Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship is apologizing to his family and his constituents after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol early Sunday morning in Kentucky.

According to an employee at the Greenup County Jail, Blankenship posted a $1,000 bond after he was brought to that facility on misdemeanor charges of DUI and careless driving. The exact time of the arrest was unavailable.

Contacted Sunday evening, Blankenship said he had been visiting with a high school friend he had not seen in several years at the man’s home in Wurtland, Ky. While watching television and catching up on the past, Blankenship said he consumed a “few beers” but didn’t feel that he was intoxicated.

While driving home, Blankenship said he was pulled over by a Raceland, Ky., police officer for not staying within his lane.

“I felt like I was okay to drive,” Blankenship said. “I was by myself. But he felt he had probable cause.”

The mayor said he has a mid-August court date on the matter.

“If I am found guilty I will accept the consequences,” Blankenship said. “I apologize to my family and to the citizens of Ironton. I thought I was OK to drive home. Evidently the officer didn’t think so. I did cooperate fully with the officer.”