Gwinnett Deputy Arrested for DUI

A Gwinnett County Sheriff’s deputy is on administrative leave following a June 26 arrest for driving under the influence.A Gwinnett County Police officer stopped Melvin Robinson Jr., 40, of Dacula, on Fence Road near Highway 316 after observing Robinson driving well below the posted limit, weaving, crossing a solid white line and nearly striking a curb.

According to the police report, a caller reported seeing a black GMC Denali drive in a circle on I-85 northbound, north of Pleasant Hill Road. The caller advised the vehicle was traveling very slowly and weaving “all over the road.” The caller provided police with the vehicle tag number. The tag number returned to a vehicle registered to Robinson. After seeing Robinson’s address on the registration information, a GCPD officer headed towards Dacula where he located the vehicle and conducted the traffic stop after observing Robinson’s driving.

When asked for his license, Robinson reportedly advised that he was a deputy and, when confronted about his driving, denied that he had been driving abnormally. In his report, the GCPD officer noted he could smell a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the driver.”

Robinson initially denied having anything to drink, but, according to the report, later admitted having one beer. When the GCPD officer asked Robinson if he was willing to undergo standardized field sobriety tests, Robinson allegedly replied, “Come on man” to which the officer replied, “If you really work for Gwinnett County, you know how we operate. There ain’t no ‘come on man’ in Gwinnett County.”

As a result of the field sobriety tests, the officer determined Robinson had been driving under the influence. An alco-sensor evaluation also indicated the presence of alcohol in Robinson’s system.

Robinson was placed under arrest and transported to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. The results of the state administered breath test indicated Robinson’s blood alcohol level was .167. Robinson was cited for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

According to Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Stacey Bourbonnais, Robinson has been placed in a non-law enforcement capacity pending an internal investigation.