BURLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House of Representatives candidate says his arrest on suspicion of having an open container of alcohol and traffic violations was a mistake.

Burlington Police Chief Doug Jones said Jeff Freeman, a Republican running against incumbent state Rep. Peggy Mast of Emporia in the Aug. 5 primary, was booked into the Coffey County jail Sunday.

Freeman said Wednesday he was stopped after not signaling a turn at a stop sign. He contends he had no alcohol in his car.

He says he had some alcohol at a memorial service in Neosho Falls earlier in the day but said he was sober when he was stopped.

Freeman called the arrest a distraction from the important issues of the campaign and said he would stay in the race.