DELAND -- A Volusia County Sheriff's investigator resigned after being arrested March 8, on a charge of DUI after smashing into a speed-limit sign in Lake County while speeding before crashing into a utility pole, which snapped in half, then crossing the road and striking a fence before finally being stopped by a tree.
Lake County authorities reported Sheriff's Investigator James Mathis, 31, was found with two open bottles of whiskey in his vehicle. Mathis had been reprimanded by his own department in January after arriving late for work and smelling of alcohol.
Sheriff Ben Johnson had a termination letter prepared on April 1 for Mathis, who resigned. He had been with the Sheriff's Office for five years. During that time, he was reprimanded for being late and sleeping on the job, according to agency personnel records.