What? I said we're going to walk over here and do some tests. So, you stay right here. Stop right there. You got a gun with you. Don't act this way. Don't. Sheriff, don't. In the early hours of December 18th, 2024, Urbana Police Department officers pulled over a vehicle, swerving erratically and lingering at a green light for over 10 seconds, only to discover the driver was Champagne County Sheriff Matthew Melvin. Under Ohio, Revised Code 4511.19A1, no person shall operate any vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them. A rookie officer with just over a year of experience, and Sergeant Shawn, a 25-year veteran familiar with Melvin, noted the smell of alcohol and vomit on the sheriff's truck. Melvin, presenting his distinctive sheriff's license, denied the allegations. His refusal to comply escalated tensions as he challenged the officer's authority, leveraging his rank in a subtle attempt to intimidate. How you doing tonight? How you doing? I'm off police division. The reason back there stopped at a green light. Y smelling alcoholic beverage and there's vomit on the side of the vehicle right now. Yes, sir. driver's license by chance. What was it? Urbana PD Thank you. Go back. Well, smell it. Yeah, on the side of the car. There he is. Yeah, I mean he's step out. Don't mess around with it. Okay. All right. So, I'm have you step out of the vehicle. Yes, sir. Come on. Walk over here. Okay. Now, what are you doing? What are you doing? Okay. I need Well, I just want to make sure you're not grabbing something. All right. Really? Going over here. Right. Go over here. What's flat? Okay. What's that? Wait, what? We're just going to go over here. What's flat, man? We're going to do some tests. All right. You know what? What? I said we're going to walk over here and do some tests. You stay right here. Stop right there. You got a gun with you. Don't act this way. Don't, sheriff. Don't. We're going to do some tests. Okay. Yeah. All right. So, let's walk home. You can make a phone call. Amazing. Where you want to take me? What's that? Over here to this pavement to do some tests. Okay. All right. You stand on over here. Yeah. You know what? Crazy. It's cold out. Yeah. Are you Are you trying to call Josh Jacobs? No. As officers pressed for field sobriety tests, Melvin's demeanor grew combative, refusing to cooperate and repeatedly attempting to make phone calls, possibly to Lieutenant Josh Jacobs, his subordinate. In Ohio, revised Code 4511.19D1. In any criminal prosecution for a violation of section 4511.19, the court may admit evidence on the concentration of alcohol or evidence of a refusal to submit to a chemical test. Melvin's insistence, "I'd like to go home." and denial of evidence like the vomit on his vehicle, underscored his attempt to evade accountability. Sergeant Shawn, despite their long history, remained firm. Melvin's broad shoulders and authoritative tone hinted at an underlying threat to the officer's careers. A power play rooted in his position. The silence-filled standoff lasting over 30 seconds at times revealed a sheriff banking on his status to escape scrutiny. All right. All right. Well, let's get done with that and let's go ahead and finish these tests. All right. Are you refusing to take the test? Is that what you're doing? Matt, refusing to take the test? No. All right, then. Let's go over here to where it's flat. I like to go home. Okay. Well, we'll do this testing first. Make sure you're okay to drive, man. It's just strong smell alcohol. You can't drive very well. And there's puke down the side of your car. Down my car. There is. No, there's not. Yes, there is. There is not. Okay. So, we're going to do some tests to make sure you're safe to drive. You're refusing to take the test. We'll be placing you under arrest for OVI. Really? Yes. Absolutely amazing. I'm asking you to take some field sobriety test, man. Can you do that? All right. Let's get our stuff done first here. And you make some phone calls here in a minute. All right. What's that? All right. Once we step on over here, we're going to take some field sobriety tests. All right. Are you refusing? Are you refusing to take the test? That's what I'm asking. Are you refusing to take the test? Yeah, I'm recording. Yes. Okay. I'm let you make a couple phone calls, but we got to get this moving along here. So, are you going to take some field testing? We need to do the Phil soy test. All right. No. Are you refusing to do them? Yeah. Okay. Well, then I'm going have to place you under arrest for