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Police say man took vehicle, dragged woman

A Muncy man faces multiple charges after police say he stole a vehicle and briefly dragged a woman Sunday evening along Route 443 in Mahoning Township.

Tyler J. Woods, 25, was arraigned Monday on felony charges of theft, robbery of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault while driving under the influence and aggravated assault attempts to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon.

District Judge Joseph Homanko Sr. also arraigned the defendant on driving under the influence and other related charges.

Woods was jailed in the Carbon County prison in lieu of $100,000 straight cash bail.

A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 23 in the case before District Judge Beth Dodson.

According to court papers, Breonna Leiby was driving a vehicle owned by Betty Wensel, who had allowed her to operate the Subaru Forester.

Leiby allowed Woods to drive, but got into an argument over his driving and he pulled over onto the shoulder of Route 443.

Leiby told Woods that he couldn’t drive any more, exited the vehicle, and while her hand was on passenger door handle, Woods accelerated away, according to court papers.

Leiby fell and was dragged by the moving vehicle, causing scrapes on her legs, arms and back, court papers said. She was treated on scene by EMS personnel.

Witnesses told police that Leiby was dragged by the vehicle, and Woods drove off after Leiby fell.

Court papers said that Leiby believed that Woods was under the influence due to how he was acting while driving the vehicle.

State police contacted the owner of the vehicle, who told them she only gave Leiby permission to use the vehicle and does not know Woods.

Wensel told troopers that she’d like to report the vehicle as stolen, court papers said.

Leiby was able to track her iPhone, which remained inside the vehicle, and troopers at the Wilkes-Barre station, who had also received several calls about an erratic driver, were dispatched, court papers said.

The vehicle was found in Wilkes-Barre Township, and Woods was eventually located near the vehicle and taken into custody, court papers said.

Woods told police that he was “high on meth” and that he stole Leiby’s vehicle, according to court papers. He had glassy, bloodshot eyes and dilated pupils and refused to submit to a blood test, police said.