At just past 1 in the morning on
December 18th, 2024, officers from the
Urbana Police Department stopped a
suspected drunk driver who was allegedly
swerving between lanes and remained
stopped at a green light for over 10
seconds. If they haven't already, they
will soon find out that he is the active
Champagne County Sheriff Matthew Melvin,
ranking well above the officers pulling
him over.
24 112 for traffic stop.
Going to be out on Jefferson.
The initial officer is a new recruit
with just over a year of experience.
While the secondary officer, Sergeant
Shawn, has worked in the same
jurisdiction for nearly 25 years
alongside Matthew and is almost
certainly very familiar with who he is.
How you doing tonight? Good. How are you
doing? Doing pretty good. I'm off police
division. The reason
uh kind of all over the road back there
and then you stopped at a green light
right
by you. All right. You can smell an
alcoholic beverage and there's vomit on
the side of the vehicle right now.
Yes, sir. You have a driver's license by
chance? Yes.
What was it? Urbana
PD4. I just got a response back on your
Thank you. Go back with Yoka. Here. The
county sheriff's identification is fully
verified as he presents a distinctive
license for his position.
Well, smell it. Yeah, there's vomit on
the side of the car. There he is. Yeah,
he's he's hammer step out. Yeah. Don't
mess around with it.
Okay. All right, sir. I might have step
out of the vehicle.
Yes, sir.
Come on. Walk over here.
Okay, man. What are you doing? What are
you doing? Oh, okay. All right. I didn't
Well, I just want to make sure you're
not grabbing something. All right.
Really? Going over
here. It's all right. Move here where
it's flat. Okay. What's that? Really?
Really? What?
We're just going to go over here. What's
flat, man? We're going to do some tests.
All right. No.
No. What? What? I said we're going to
walk over here and do some tests. No.
You stay right here. Stop right there.
You got a gun with you? Don't act this
way. Don't. Sheriff, don't. The officers
ask about his gun, not just for safety.
Having a gun in the vehicle while
committing an OVI offense is a serious
felony and could cost the county sheriff
his right to carry.
We're going to do some tests. Okay.
Yeah. All right. So, let's walk out.
You can make a phone call. All right.
Officers sit in silence for 10 seconds
while Matthew goes through his phone.
Amazing. Another 10 seconds drags by.
Where you want to take me? What's that?
Over here to this pavement to do some
tests. Okay. All right.
All right. You stand on over here.
You know what?
Silence continues for an additional 15
seconds.
Freezing. It is cold out. Yeah. Three.
Are you Are you trying to call Josh
Jacobs? No.
Lieutenant Josh Jacobs reports to
Matthew and is the direct commanding
officer of the uniformed police on
scene. It is unclear if the call
connects and no records are currently
available to confirm who Matthew is
attempting to
call. 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, I'm
not refusing to take the test. All
right, then. Let's go over here to where
it's flat. I'd 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 all
down the side of your car. There's no
puking down side of my car. There is.
No, there's not. Yes, there is. There's
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.
You're absolutely amazing. So, I'm
asking you to take some field sobriety
tests. Matt, can you do that? Silence
goes for another 25 seconds.
All right, let's get our stuff done
first here and you can make some phone
calls here in a minute. All right.
What's that?
All right, we step on over here. We're
going to take some field sobriety tests.
All right, Matt. Are you refusing?
Are you refusing to take the test?
That's why I'm asking you.
Are you refusing to take the test?
Yeah, I'm recording. Yes. I don't care.
Okay. Silence continues for over 30
seconds. All right, man. 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 sobriety
testing? We need to do the field
sobriety test. All right. No. Are you
refusing to do them? Yeah. Okay. Well,
then I might have to place you under
arrest for OBI. 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?
No. Sweatsh.
Thank you. Other hand,
please. Other hand, please. Don't
resist. He's got broad shoulders. He
doesn't set out. I'm not trying to wind
him up.
I don't think you are. You think I am? I
said I don't think you are.
It's cuz there's two of them on my back
here.
All right. I know you're not amazing.
I'm going to leave your knife in the
truck. All right. Is that cool with you?
Yeah. It's cool with the truck. Yeah.
key double locker on you. You know, you
got the right to be silent. You
understand that? Anything you say can be
used against you in court. You
understand that? The right to speak with
the attorney before any questioning. If
you can't afford one, we'll give it for
you by the court. Do you understand
those
rights? You
understand? You know, I'm doing my job.
I know you know what I'm
doing.
