Huntington Man Arrested for Alleged Drunk Driving with Grandkids

HUNTINGTON — A Huntington grandfather was arrested Monday after being accused of driving drunk with his two 13-year-old granddaughters riding on top of his SUV. KETK and the Lufkin Daily News report that according to an affidavit, Huntington Police officer James Hight pulled over William Chambliss, 64, after receiving calls from concerned citizens.

Police say upon being pulled over, Chambliss told Hight he had two ounces of vodka that day and had an open container inside his SUV. Hight found two Gatorade bottles inside the vehicle containing a liquid that smelled of alcohol, according to the affidavit. During the traffic stop, Chambliss seemed confused, agitated and was being verbally aggressive, the affidavit stated. He submitted to a blood alcohol test at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin and was taken to the Angelina County Jail, but not before he threatened to “whoop” the officer, according to the affidavit.

Police say the two teens admitted to riding on top of the vehicle with their legs hanging inside the sunroof. Chambliss told police they had rode that way from Hanks Creek with him driving 35 miles per hour, the affidavit stated. He is charged with DWI with a child, retaliation and endangering a child, according to jail records. Chambliss made his collective $6,000 bond Tuesday.