TEXARKANA, Texas–A man accused of driving over 100 miles per hour in a 45-mile per hour zone with an unrestrained 3-year-old in the backseat has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a minor in Bowie County.
Harvey Junior Harper, 44, was allegedly heard before he was seen by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who was parked in a church parking lot perpendicular to U.S. 67 at around 7:45 p.m. Dec. 26 in Texarkana, Texas, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Monday.
The trooper reportedly heard the sound of a speeding vehicle, “exemplified via the constant high level of the engine whine and a strong wind being forced around the shape of the vehicle,” before turning his head to observe a silver Jeep Wagoneer driving at a speed estimated to be in excess of 100 miles per hour, the affidavit said.
The trooper had to drive at speeds over 100 miles an hour to catch up to the Jeep, which he allegedly observed swerving and failing to signal when changing lanes. The trooper also observed a child moving around in the back seat, leading the trooper to conclude the child was not restrained in a car seat or by a seat buckle.
Shortly before 8 p.m., the trooper caught up and pulled the Jeep over as it turned onto 9th St.
Harper allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol and performed poorly on field sobriety tests despite claiming he had only had one to two beers hours earlier, the affidavit said. The child was released at the scene to a relative.
Harper is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $70,000.
If convicted of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 or of endangering the welfare of a minor, Harper faces six months to two years in a state jail on each count.
The case has been assigned to 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison.