Last Update: 3/31/04
At approximately 10:50 pm on February 28, 2004 Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Jimmy Reinecker observed a vehicle traveling 35 mph in a 65 mph zone of US 59 a few miles south of Jay, Oklahoma. Reinecker noted that the vehicle was weaving back and forth across the roadway. The trooper stopped the vehicle and as they say in the movies "the rest is history".
The vehicle stopped by Trooper Reinecker was driven by none other than Delaware County Sheriff Lenden (aka Lendon) Woodruff.
According to Reinecker, Sheriff Woodruff failed a field sobriety test and and a search of his vehicle revealed an open alcoholic beverage container and a holstered firearm. Sheriff Woodruff was arrested and transported to the Ottawa County Jail in Miami, Oklahoma owing to the fact that the sheriff should not be lodged in the Delaware County Jail with prisoners he or his deputies had arrested.
Woodruff was arrested on charges of DUI, possession of a loaded firearm while driving under the influence, resisting arrest and transporting an open container. An affidavit filed by Trooper Reinecker indicated that Woodruff's speech was slurred and that he was unsteady on his feet, had bloodshot eyes and was combative.
Once at the Ottawa County Jail, Sheriff Woodruff was searched and jailers found another firearm, a .38 caliber pistol holstered around Woodruff's ankle. Sheriff Woodruff refused to take a breathalyzer test. Under Oklahoma law a refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test following a DUI arrest subjects the accused to possible suspension of their driver's license.
Sheriff Woodruff was placed in a cell for the mandatory six hour period to "sleep it off" and on Sunday morning he was released on $1,000 bond.On Sunday, February 29th, following his release from jail, Sheriff Woodruff stated in a phone interview with the Tulsa World that the arrest was politically motivated and that he and Reinecker had "bad blood" between them for some time. Woodruff also stated that Trooper Reinecker was "unduly rough" with him during the indident.
On Monday, March 1st Sheriff Woodruff issued a public apology to his staff, supporters, friends and county residents for his arrest during the previous weekend. Woodruff was quoted in various media reports as indicating that his arrest would have no effect on his performance of duties as Sheriff and that he intends to continue as Sheriff of Delaware County.
On 3/02/04, charges were filed in Delaware County against Sheriff Woodruff. The official court record of those charges is Available Here
Sheriff Woodruff was charged with one count each of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Resisting an Officer, Transporting An Open Container of Liquor and Carrying a Firearm While Under the Influence of Intoxicants.
On 3/09/04, Lenden Woodruff resigned as Sheriff of Delaware County, Oklahoma.
On 3/10/09, in a plea bargain with prosecutors, Woodruff pleaded guilty on the driving under the influence of alcohol and carrying an open container charges. As part of the plea deal charges of resisting arrest and carrying a loaded firearm while under the influence of alcohol were dropped. Woodruff was sentenced to a one-year probation, fined $1,200 and order to pay costs of $450.
Delaware County Commissioners appointed Undersheriff Rick White as interim sheriff.
Editor's Note: It appears that Sheriff Woodruff used two spellings of his first name, Lenden and Lendon. In practically all news media reports as well as public statements, background information and so forth the Sheriff's name was listed as "Lenden Woodruff". In some court records his name appears as "Lendon Woodruff".
For additional material on Sheriff Woodruff, including news reports we refer you to two "Googles", first a search for Lenden Woodruff and next a search for Lendon Woodruff
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of criminal justice, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those interested in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.