Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. is addressing growing public concern after Pine Bluff police confirmed that former officer Xavier Higgins, who allegedly crashed into Sissy’s Log Cabin at more than 100 miles per hour while intoxicated, was cited and released because the Jefferson County Jail is not accepting DWI arrests.
Woods shared the explanation with KATV, prompting further questions from citizens about jail policies and public safety.
Higgins, who investigators say registered a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit, was fired Wednesday. Pine Bluff Police said they had no choice but to cite and release him due to the jail’s current intake restrictions.
Sheriff Woods said the decision is driven by severe overcrowding and the need to prioritize violent offenders over misdemeanor cases like DWI.
“Do we lock up and fill the jail with misdemeanors and not have space for violent felony offenders who are committing serious, heinous crimes, who are literally a public safety threat, or do we fill the jail up with misdemeanors and don’t have any room when we need it?” Woods told KATV.
He emphasized that the policy does not mean those accused of DWI will avoid consequences.
“It doesn’t mean the individual’s not going to be held accountable. Doesn’t mean they’re going to go off scot-free and not see a judge,” Woods said. “It just means that we’re using our discretion and managing our jail space appropriately.”
Woods also noted that most people arrested for DWI would likely be back on the streets within hours anyway after posting bond.
“So if an individual was booked in on DWI, within a matter of hours, that individual would have a bond and be back on the streets,” he said. “So, what we’re doing is citing and releasing.”
Higgins also faces charges of careless and prohibitive driving and failure to obey a stop sign. Woods clarified that the response would be different if a DWI incident caused injury or death. In such cases, the suspect “would more than likely be required to see a judge before a bond is posted.”
No one was inside Sissy’s Log Cabin when the crash occurred, and Higgins suffered only minor injuries. The business has already repaired the exterior damage.
Higgins is scheduled to appear in court on December 4.
