A night that started at a casino ended on a Sparks sidewalk, then carried on for months through court, interviews and a warrant before reaching a sentence.
According to the Sparks City Attorney's Office, Thomas Shawn Woods was convicted of one count of domestic battery tied to an incident on September 9, 2025, outside a Sparks home.
Officers were sent to the home after a reporting party told Sparks police their woman neighbor had been bear sprayed outside the reporting party’s home.
When officers arrived, they found the woman lying on the sidewalk and being treated by medical personnel. Officers noted she appeared panicked after being sprayed.
Two witnesses told officers the man they identified as Woods had fled and pointed out the direction he went. Officers were not able to find him at the time.
While receiving medical care, the woman told officers that Woods, her ex boyfriend, had sprayed her. Officers said because of her medical condition, she could not complete a full interview and was taken to the hospital.
Officers spoke with two witnesses who said that they did not directly see the incident but shared surveillance video. Police reviewed the video and said it appeared to corroborate the woman being bear sprayed by Woods.
After the woman was stabilized at the hospital, officers conducted a full interview with her. She told police the incident began after she left a casino and realized Woods was following her closely. She said when she arrived at her home, Woods demanded his phone back. She told him she did not have it.
She told officers the argument continued as she walked toward her home and ended when Woods sprayed her directly in the face with bear spray for approximately three to four seconds.
Police made several attempts to contact Woods without success. A warrant was issued, and he was arrested on November 22, 2025.
Senior Assistant City Attorney Ana Swanson represented the city on December 4, 2025, where Woods was convicted of Domestic Battery.
Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan said, “Our Office focuses on domestic violence cases like this one due to the pervasive trauma that victims incur through the abuse. We cannot allow it to go unaddressed.”
A judge sentenced Woods to 60 days in the Washoe County Jail, suspended for one year, with conditions. He was ordered to serve two days in jail, complete 48 hours of community service, pay a $200 fine plus administrative assessments, pay a $35 domestic violence fee, complete 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling, and have no contact with the woman and obey all laws.
