Wilmington councilman responds to DWI charge
A longtime member of the Wilmington City Council was arrested Wednesday and charged with driving while impaired in Brunswick County.
Charlie Rivenbark was arrested in Leland around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office. He was charged with driving while impaired and failing to maintain lane control.
An arrest warrant states that Rivenbark "unlawfully and willfully did drive on the right side of the highway." Rivenbark had a blood alcohol content of 0.11 when he was arrested. In North Carolina, it's illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content above 0.08.
In a statement to the StarNews, Rivenbark wrote he had received a call late Tuesday from his son, who was "experiencing an adverse medical event." Rivenbark wrote he decided to return to Wilmington from Myrtle Beach where he was on a trip with colleagues.
He noted in the statement his son is a quadriplegic and "his health and wellbeing are my top priority."
"I did not think that I was impaired. In hindsight, it was not the right decision but it was the one I made based on the knowledge that he was in pain," he wrote. "I accept responsibility for my actions and I am truly sorry for this situation I have created."
Rivenbark was released Wednesday on a bond with a written promise to reappear on his court date\. Rivenbark is set to appear at the Brunswick County Courthouse on June 27 at 9:30 a.m., according to the warrant.
In July 2011, local media reported Rivenbark's son, Travis Rivenbark, was seriously injured while riding a bicycle near on Eastwood Road near Mayfaire.
In November, the 73-year-old Rivenbark was elected to his sixth term on the Wilmington City Council. A Wilmington native, Rivenbark was first elected to the council in 1993.
He owned and operated several restaurants in the Wilmington area before entering commercial real estate in 2000. He's currently a realtor for Cape Fear Commercial.
More: Why did Wilmington council, mayoral campaigns see top donations from developers?
Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at 910-343-2096 or edill@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington leader Charlie Rivenbark charged with impaired driving