LEI. Really? Yeah. For what? For driving under the influence of alcohol. You got a gun on you. Really? Yes. Matt, you're under arrest. Don't you resist. Don't. Really? Your car. You're amazing. Thank you. Another hand, please. Other hand, please. Don't resist. He's got broad shoulders here. I'm not trying to line him up. I don't think you are. You think I am? I said I don't think you are. Two of them. All right. I'm going to leave you a knife in the truck. All right. Cool with you. Yeah. And then the truck. Yeah. He double lock on you. You know you got the right. You understand that? Anything you say can use in court. You understand that? Other attorney before you question me. If you can't afford one for you by the court. You understand those rights? You understand? You know I'm doing my job. I get what I'm doing. Huh? Come on this way. Turn around. Put your butt down first. I see some hard drive. Put your butt down first and slide. Dude, I'm trying to hurt you. You all right? All right, man. All right. Okay. Are you okay if I move your truck or you want me to tell it? Are you good if I park it over here? I can move it over here and just park it over here in Bodie Circle if you're all right with that. But you got to give me permission to do it. If not, I have a tower. I don't want to truck, man. I'd rather just park it, but you got to tell me it's okay for me to park it. Park it. Plus, it'll make this quicker when we get those damn things off yet. Can I just park this thing? Here's why I'm asking you. Huh? No, I can't park it. Jesus Christ. God, it's not in the car. They keep going. vomit with a heavy smell of alcohol on the vehicle. I think I left his phone in his pocket. I wasn't really worried about it, but you take it out before you hung it out. I'll meet you back there. Okay. 24. Are you sure? You want me this way? Good. Real quick, man. ass my finger in there, man. Look at that. Obviously, we're go over the 2255. Either way, if you're going to get in charge, we're going to do fingerprints and if you call somebody, you can have them come pick you up. Okay? So, I'm not trying to put nobody in jail or nothing like that. All right? This is your baby. So, All right, here's your copy. We'll follow along with it. All right, let's start reading for OVI operating vehicle under influence a drug or combination of them under control substance control substance. Hold on a second. Wait till she's done talking everything. You're under arrest for OVI operating a vehicle under influence of drug or combination. Yes, sir. Operating a vehicle under the influence of a list of controlled substance or list metabolite of a controlled substance about to pay a fee to have the privileges reinstated. If you require if you take any chemical test required by law, the Ohio drug privileges will be suspended immediately and you will have to pay a fee to have privileges reinstated. If you take a chemical test, you may have an independent chemical test taken at your own expense. Any questions on that? Nope. This thing fired up. I'll run through the process and you're going to refuse when I get there. Obviously, if you refuse the test, you know, your driver's license will be suspended for a year. You understand that? What's your social security number? Start working on a ride if you want. You got to wait till All right. Will you take the test? That's okay. They refuse. Yes. What? Why you drinking like Why you driving after drinking this much? Why am I kidding you? I can't believe you're kidding me. Make me in this situation, man. You puked all over your car. Smells like alcohol and you can hardly walk. So, don't be like you're kidding me. I can't believe you put us in this situation. Yeah. Heat. Y [Music] is that a game? Since you refused the test, obviously you're being in charge of OBI. I got to do the prince. He's going to print up a ticket as soon as it's on the show. Is that how you call? Soon as she gets here, we'll get out of here. Come on with me. Four ghosts. Got to use the restroom or anything good. Melvin's arrest unfolded as he resisted, prompting officers to secure him, wary of his gun and the felony implications of possessing it during an OVI offense in Ohio. Revised Code 2 923.15A. No person while under the influence of alcohol shall knowingly carry or have a firearm. His refusal to allow his truck to be parked, and his dismissive, "You're absolutely amazing," reflected a lingering arrogance, even as handcuffs clicked. The body cam revealed a deeper context. Melvin had lost re-election in