West Plains, MO. – A man was arrested on August 8, 2024, after he endangered the lives of 5 children and nearly causing an accident while drinking and driving. 52-year-old Alvis Smith, of Mountain View, was charged with 5 counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk, aggravated DWI, and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway causing immediate threat of an accident.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, on August 8, 2024, a deputy was traveling on a county road when a vehicle served into his lane and almost caused a crash. The vehicle swerved back into its lane and the deputy activated his sirens and lights signaling for the vehicle to pull over. When the driver did, the deputy approached the car and noted 5 juveniles in the back seat and a female in the passenger seat.
The deputy stated that the driver, identified as Alvis Smith, was noticeably drunk, stumbling over his words, and fumbling around for his identification when asked. The deputy asked Smith to step out of the car, which he refused to do until the deputy stated that he could forcibly remove him from his vehicle. Alvis Smith refused to comply with any sobriety tests, telling the deputy that the reason for his fumbling and staggering was from an injury he sustained. He was placed under arrest after refusing the tests. He then searched Smith’s vehicle and found multiple empty bottles of Whiskey. Upon arrival at the station, Smith refused to sign any paperwork on why he was arrested and any paperwork on his refusal to complete sobriety tests.
Alvis Smith was arrested and is being held on a bond of $25,000. The juveniles in the vehicle were picked up by family members who were contacted while they were still on the scene. The female in the passenger seat was arrested due to an unrelated warrant for her arrest from Texas County.
