Alleged Drunk Driver Arrested after Hitting Sign

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man was arrested Thursday morning after police said he was driving while intoxicated when he ran through a North Longview church sign and fled. Longview police crash investigator Brad Bell arrested 39-year-old Rufus Dwayne Bowie III about 9:30 near the intersection of Eden Drive and Judson Road, charged with fleeing the scene of a crash and driving while intoxicated. Firefighters were dispatched to True Vision Ministries in the 100 block of East Hoyt Drive at 8:49 in connection with a church sign that had been plowed through.

According to the Longview News-Journal online, Bowie’s vehicle had front-end damage and the grill of the Toyota Altima was gone. Bell said investigators were still looking for missing pieces to Bowie’s vehicle. Bowie failed a field sobriety test, officials said.