A member of the Texas Senate from the Austin area was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly driving while intoxicated (DWI), Austin-based media outlets reported.
Authorities apprehended Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) near Avenue B and West 45th Street in Austin nearly an hour after midnight after he was pulled over for swerving.
According to Austin FOX affiliate KTBC, police said that Schwertner, a practicing orthopedic surgeon, spoke with a slurred voice and bore the smell of alcohol.
Following his refusal to submit to a breath test, the lawmaker was then taken into custody and booked at the Travis County Jail on a Class B misdemeanor charge, KTBC reported, citing court records.
The station reported that Schwertner issued a statement in response to his arrest.
“I’m deeply sorry, I’m apologetic to my citizens and my family, I made a mistake,” the senator said.
Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported that Schwertner was released from jail the same day and has a court appearance slated for the end of the month.
The 52-year-old Schwertner’s senatorial district consists of a 10-county region that stretches from Central to East Texas, according to his legislative biography.
The current regular session of the Texas Legislature has been in effect since early January.
Per KVUE, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement he was made aware of the arrest.
“This is the second time in two sessions a member of the legislature has been arrested for DWI,” Patrick said. “There is zero excuse for driving under the influence and putting lives in danger, in particular by a member of the legislature whose conduct should be held to a higher standard.”
He added that he’ll hold off on further remarks until the matter is resolved in court.
Schwertner, who’s been a senator since 2013, chairs the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Constitutional Issues, as well as sits on the Senate Committees on Education, Finance, State Affairs and on the Legislative Budget Board and Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, KVUE reported.
