WITNESSES DESCRIBE MAN'S STRUGGLE WITH POLICE

GALVESTON -- A contentious exchange between a prosecutor and a witness for
the defense dominated proceedings in County Court No. 2 Wednesday.

Testimony continued in the trial of an island man whose arrest spurred an
investigation into claims of excessive force by police.

Patrick James Woods, 37, faces a charge of resisting arrest. The charge
carries a possible jail term of up to a year.

Sheridan Lorenz, daugh-ter of billionaire developer George Mitchell,
testified Wednesday that officers repeatedly struck Woods as he lay on the
ground in the 1000 block of 28th Street.

Prosecutor Brian Keller spent much of Wednesday afternoon cross-examining
Lorenz. He asked her about apparent inconsistencies in statements she has
made about the arrest.

Keller was reading questions from a typed sheet he held, titled "Mere
misperceptions -- or lies?"

The biggest point of contention appeared to be a change in Lorenz's story
about handcuffs. She originally said Woods was cuffed as police beat him.
Later, she said he might not have been handcuffed.

Lorenz told jurors Wednesday that she did not see Woods' hands during the
altercation with police so she "drew the conclusion he had on handcuffs."

However, she maintained patrol officers had abused Woods before arresting
him on May 8.

Police officers testified to what police reports stated -- that officers
saw Woods with something apparently in his mouth in what they called a
"heavy narcotics area."

Police said Woods clenched his jaw when officers asked him to open his
mouth, making officers suspicious he was trying to hide drugs.

The officers, who testified Tuesday, said a struggle ensued. However, both
said the amount of force they used to bring Woods into custody was not
undue. Both also denied kicking or hitting Woods as he lay helpless.

Woods was not charged with any type of drug offense stemming from the
encounter with police.

Keller also questioned Lorenz about her original claim that Woods' beating
lasted for five minutes. She later said it lasted two minutes.

The afternoon of testimony was an often-contentious one, as Keller and
Lorenz interrupted each other regularly.

Defense attorney Anthony Griffin, hired by Lorenz to represent Woods in the
case, made frequent objections to Keller cutting off Lorenz's answers and
to Keller making statements to her, instead of asking questions.

Griffin is also representing Lorenz in a libel suit Woods' two arresting
officers filed against her.

Woods appeared less excited. On at least two occasions in court Wednesday,
Griffin quietly nudged his client, whose head was down and eyes closed.