Lieutenant honored for heroic act in the line of duty

POINSETT COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - A Poinsett County Sheriff’s Lieutenant was awarded for his courageous acts of service in the line of duty.

A ceremony at the Poinsett County Quorum Court meeting on Monday, Oct. 14, honored Lt. Jay-Ryan Woods with the Invictus Award.

In Sept. 2023, Woods led a chase for a murder suspect who was wanted in another state. Officers from several agencies chased the suspect through Crittenden, Poinsett, and Cross Counties.

Poinsett Co. deputies made a traffic stop on the vehicle wanted for Homicide out of Alabama.

After stopping at the roadblock, the suspect began firing a rifle at officers on the scene.

Poinsett Co. Sherriff Kevin Molder said Woods jumped into action.

“He immediately started checking them [deputies] and started doing first aid on the person who shot at him,” Molder said.

The suspect was shot in the leg, and Woods applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

Woods can be heard on body-cam footage saying, “It’s going to hurt, man, but it’s going to save your life possibly.”

Woods' father, the Mayor of Trumann Jay-Paul Woods, is proud of his son’s composure. He said that is what he was trained to do.

“The suspect tried to kill him and he treats him like a human being by treating his wounds, putting a tourniquet on him, and talking to him like a human,” Woods said.

Woods received the Invictus Award from the Colonel of Arkansas State Police on Monday night. He was given a plaque and a medal for his heroic acts.

The incident left the suspect in custody and no officers involved were injured.

Woods had his training to thank.

“I think anybody in law enforcement understands exactly how pertinent training can be,” Woods said. “It can mean the difference between life or death.”

Working in law enforcement for over 5 years, Woods said he couldn’t do the job without his support system.

“You’re going to see things, hear things, and do things, that most human beings weren’t meant to hear, see, or do," Woods said. “So for me, that’s my family; my wife, my mom, my dad, my brother, just having those people to talk to really helps."

This is the first time the Invictus Award has been awarded in the state.

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