Alexis Ann Sothen, 34, is charged with one count of fleeing in a vehicle from law enforcement while DUI, one count of fleeing in vehicle from law enforcement with reckless indifference and one count of third offense driving with license revoked for DUI of alcohol, all felonies. She is also charged with one count of fleeing from a law enforcement officer to evade arrest by means other than a vehicle, a misdemeanor.

Sothen is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $35,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Deputy R.T. Lamb with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, and a press release put out by the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Jan. 13, Lamb responded to Fayette Street in Buckhannon to assist the Buckhannon Police Department with an active 911 call reporting a “domestic violence incident involving multiple individuals.”

The 911 caller reported that a female subject wearing pink shorts and a pink shirt was attempting to leave the scene in a white minivan while under the influence of alcohol, the complaint states. The subject was later allegedly identified as Sothen.

Submitted photo A photo posted by the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office shows the white minivan that Alexis Ann Sothen was allegedly driving as she fled from police after the vehicle struck a tree located on the median of Camden Avenue.

Lamb then observed a vehicle matching that description backing out of an alley from Fayette Street onto Marion Street before turning onto Pocahontas Street, the complaint states. The vehicle reportedly attempted to stop and struck the curb before accelerating across the roadway and striking another curb.

According to the complaint, Lamb then attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle by activating his emergency blue lights, however, the vehicle allegedly accelerated down Pocahontas Street. Lamb subsequently activated his emergency sirens as the vehicle “continued to be operated erratically.”

The vehicle allegedly ran a stop sign while turning right onto Ritchie Street, then allegedly ran another stop sign while turning left onto Camden Avenue, the complaint states. The vehicle then allegedly struck the median curb while turning onto Camden Avenue, jumped the curb again and directly struck a tree located on the median of the avenue.

Sothen, who was reportedly the sole occupant of the vehicle, exited the vehicle and allegedly fled on foot down Camden Avenue away from the crash before being detained, the complaint states.

Upon contact, Lamb writes that he allegedly detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from Sothen’s person, the complaint states. He further allegedly observed Sothen to have “slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes.” A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up multiple empty alcoholic containers. Lamb later spoke with a witness who allegedly advised that Sothen was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.

Further investigation revealed that Sothen had a prior conviction in 2016 out of Kirkland Municipal Court in Washington for driving under the influence and second offense driving with license suspended or revoked for DUI.

According to the complaint, Sothen was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital by EMS before being medically cleared and transported to Tygart’s Valley Regional Jail.