Matthew Rankin

DALTON, Ga. — While being evaluated by a deputy for a possible DUI, an assistant district attorney said, “I understand. Y’all got me, and my whole career is over,” according to a sheriff’s office incident report.

“I drank way more than I should have and I understand I should be arrested right now,” Matthew Rankin, who has been with the district attorney’s

office for approximately 20 years, told the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office deputy, according to the report, while saying “he’s done a lot of good in his career.”

Rankin, 48, is the senior assistant district attorney in the Murray County office. He was booked into the county jail shortly after midnight on Sunday and charged with DUI, open container violation, failure to use signal and improper turn. He was released from jail on a bond of $2,660 on Sunday. 

According to District Attorney Bert Poston, Rankin has been placed on administrative leave with pay until June 18 when Poston is scheduled to return from vacation. A phone number for Rankin could not be found.

Rankin came to the attention of a deputy when Rankin’s vehicle turned from a lane that was not the turn lane onto Underwood Road from the north bypass. No turn signal was used.

“(The vehicle) made a wide turn and almost went off (the) road before correcting itself,” the deputy wrote.  

The deputy found an open container of ale in the passenger floorboard and “at least 15 open containers of various beers” in the car. The report said Rankin registered a .190 on a preliminary breath test. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.

Rankin told the deputy he had “one beer and one wine about a half hour and hour prior to being stopped.” The deputy noted “the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Mr. Rankin’s breath” and “slurred” speech.