Attempted murder trial begins for Palm Springs man

Jury selection got underway Tuesday for the trial of a 36-year-old Palm Springs man accused of kidnapping and assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who managed to call from help from a rest stop in Whitewater.

Jeffery George Woodfield faces eight felony charges, including attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, making criminal threats, assault and domestic violence within seven years of a prior domestic violence conviction.

Palm Springs police officers were sent at 6:09 p.m. March 20 to the westbound Whitewater rest stop off Interstate 10.

The alleged victim claimed Woodfield forced her into a vehicle in Palm Springs and drove her against her will, hitting her along the way.

The woman, whose name was withheld, was able to escape from the car at the rest stop and called 911 on her cell phone, police said.

Woodfield was found in his car about a half-mile west of the rest stop on Interstate 10, east of Haugen Lehman Way.