A West Plains man alleged to have been involved in a recent recorded assault on a homeless man faces a felony charge after police say he brandished a firearm during an altercation on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus.
Levi J. Hodgson, 20, was arrested Friday and charged with unlawful use of a weapon. He was released Saturday after posting a $10,000 bond.
Investigating West Plains Police Officer Daiman Meyer reported that Hodgson admitted to retrieving a firearm from his rear waistband and holding it forward while approaching other people during a dispute. According to weekly police incident reports, the confrontation occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday on the 600 block of Missouri Avenue near the Grizzly Lofts, an MSU-WP student residence hall.
According to Meyer’s report, Hodgson acknowledged that a reasonable person would have been fearful seeing him advance with a handgun. While Hodgson denied intentionally pointing the firearm at anyone, officers reported he admitted handling the weapon while indicating to individuals inside the building that he wanted to fight outside.
Witness statements and security camera footage corroborated that Hodgson brandished the firearm, Meyer noted.
Hodgson was identified by police earlier this month following a viral social media video showing him punching, kicking and slapping a homeless man in a vacant parking lot on Preacher Roe Boulevard. Police sought a municipal peace disturbance charge in that incident after the victim declined to press state assault charges.
A second suspect, Ashur B. Smotherman, 18, West Plains, was also arrested and charged with felony first-degree property damage in connection with the campus incident. Meyer reported that Smotherman admitted to returning to the scene in a vehicle to perform “donuts” on the parking lot, causing about $1,600 in damage.
Smotherman was also released on a $10,000 bond.
Both men are scheduled to appear Oct. 5 before 37th Circuit Associate Judge R. David Ray — Hodgson for formal arraignment and Smotherman for an initial appearance.
Neither suspect had hired legal representation as of Tuesday afternoon, according to court records.
Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Rizwan Ahad are prosecuting both cases.