Huh? Come on this way. All
right, turn around. Put your butt down
first. I see you so hard. All right, put
your butt down first and slide. Oh,
damn. Dude, I'm trying to hurt you. You
all
right? You all right, man? All right.
In. 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? Huh?
I can move it over here and just park it
over here in Body Circle if you're all
right with that. But you got to give me
permission to do it. Tonight, I'll have
a
tow. I don't want to tow your truck,
man. I'd rather just park it, but you
got to tell me it's okay for me to park
it. Matthew refuses to answer the
question as 10 seconds of silence goes
by. Can I park it? Another 12 seconds of
silence goes by before Matthew attempts
to adjust himself in the seat.
Plus, we'll make this quicker. We can
get those damn things off you. Can I
just park this thing? Here's why I'm
asking you. 5 seconds of silence. Key.
Huh? 6 seconds of silence. So, no, I
can't park it. 13 seconds of silence
goes by before the sergeant gives up
communicating with Matthew.
Jesus Christ.
Nasty. God, it's
disgusting. It's not in the
car. They keep going.
God, there's vomit with a heavy smell of
alcohol on the
vehicle. Oh, I think I left his phone in
his pocket. I wasn't really worried
about it, but we need to take it out
before we uncover him. I'll meet you
back there. Okay. I'm going to be robbed
back with the mail 21 clear.
The just under 3minut ride to the
station is spent in silence.
2412
1412. How are you sir? Step on
out. You want to lean this way?
Good. This way
here real quick, man. Let's go finish
your pockets and get those things out.
Cute how tight those are. They talking
like I can fit my finger in there,
man. Look at
that. Obviously, we're going to go over
the 2255. Either way, if you're going to
get charged, we're going to do
fingerprints and if you call somebody,
you can have them come pick you up. Yes.
Okay. So, I'm not trying to put nobody
in jail or nothing like that. All right.
You're going to This is your baby. So,
you all right? Here's your copy. You
want to follow along with it? All right.
All right. Let's start reading.
You're non for OVI. Operating a vehicle
under the influence, a drug or
combination of them. I bring a vehicle
under influence controlled substance or
controlled substance. Operating vehicle.
Hold on a second. Yeah. Wait till she's
done talking so you can hear everything
completely. Start. Okay. You're under
arrest for OVI. Operating a vehicle
under the influence of drug or
combination. Yes, sir. Operating a
vehicle under the influence of a listed
controlled substance or list metabolite
of a controlled
substance. You have to pay a fee to have
the privileges reinstated. Amazing. If
you
require that
if you take any chemical test required
by
law 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. Okay. Any questions on
that? Nope. Okay. We're on this thing.
Get it fired
up. I'll run through the process and
you're going to refuse when I get there.
Obviously, if you refuse the test, the
your driver's license will be suspended
for a year. You understand that?
Secret. We just took a call from What's
your social security number?
I don't get
it. Working on a ride if you want. You
got to wait till All right. Or you take
the test. The breath test. Okay. It
refused. Yes.
[Music]
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. Making me in this situation.
I don't know. You puked all over your
car. Smells like alcohol. You can hardly
walk. So don't be like you're kidding
me. I can't believe you put us in this
situation.
I hit yes. I don't know if
he'll It'll
[Music]
go. I'll bring it all out. Bring
everything
out. Can you come get
me? Please call
her.
Yep. Thanks. She hadn't been drinking
then. I had you.
You're
fun. You play a game. Is that a game?
Playing.
Since you're refusing the test,
obviously you're being in charge of OVI.
I got to do the prints. He's going to
print up a ticket. Soon as is Michelle,
is that you called? Soon as she gets
here, we'll get you out of here. So,
come on with
me. Before we go upstairs, you got to
use the restroom. Anything? Be good.
Bye-bye. Thank you.
What's that?
What' you say? 24. You're amazing. I
mean, can I make a phone call? Not right
now. Let's do this first. All right. For
what? For your fingerprints. For what?
They have to do that. We'll have to get
OBI
arrest. Refuse that. Can't refuse that.
I can't. No. Have to put you in jail.
No, I can't.
Why would you refuse that? It's part of
a booking process. I haven't done
anything. Sean, you know what? You and I
both know that. Okay. Then take the data
message test. Prove that you're you're
not drunk. Really?
Yeah. You're driving all over the
roadway. You stopped at a green light. I
have not been 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 puked on your
car.
Okay. Then why you drive so horribly?
Why am I not driving? What? 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?
Because everybody else what? Not really.
