A Cherokee resident, Cody Douglas Woodard, 29, has been taken into custody following an incident where he reportedly used his vehicle as a weapon to express dissatisfaction with his friend’s company.
Woodard faces multiple charges, including a misdemeanor count of assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run leaving the scene of property damage and injury to personal property. Additionally, he has been charged with failure to appear on both a misdemeanor and a felony charge.
The event took place on August 5 at around 7 p.m., prompting a response from the Sylva Police Department.
According to Officer Jacob Waldroup’s report, the incident involved Jamie Rae Worley, who was exiting Dunkin Donuts on 89 E. Main St. and attempting to merge into traffic. Woodard is said to have noticed her and veered towards her from Main Street.
Allegedly, Woodard left his vehicle while still on the road and began yelling at Worley, recognizing her as the person providing a ride to Woodard’s friend.
Woodard then purportedly returned to his Toyota 4Runner and rammed it into the driver’s side door of Worley’s 2009 Scion. This caused damage amounting to at least $4,000 before Woodard fled the scene.
Shanna Ferguson from Maggie Valley was a passenger in Worley’s vehicle during the incident.
Subsequently, Woodard was apprehended in Haywood County.
Assault with a deadly weapon, categorized as a misdemeanor, carries a Class A1 designation. The penalties for this offense range from potential jail time of up to 60 days for a first offense to 150 days for individuals with prior convictions, in addition to possible fines.
Classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, hit and run carries a potential punishment of up to 120 days in jail upon conviction, accompanied by fines reaching up to $5,000.
Currently, Woodard is held in the Jackson County Detention Center under a secured bond of $120,000.
