APEX — An Apex police officer was charged with driving while impaired early Sunday after he refused to take a breathalyzer test after he was pulled over in Johnston County.

Officer Steven M. Clayton has been placed on leave as a result of the DWI charges, an Apex police spokeswoman said Tuesday.

A Johnston County sheriff’s deputy stopped Clayton just after 2 a.m. Sunday on N.C. 42 because he was weaving in and out of his lane, according to First Sgt. Jeff Gordon with the State Highway Patrol. The sheriff’s deputy contacted a Highway Patrol trooper who took Clayton to the Johnston County jail.

The trooper suspected Clayton was impaired and requested he take a breathalyzer test, Gordon said. When he refused, Clayton was charged with driving while impaired, Gordon said.

He was also charged with failure to maintain lane control and driving while license revoked, according to the Highway Patrol.

Capt. Ann Stephens of the Apex Police Department said Clayton had a valid North Carolina driver’s license at the time of his arrest. Stephens said Clayton was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.