LANCASTER — A Lancaster father was arrested early Tuesday after deputies say he left his two children, a boy and a girl, at a home filled with mice just after midnight so he could buy more beer.

Christopher Blackmon, 26, of 227 Dixie School Road, is charged with two counts of unlawful neglect of a child and public intoxication, according to a news release from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office. He is held at the Lancaster County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

Deputies were sent to the area of Buford Crossroads convenience store after receiving complaints of a drunk man on a moped, the releases states. They found Blackmon, drunk, walking along the side of the road.

He was arrested and said he left his house because he ran out of beer and needed to get more beer. His moped then ran out of gas and he left it on the side of the road, the release states. He also said he left his children at home, which was more than two miles from the store.

Other deputies went to Blackmon’s house and found a 6-month-old child in a playpen and a 2-year-old in the bedroom sleeping on top of a blanket, according to the release. They also saw mice running around and found beer cans and food scattered throughout the house.