LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – A 15-month old child was found by police in the back seat of her mom’s car after her mother was attempting to drive away possibly intoxicated.    When Campbell County Sheriff’s Sergeant Joe Hopson arrived at the parking lot of Community Health of East Tennessee late Monday afternoon, he encountered 36-year old Alanna Chavis.  Hopson’s report notes that Chavis was sitting in a gold Saturn sedan with the engine running and her child in the back passenger side seat.

The sergeant noticed that Chavis had slurred speech and watery glassy eyes.  As Hopson was speaking with her, she let her foot off the brake and the car started rolling backward, because it was in reverse.  He ordered Chavis to stop, and she allegedly fumbled to put the car in park.

When asked if she had been drinking, Chavis allegedly said “yes.”  Hopson then asked if she thought she should be driving with the child in the car, and she allegedly responded with “no, not really.”

Sgt. Hopson asked Chavis to exit the car.  He reported that she had difficulty getting out and used the car to lean on as she exited.  According to the report, Chavis almost fell once.  Based on the report, she agreed to a field sobriety test and was not able to satisfactorily complete all of the tests.

Upon retrieving the child’s diaper bag, Campbell County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Mallory Campbell located an empty 200 ml bottle of vodka inside the bag.  Chavis allegedly admitted to drinking the vodka about an hour prior to contact with law enforcement.

During the investigation, it was learned that Chavis had another child- five months old, and she was at the domestic violence shelter, where Chavis is currently residing.  Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Chase Pierce placed Chavis under arrest without incident, and the child was transported back to the shelter by staff members.  The Department of Children Services (DCS) responded to the domestic violence shelter.

Chavis, of Knoxville, remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning on a $3,000 bond on charges of DUI (driving under the influence) and child abuse and neglect according to the arrest report.  She has a court date set for August 25.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/15/2020-6AM)