March 2024 by just nine votes, a rejection tied to public frustration with his leadership, including his controversial arrest of St. Paris Police Chief Eric Smith. This incident, coupled with his looming exit from office in January 2025, painted a picture of a sheriff desperate to maintain control. His actions suggested a veiled promise to undermine the officers, a final grasp at power before his fall. What's that? What do you think? should go first. We have to do that. Can't refuse that. No question. Why would you refuse? That's part of the booking process. I haven't done anything, John. No, they're not. Okay. Take the data message. That's pro. You're you're not drunk. Really? Yeah. You're driving all over the roadway. You stop at a green light. I have not. You puked all over your car. No, I did not. I have not puked on my car. Somebody else may have puked on my car. Okay. Someone else peed on your car. Okay. Then why you driving so horribly? Why am I not driving away? Horribly. I'm not. Okay. Then why don't you just take the test and prove I'm wrong? Why do you want to fight with me? I don't want to fight with you. No, you want to argue with me because of everybody else. Cuz everybody else what? Really? I don't care about. Yes, you do. You see me jumping up and down on the election stuff. Last time about as long as you go home. You're going to go home. I told you that. Okay. Why do you got to take your favor? I do. Yeah. You don't. You and I. I'm standing here with you. You what? I'm standing here with you. I understand you're standing here with me. Okay. I got to take your fingerprints, man. Yeah. I'm not going to fight you. I'm not going to freaking roll around on the ground with you. Your fingerprints. So, you're refusing to get fingerprints? Yeah. Without resisting arrest? Is that what you're saying? I'm not resisting arrest. Come on, man. Uh call. They ain't going to answer the phone right now. It's 1:00 in the morning, man. Silly, huh? Cuz you guys are being silly. Why did you call somebody for a ride home? I wouldn't give you any ride home. You don't live that far outside of town. Why do you need silly? Come on. Right here. Where? We got to go to the freaking booking room while we wait. I'm just going to put you in the interview room. I understand that. We got to get your tickets and stuff typed up. Damn. I walk perfectly normal. just have a seat here. So, we get and then your citation is going to be for operating vehicle south. All right. So, your court date is going to be Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. Yes. One more. We're not trying to end you up on trying to grab me. So, all right. So, all right. So, this is violation 53.018. However, the code is vehicle. Your court date is, like I said, Friday morning, 9:00 a.m. You have any questions about that? Any questions about this? Let's get you out of here. 19. We're outside releasing him. Two banger. How was that? Huh? Thank you. Yeah, no problem. Have you Matthew Melvin faces a first-degree misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle under the influence to which he has pleaded not guilty released on a recgnizance bond with a 1-year driving suspension under Ohio's implied consent laws effective until at least December 20th, 2025. In Ohio, revised code for 511.191B. If a person refuses to submit to a chemical test, the registar shall suspend the person's driver's license. A special prosecutor was assigned after the original recused himself, likely due to Melvin's influence in Champagne County. A conviction could bring up to 6 months in jail. Fines up to $1,75 and a license suspension of up to 3 years, though an ignition interlock device might be permitted. If caught driving on a suspended license, Melvin faces mandatory three-day jail time, at least one month of house arrest, up to 6 months of confinement, fines up to $1,000, a 30-day vehicle impound, and an additional one-year suspension. The case, still pending trial, coincides with Sergeant Shaun's retirement after 25 years, possibly hastened by this fraught encounter. Melvin's alleged intimidation rooted in his fading authority, failed to deter the officers from upholding justice. His narrow election loss and questionable practices like the St. Paris chief's arrest reflect a community fed up with his leadership. As Melvin's January 2025 exit looms, this incident stands as a reminder that no one, not even a sheriff, is above the law. Like and subscribe for more police cam stories. Watch the next recommended video. Click to watch now.