victim was seated in her 1996 Toyota Corolla near the intersection of Todd Road and East 18th Street when Woods snuck up on her and opened the car door. He sat on top of her in the driver’s seat. She attempted to start the car, but Woods bit her on the right arm.

Woods yanked the victim’s purse from her hands, placed the car in drive and started to drive away. The victim slipped out of the car as it was moving and said she believed Woods was going to run her over. He then took off with the victim’s car and purse, the affidavit said.

Vancouver police were called about 9:30 p.m. Monday for a wanted person in the 3700 block of East 18th Street, where Woods was taken into custody. A small, clear bag was found in his pocket. The substance inside field-tested positive for methamphetamine, according to a third probable cause affidavit.

During Woods’ hearing, Judge Bernard Veljacic set his bail at $400,000.

Woods will be arraigned Friday.