By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / Febuary 15, 1999

LAPLACE – Sometimes, it’s just not your day.

At 9:03 a.m. Tuesday, a 9-1-1 dispatcher received a call that a man had awoman trapped in the ladies’ rest room of a restaurant on Airline Highway in LaPlace.

According to Lt. Michael Tregre, spokesman for the St. John the BaptistSheriff’s Office, the caller reported shouting, a woman screaming and the sounds of a fight. Moments later, the woman escaped from the restroomscreaming, then a man burst from the restroom, out of the restaurant and across Airline Highway.

The suspect darted between the Percy Hebert Building and the nearby shopping center, on the side of which is the sheriff’s office Criminal Investigations Division.

At 9:04 a.m., Frederick D. Woods, 31, was in custody, charged withattempted forcible rape and simple battery. He was also charged onoutstanding warrants for theft of items valued between $100 and $500 and contempt of court.

Fortieth Judicial District Judge Mary Hotard Becnel set Woods’ bond at $55,750.

The petite 42-year-old victim sustained a broken fingernail in her successful defense against the 6-foot 2-inch Woods. Tregre added thatrestaurant customers kept the suspect in view all the time and made a positive identification for detectives.

Tregre also said Woods’ given address turned out to be fictitious, so his past whereabouts are being checked for possible connection to other crimes.

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