Melissa Doehring

Name:
Doehring, Melissa Ann

Date of Booking:
07/18/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Failure to Maintain Lane

Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive

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 this date, 07/18/2026, I was conducting routine zone patrol on Old Allatoona Road SE approaching the I-75 S/B Off Ramp. I observed a Gray Nissan Rogue with a Georgia Bulldog flag on the rear driver’s side portion of the vehicle stopped over the Balk Line at the posted Stop Sign of the Off Ramp. I observed the vehicle make a left-hand turn onto Old Allatoona Road SE . I then completed a U-turn and caught up to the vehicle at the Traffic Signal at Old Allatoona Road SE and the I-75 N/B Off Ramp. I observed this vehicle bearing a GA Tag #[REDACTED] continue onto Old Allatoona Road SE. After observing the vehicle fail to maintain its lane of travel on Old Allatoona Road SE near Keeling Mountain Road, I initiated a traffic stop.

I then made contact with the driver, Melissa Doehring. I explained my reason for stopping Melissa and requested her driver’s license and insurance. During our initial contact, I detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Melissa’s vehicle. I also observed Melissa’s speech to be slurred and her reaction times to be delayed. I asked Melissa if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages, to which she advised she had consumed one. I asked Melissa to exit her vehicle and to complete some Field Sobriety Exercises to ensure she was safe to drive. Melissa agreed to participate in the Field Sobriety Exercises.

I asked Melissa if she had any issues with her eyes or if she wore contacts or glasses. Melissa advised she wore glasses but did not have them with her. I provided Melissa with the instructions for the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Evaluation. Melissa advised she understood the instructions for the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Evaluation. I observed Melissa’s eyes to be tracking equally and to have equal pupil size in the two qualifying passes. I then continued with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Evaluation. I observed one in Melissa’s left and right eyes in the lack of smooth pursuit portion of the evaluation.

I observed one clue in Melissa’s left and right eyes in the distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation portion of the evaluation. I observed one clue in Melissa’s left and right eyes during the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees portion of the evaluation. I also observed Melissa as having Vertical Nystagmus. I observed a total of 6 out of 6 clues in the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Evaluation. It should be noted that

I asked Melissa if she had any medical conditions that would keep her from walking in a straight line or standing on one leg. Melissa advised that she did not think she could complete the walk-and-turn or the one-leg stand due to having plantar fasciitis. I did not have Melissa complete these evaluations.

I provided Melissa instructions for the Lack of Convergence portion of the ARIDE testing battery. Melissa advised she understood the instructions. During the Lack of Convergence testing, I did not observe Melissa’s eyes converge normally.

I requested Melissa provide a preliminary breath sample, which she agreed to do. I was given a positive alert to alcohol (.181). Given all the observations and indicators of impairment, I placed Melissa under arrest for DUI. The Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects aged 21 or older to Melissa, and she agreed to provide a sample of her blood. An assisting officer requested a wrecker be en route to remove Melissa’s vehicle from the roadway. This officer completed the paperwork and impounded Melissa’s vehicle, and the vehicle was removed by Wayne Martin’s Towing.

I then transported Melissa to the Cartersville Piedmont Hospital for a blood draw. A blood draw was completed at 2236 hours on 07/18/26. I then transported Melissa to the Bartow County Jail without further incident.

Melissa was issued three citations: DUI, Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, and Failure to Maintain Lane. The GBI Blood Test Kit was placed into evidence locker #011 at the Emerson Police Department and GBI DOFS Toxicology request was completed.

It should be noted that after leaving the jail, I observed my body-worn camera displaying an error message after docking it at the police department; a video was not uploaded of this incident for the body-worn camera. A dash camera video was uploaded, and the connected mic pack was worn for this incident and is able to be heard clearly.

[End of Narrative]