A Dawson County Sheriff's deputy tendered his resignation following his arrest in Lumpkin County when he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Sheriff Billy Carlisle said Lt. James Ward "Jim" Morrison would have been terminated if he had not resigned.

"He came up here and turned in his resignation," said Carlisle, who wished him well. "He had been with us for a long time."

Morrison, who joined the department in June 2003, was arrested before midnight April 27.

Georgia State Patrol spokeswoman Robin Stone said he wrecked his personal vehicle near the intersection of K Bentley and Washrider roads in Lumpkin County.

A breath test showed his blood alcohol concentration at 0.124 at the time of the arrest, well above the state's 0.08 percent blood alcohol limit, she said.

Charged with driving under the influence, Morrison was booked into the Lumpkin County Jail and released on $1,700 bond in the early morning hours of April 28, according to jail records.

The charge is a misdemeanor.

He was not injured in the single vehicle crash, authorities said.