A routine traffic stop along the North Freeway in northern Harris County ended with deputies arresting a man wanted on an open felony warrant for injury to a child. Andre Woods, born October 24, 1986, was identified during the stop on Saturday, August 29, and taken into custody on the outstanding warrant.
The stop was conducted by a deputy with Constable Mark Herman's Special Operations Division in the 17400 block of the North Freeway, according to Harris County Constable Precinct 4. Woods was booked into the Harris County Jail the same day on the third-degree felony charge, and his bond has not been set out of the 337th District Court. That court is a state district court that gives preference to criminal matters and is presided over by District Judge Colleen Gaido, according to the Houston Bar Association.
What the Felony Charge Means
Under Texas Penal Code § 22.04, intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a child aged 14 or younger is classified as a third-degree felony, carrying a statutory penalty of two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, per Varghese Summersett. Prosecutors pursuing that charge must prove Woods acted intentionally or knowingly to cause physical pain or impairment, rather than through recklessness or negligence, which carry lesser penalties under Texas law, according to Dunham & Jones. Bodily injury under the statute is defined as physical pain or impairment, distinct from serious bodily injury, which would trigger a higher-level felony charge.
Specifics of the underlying incident that led to the warrant, including the condition of the child involved, were not detailed in the arrest announcement. It also remains unclear when Judge Gaido will hold a formal bail hearing in the case. As with any pending criminal matter, Woods is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, per the constable's office.
Why Bond Wasn't Immediately Set
Defendants arrested on felony warrants in Harris County are typically held without bond until they appear before a magistrate or district court judge, who weighs public safety risks and criminal history before setting bail conditions, according to the Houston Chronicle. That process explains why Woods' bond remained pending immediately after his booking.
Constable Herman said deputies remain vigilant during every traffic stop, and that Woods' arrest demonstrates a commitment to locating wanted suspects and protecting vulnerable community members. Precinct 4, headquartered in Spring, is the largest constable agency in Texas and operates a Special Operations Division dedicated to targeted traffic enforcement aimed at intercepting suspects with open warrants. The agency also runs a mobile app called C4 NOW, which broadcasts real-time crime feeds, traffic updates and arrest alerts while letting residents submit anonymous tips on wanted fugitives.
A Familiar Pattern Along I-45
Woods' arrest follows a pattern of Precinct 4 traffic enforcement along the North Freeway corridor turning up felony warrants. In January, a similar stop in the 15900 block led to the arrest of a driver wanted on an active human-trafficking felony warrant, as Hoodline previously reported. In May, deputies arrested a man wanted on a felony child-injury warrant during a separate operation in the Bonaire subdivision of northwest Harris County, alongside outstanding traffic warrants.
The recurrence of child-injury warrants in Precinct 4's recent activity comes amid broader statewide concern over child maltreatment. Statewide data analyzed by Kids at Risk Action shows the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services recorded 99 confirmed child maltreatment fatalities in fiscal year 2024, with physical abuse and neglect driving most investigations. Texas Child Protective Services typically conducts its own investigations alongside law enforcement when child injury allegations arise.
