Crime
Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Searching for Escaped Inmate Justin Scott Woodruff Who Walked Away from Work Detail
SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. — The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is searching for an escaped inmate who walked away from a work detail on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, the incident occurred around 3:15 p.m., when 39-year-old Justin Scott Woodruff — an inmate worker — left his assigned work area and failed to return.
Woodruff is described as a white male with multiple tattoos, including a large tattoo on his neck reading “Joker.” He was in custody for Violation of Probation at the time of his escape.
Sheriff Dix stated that investigators believe Woodruff was picked up by another individual shortly after leaving the work site. “At this time we are still gathering information, but we believe that he was picked up by another party after he left,” the sheriff said.
He went on to note the rarity of such incidents in the county: “This is the first time in over 15 years that this has happened to us. When he is caught, it will be a memorable experience for him, whoever picked him up, and whoever he is with. I hope his time on the run will be worth it for him and them.”
Authorities are urging anyone who sees Justin Scott Woodruff or has information regarding his whereabouts to call 911 immediately.
The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate and is coordinating with surrounding law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend the escapee.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.