By KEITH UPCHURCH

kupchurch@heraldsun.com; 419-6612

DURHAM — A Durham police officer was arrested about 3 a.m. Wednesday and charged with driving while impaired, according to police spokeswoman Kammie Michael.

Officer Nathan E. Keith was arrested on Interstate 85 near Hillandale Road.

Keith has been with the Durham Police Department since January 1997 and is assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau.

He is on administrative leave with pay and the matter is being investigated by the police department’s Professional Standards Division, which is standard procedure, Michael said.

Keith could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Police Chief Jose Lopez said the arrest was made by a Durham Police Department officer.

“We hold our officers accountable as we do other individuals,” Lopez said. “And he will go through our process, and we’ll see. Also, it should be noted that this was a Durham police-initiated [arrest], and that we do hold our officers accountable.’’

A Durham County Jail spokeswoman said she had no record of Keith.

Michael said Keith has been released, but she wasn’t sure when he will appear in court.