I don't care about politics. Yes, you
do. Give a You see me jumping up and
down on the election stuff. Give a less
about. Matthew reveals he lost
re-election for county sheriff earlier
that year. Though the primary vote took
place 9 months prior in March, the
transfer of office does not occur until
January 5th, less than 2 weeks after
this incident. Matthew was elected
county sheriff the last two terms for a
total of 8 years. In the March 2024
Republican primaries, Matthew lost the
election by just nine votes, giving Chad
Burroughs the victory and effectively
removing Matthew from his position come
January next year. Though Matthew only
narrowly lost, his alleged questionable
practices may reflect the public's
growing frustration behind his
leadership. One case, notably occurring
after the primary election, involves
Matthew arresting St. Paris Police Chief
Eric Smith at the Champagne County Fair
in August of 2024, making Matthew the
second known officer arrest in the
county in a matter of roughly 4 months.
Off duty, out of uniform, and out of
jurisdiction, Eric was arrested by
Matthew at a privatelyun county fair for
trespassing and obstruction after
refusing multiple times to store his
handgun in compliance with the fair's no
gun policy. The charges were later
dropped, likely due to Ohio's House Bill
228, which permits officers to open
carry if their badge is displayed,
something Eric had, despite being
casually dressed. St. Paris, which hired
Eric as police chief in 2021, placed him
on paid leave after the fair incident
and eventually disbanded the entire
department. Mayor Susan Prince cited
finances and officer retention as their
reasons and cited five officers had quit
within seven months leaving only Eric,
who spent at least two months on paid
leave as the village's sole officer.
When asked by constituents who they
could rely on for law enforcement, the
mayor informed they would utilize the
county sheriff's office, led by Matthew
himself, as the village had been
compelled to do since the St. Paris
Police Department was understaffed. Eric
was formally laid off on December 17th
after the disbandment, which happens to
be the same night Urbana officers
arrested Matthew for driving under the
influence. Just let me go home. You're
going to go home. I told you that. Okay.
Why do you got to take your
fingerprints?
Really? I do. No, you
don't. You You and I both know you
don't. I'm standing here perfectly
normal with you.
You're
not John. You know you what? I'm
standing here with you. I understand
you're standing here with me. Okay. I
got to take your fingerprints, man. No,
you don't. Yeah. I'm not going to fight
you. I'm not going to freaking roll
around on the ground with you. Get your
fingerprints. Let me go.
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.
Ah, refusing to fingerprint likely
wouldn't result in a resisting charge,
but it could lead to obstructing
justice. In this case, it can be argued
that Matthew's intimidation is
preventing the sergeant from performing
his duty to assist in the investigation.
You want me to call you?
They ain't going to answer the phone
right
now. It's 1 in the morning, man. Silly,
huh? Cuz you guys have been selling.
Why'd you call somebody for a ride home?
I wouldn't give a damn ride home. You
don't look that far outside of town. Why
are you being silly now? Come on. Come
back 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. Here. I understand that. We got to
get your tickets and stuff typed up.
[Music]
Dang it. While I walk perfectly normal,
just have a seat here. So, we get
After officers leave Matthew, just over
10 minutes goes by before body cam
footage returns.
And then your citation is going to be
for operating a vehicle under the
influence of alcohol. All right. So your
court date is going to be Friday morning
at 9:00 a.m.
Yes. You want more.
We're not trying to hit you up on all
kind of crap, man. So all right. So all
right. So it's violation 333.01A the
cover of the codified orders of
beautiful. Your court date is like I
said Friday morning 9:00 a.m. You have
any questions about
that?
Any questions about any of this? Let's
get you out of here. 19. We're outside
releasing him.
Two
banger. How's that?
Huh? Thank you. Yeah, no problem. All
right. Have a good night. Matthew faces
one charge of operating a vehicle under
the influence, a first-degree
misdemeanor, and has pled not guilty. He
was released on a recgnizance bond with
a one-year driving suspension under
implied consent laws, meaning he cannot
drive until at least December 20th,
2025. The original prosecutor for the
case recused himself, likely due to
conflict of interest, and a special
prosecutor was assigned instead. The
case is still pending trial, during
which time Sergeant Shawn retired from
the force after working in Urbana for 25
years. Matthew faces up to six months in
jail, fines up to
$1,75, and a license suspension of up to
three years. Though he may be allowed to
drive with an ignition interlock device
if caught driving on a suspended
license, he must serve 3 days in jail,
at least 1 month of house arrest, and
could face up to 6 months of
confinement, up to $1,000 in fines, a
30-day vehicle impound, and an
additional one-year license suspension.