Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich has been charged with drunk driving.

Bemrich, 52, of 704 Crest Ave., faces charges of operating while under the influence, first offense, and improper use of lanes, according to court records.

“Under the advice of my legal counsel, I cannot get into the details of the situation,” the mayor said Tuesday afternoon. “I know there is a legal process and with the support of my family and friends I will do what I am required to do. We’ll go through the legal process.”

According to the criminal complaints filed against him, Fort Dodge police attempted to stop Bemrich’s 2025 Ford truck at about 9 p.m. Sept. 10 after it was spotted crossing the center line of a road numerous times. He was also observed making an improper turn, officers wrote in the complaints.

Officers first observed his vehicle in the 100 through 500 blocks of North Ninth Street and tried to stop it in the 900 block of Seventh Avenue North. Bemrich did not stop right away and instead drove to his home, according to the criminal complaints. Police followed him to his home.

Officers wrote in the criminal complaints that Bemrich smelled of alcohol and admitted to having drinks prior to driving. They wrote that he declined to take one field sobriety test and stopped another one after about 10 seconds.

In a breath test, his blood alcohol content was found to be .180, according to the criminal complaints. A blood alcohol content of .08 is the level at which a person is considered to be drunk under Iowa law.

Bemrich’s initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court was Tuesday morning. Through his attorney, Stuart Cochrane, of Fort Dodge, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the operating while under the influence charge. That means the case will proceed to arraignment and trial.

Court action on the less serious charge of improper use of lanes was postponed for 180 days.