FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The man in charge of the Cumberland County Alcohol Beverage Control Board is stepping down.

Neil Monroe, the board's general manager, announced Tuesday night that he's retiring.

The decision came after Monroe was arrested on drunk-driving charges over the weekend.

The ABC Board held an emergency meeting Tuesday night, and Monroe was there. His attorney handed out copies of a letter that explained an accident Monroe was involved in just a few hours before he was pulled over for driving drunk.

Monroe came to the meeting wearing a neckbrace. He said in his letter to the board that he was injured while trying to dodge a deer in the road.

"My Yukon rolled over several times, knocking me unconscious," Monroe said, "and I remember very little after that."

Roughly five hours later, at 11:30 Saturday morning, a trooper stopped Monroe in Cumberland County. The trooper said he noticed Monroe's vehicle - an ABC vehicle with blue lights - weaving all over the road.

Monroe took a breath test that registered .19, more than twice the legal limit.

His letter to the board said his retirement is due to his neck injury and makes no mention of the DWI charge. Though he did write "I apologize" and acknowledged drinking alcohol while driving an ABC vehicle.

The board accepted his apology and his retirement news with handshakes all around.

Monroe's retirement is effective March 31. He's taking sick leave until then, so he can recover from his injury.