Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Name:
Ronig, Melissa Catherine
Date of Booking:
06/03/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
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 June 2, 2026 I, DS Ball, was patrolling In Coweta County when clearing a traffic stop, I observed a grey passenger car with a broken passenger side window covered with tape and a broken passenger side mirror. I also observed its rear bumper had tape holding the rear bumper onto the vehicle. I activated my emergency equipment and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on the I85 S on ramp. I made a driver side approach due and advised the driver, later identified as Mrs. Melissa Ronig, of the reason for the stop.
While speaking with her I noticed she had blood shot watery eyes and seemed confused. I asked her about the damage to her vehicle and she stated she was in a car accident where the damage has not been fixed yet. I also smelled a moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle and asked her if she had consumed any alcohol to which she stated no. I asked her if she had any open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle, she stated no. I asked her where she was coming from and she stated she was coming from her job as a bartender. I had her step out of the car and asked her if she was willing to perform standard field sobriety tests to which she stated yes.
I asked her if she wore contacts or glasses to which she stated she was wearing soft contacts. I then asked her if she took any medications to which she stated no. I asked her if she consumed any narcotics or alcohol to which she stated no. I then asked her if she has diabetes to which she stated no and I asked if she ever been told by a doctor, she had nystagmus in her eyes to which she stated no and I asked her if she ever had a brain injury or concussion to which she stated no.
I then asked if she had any problems walking or standing I then placed her in the starting position for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) with her head in line with her spine and placed her feet together with her hands by her side. I then began checking for equal tracking and equal pupil size starting with the left eye which was observed and I also checked for resting nystagmus which was not observed.
I then checked for lack of smooth pursuit starting with the left eye and observed it in both eyes. I then checked for distinct and sustained nystagmus starting with the left eye and observed it in both eyes. I then checked for onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees starting with the left eye and I did not observe it in either eye. I then checked for vertical nystagmus and did not observe it in either eye. A total of 4/6 clues was observed during the test.
I then placed her in the starting position for the Walk and Turn Test (WAT) by aligning her on the fog line and placing her left foot on the line with her right foot in front of her left. I also advised her to place her hands by her side and not to move until instructed to do so to which she stated she understood. I then gave her the instructions for the test that she was to take 9 heel to toe steps along the fog line with her arms by her side and upon the 9th step leave her lead foot planted and take a series of small steps turning back around. She was then instructed she will take 9 heel to toe steps back and to not stop until she completed the test.
I asked her if she understood the instructions to which she stated she did. I had to place her back in the starting position observing she was unable to maintain her balance in the starting position. I then instructed her to begin and observed during the first 9 steps she used her arms for her balance and failed to make a proper turn by not making a series of small steps but abruptly turning around then stepping off line. She then stopped walking to ask instructions again and was instructed to follow the instructions as previously stated that she stated she understood. A total of 5/8 clues was observed during the test.
I then placed her in the starting position for the one leg stand test (OLS) by placing her feet together with her hands by her side and her head in line with her spine. I advised her to stay in this position until instructed to do otherwise to which she stated she understood. I then gave her the instructions to choose her left or right foot and lift that foot approximately 6 inches off the ground. I then instructed her to keep this foot off the ground with her legs straight, arms by her side and looking at her foot until instructed to stop.
I asked her if she understood the instructions to which she stated she did. She was then instructed to begin the test and using her left foot she swayed for balance, raised her arms more than 6 inches away from her body and put her foot down prior to being told to do so. A total of 3/4 clues was observed during the test.
I then asked her if she was willing to perform a preliminary breath test to which she agreed and the PBT showed positive for alcohol after multiple attempts and a quick capture was done. It showed a result of .082. I then placed her under arrest for DUI and placed her in the rear of my patrol vehicle. An inventory of the vehicle showed an unopened bottle of wine and an empty High Noon vodka seltzer can in her center console. I then read her implied consent over the age of 21 for blood to which she agreed. I then read her Miranda Rights to which she stated she understood. She was taken to CCFD station 1 where her blood was drawn by [REDACTED] CCFD.
She was then taken to Coweta County jail for DUI where she was turned over to jail staff without incident. Her Blood test kit was submitted into evidence to be sent to the GBI for DNA analysis. Deputies BWC was active and recording during the encounter. She was charged with OCGA 40-6- 391 DUI Alcohol.
[End of Narrative]