Veronica Watkins

Name:
Watkins, Veronica Andriana

Date of Booking:
06/01/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Window Tint Violation

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On Sunday, 05/31/2026, at approximately 2213 hours, Barrow County Dispatch received a call for an [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Winder, Georgia, 30680. Officer Bruce, Officer Melniciuc, and I responded CODE 3 to the scene.

Upon my arrival, Officer Bruce and Officer Melniciuc were [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by Law Enforcement approximately [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I began to help calm the caller, Ms. [WITNESS #1], down and gather information from her. [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. While on scene, [WITNESS #1] advised they were going to leave, but had advised me that she had been drinking, I gave her a portable breath test and advised her not to drive. [WITNESS #1] was advised that they should stay at the hotel and sober up before driving. Just before the portable breath test was administered, medical professionals were explaining how to administer [REDACTED BY AGENCY].

All first responders had left the scene and were in the parking lot of the hotel when one of the medical professionals advised law enforcement that the black Kia Forte that was leaving the parking lot was being driven by Watkins, [REDACTED BY AGENCY].

Due to this information, I immediately got in my patrol car and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle also had dark window tint. The vehicle stopped in the Aldi parking lot. I approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Watkins, the patient from the overdose call. I had her get out of the car and escorted her to the front of my patrol car. While doing so, Watkins was saying that no one told her she could not drive and that she was fine. At this time, other Officers arrived on scene and stood by with Watkins and [WITNESS #1], who was in the passenger seat.

I returned to my patrol car, where I ran the black Kia Forte, bearing Georgia Tag [REDACTED], through GCIC, and the car returned valid with insurance. It also returned with Watkins, who was valid and not wanted. I asked dispatch if there was any ARIDE-certified officer on tonight. There were no officers with ARIDE. I returned to Watkins. I then placed Watkins into properly fitted double-locking handcuffs behind the back. Due to the clothing being tight on her, and I could visibly see that there was nothing on her, she was not searched incident to arrest.

I read the implied consent notice for suspects 21 and over to Watkins for a blood draw, to which she stated okay. I confirmed that that was a yes with her, and she stated yeah. Watkins was then placed in the rear seat of my patrol car and seatbelted in with a lap and shoulder belt. I requested the next list towing company for the car. Officer Bruce stood by with the vehicle until Patrick’s Towing retrieved the car. Officer Bruce completed an inventory of the car.

I transported Watkins to the hospital for a blood draw. While on the way, Watkins advised that she just wanted to go to jail. I advised Watkins that I would pull over and re-read the implied consent notice card, to which she once again agreed. I pulled over at the Walgreens, 10 East May Street, and re-read the implied consent notice for suspects over 21 to Watkins again. Watkins advised alright lets go with it then, I confirmed once again that she wanted to complete the blood draw, and she stated, “Yeah”. I continued to the hospital, where the blood draw was completed by Phlebotomist [REDACTED]. While at the hospital, I contacted Barrow County Jail to see if they needed medical clearance before accepting Watkins [REDACTED BY AGENCY] I was advised that they would need clearance paperwork for Watkins, which was also completed while at the hospital.

Once the evaluation was completed, Watkins was placed back in the rear seat of my patrol car, where she was seat belted in with a lap and shoulder belt. I then transported her to the Barrow County Detention Center, where she was turned over to jail staff.

Watkins was arrested for DUI [REDACTED BY AGENCY]

A citation for DUI and illegal window tint was issued. Officer Bruce measured the tint before the car was picked up by Patrick’s, and it gave him a reading of 18% (WC83708 and WC83709). Watkins was given a temporary driving sticker on her DUI citation.

I returned to the Winder Police Department, where the blood kit was placed into temporary locker 18B. A property receipt was completed (A-29783). A LERMS and GBI Submission form was also completed.

The rear seat of my patrol car was checked for weapons, drugs, and means of escape before and after transport.

I was operating vehicle 440.

[End of Narrative]