Bodycam footage shows Champaign Co. sheriff refuse field sobriety test in OVI arrest

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Champaign County Sheriff Matthew Melvin refused to perform a field sobriety test after being pulled over Dec. 18 at 1:12 a.m. for traffic violations.

Cruiser and body camera footage obtained by the Springfield News-Sun shows Melvin’s pickup truck swerving over marked lanes, as well as remaining stopped at a green light for about 10 seconds before entering the intersection and being pulled over by an Urbana Police officer whose cruiser was behind him.

An officer remarked that the vomit over the side of Melvin’s truck and Melvin himself smelled of alcohol.

“You were kind of all over the road back there. And you were stopped at a green light,” the officer said. “I can smell an alcoholic beverage and there’s vomit on the side of the vehicle right now.”

The outgoing sheriff was arraigned on one charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was released on his own recognizance, provided he does not drive. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31 at 10 a.m.

During the stop, Melvin handed the officer his driver’s license as well as a law enforcement card identifying him as the Champaign County sheriff.

Urbana Police Sgt. Shawn Schmidt then arrived to the stop, asking if the driver was Melvin, before he had the officer ask the sheriff to exit his truck for a field sobriety test. Once he exited, Melvin appeared to be off balance and disoriented.

Melvin several times remarked, “Really?” in response to commands. He also sarcastically said, “You guys are amazing.”

The sergeant told Melvin at one point that he was doing his job.

At one point, Schmidt asked Melvin to walk to an area that was flatter for a sobriety test, Melvin started to comply before saying “no,” and attempting to walk back to his truck. The sergeant stopped Melvin at that point.

“You stay right here. Stop right there,” the sergeant said. “You got a gun with you? Don’t act this way. Sheriff, don’t.”

Melvin then asked to make a phone call, to which Schmidt agreed. When Melvin did not get answers on the phone, the sergeant attempted to start the sobriety tests before asking the sheriff multiple times if he was refusing to perform the tests.

Melvin told Schmidt he wanted to go home, and the sergeant said the officers would have to make sure it was safe for him to drive first.

“We’ll do this test with you first to make sure you’re OK to drive, man,” the sergeant told Melvin. “There’s a strong smell of alcohol, you can’t drive very well and there’s puke all down the side of your car.”

Melvin told Schmidt that there was no vomit on the side of his car, to which the sergeant said, “there is.”

The sergeant told Melvin multiple times if he did not perform the test, he would be arrested for OVI. After he confirmed his refusal, police arrested Melvin, placing him in the back of a cruiser.

At the police station, Melvin refused a breath test and fingerprinting.

Melvin’s term as sheriff is about to end. In March 2024, he lost the Republican primary election for the sheriff’s role to Chad Burroughs, who was then elected in November. Burroughs will take office next month.