The Bachelor’s Melissa Rycroft Says She’s ‘Struggling’ After Arrest: ‘Life Really Sucks Right Now’

Melissa Rycroft Strickland is speaking out following her arrest.

The Bachelor alum, who appeared on the show’s 13th season in 2009, is breaking her silence after her arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

On Monday, Oct. 6, Rycroft Strickland addressed her arrest when a fan shared an inspirational message in the comments section of Rycroft Strickland’s Sept. 5 Instagram post. The fan wrote about how they also “made the same mistake over 2 years ago because of a perfect storm of bad life events.”

“There’s no excuse, but it happened,” the fan continued. “Don’t ever forget that you are beautiful, loved and blessed. But most of all, you are human. Things happen. Life happens. Be grateful that it wasn’t worse and move forward with grace.”

“Thank you,” Rycroft Strickland replied. “Life really sucks right now and I’m struggling, but I’m trying to march forward….but thank you for the sweet words in what seems like a world of negativity….”

Rycroft Strickland, 42, was arrested on Sept. 23 in Southlake, Texas, where she was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on a Driving While Intoxicated charge.

In a press release, the Southlake Police Department said they reported to a single-vehicle crash around 12:05 p.m. and found “a black Cadillac Escalade that had struck a tree.”

“Prior to the crash, witnesses reportedly observed the Escalade driving erratically,” the statement continued, noting that the driver was later identified as Rycroft Strickland.

She was evaluated by officers on the scene and underwent a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, before being arrested and transported to the Keller Jail, police said.

“No other vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported,” the press release concluded. “The case remains under investigation.”

According to Tarrant County arrest records, Rycroft-Strickland was released on a $1,000 bond with a promise to appear in court the following day.

Following the incident, Rycroft Strickland’s lawyer, Bret Martin, told PEOPLE in a statement: “I want to remind the public of the fundamental principle of our justice system…every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We, as a society, have gotten completely away from this fundamental concept. My Client was arrested on the allegation of Driving While Intoxicated. An arrest is no indication of guilt.”

“It is imperative that we closely examine the circumstances of this case – including the conduct of law enforcement, the toxicology results, and the facts surrounding her arrest – before any conclusions are drawn,” Martin continued. “We respectfully request that the media and the public allow the legal process to unfold, and withhold any judgment whatsoever until all of the evidence has been properly analyzed and presented in a court of law.”

The reality star and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, who appeared on Jason Mesnick’s season of The Bachelor, famously accepted Mesnick’s proposal on the show before he broke up with her on live TV in favor of now-wife and runner-up Molly Mesnick.

Rycroft Strickland later appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2009, and returned in 2012 when she won the all-star season.

She shares three kids with husband Tye Strickland, who she wed in 2009 before starring alongside in their own reality show Melissa & Tye three years later.