State Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, was detained in July after Caddo Parish deputies found him behind the wheel of an SUV that was stuck in a ditch. No charges were filed after the incident was determined to be related to a medical issue, according to Melerine’s attorney.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. July 22 at Overton Brooks Road and Wallace Lake Road. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a vehicle in a ditch and a driver who might be impaired.
When deputies arrived, they found Melerine behind the wheel of a Ford SUV. The vehicle’s rear tire was spinning. Deputies repeatedly asked Melerine to exit the vehicle, and he eventually complied.
Deputy Jessica Benevage reported that Melerine was unsteady on his feet and appeared confused. She said his answers to her questions were brief and often unrelated.
At one point, Melerine reportedly told deputies there were five other people in the SUV. Deputies found no passengers.
Benevage wrote that Melerine appeared to be hallucinating. She asked whether he had any medical conditions, but he did not provide a clear answer. He was able to identify himself but could not tell deputies where he had been or where he was going.
Another deputy noticed Melerine’s state representative license plate and ran the vehicle information.
Cpl. Steven Notarianni later arrived and continued the investigation. He reported that Melerine did not answer when asked whether he had been drinking. Deputies also found no alcoholic beverage containers inside the SUV.
Notarianni wrote that Melerine’s behavior led him to believe he could be under the influence of a “mind-altering substance.” He asked Melerine to perform field sobriety tests, but Melerine did not respond.
When Melerine did not immediately follow an order to place his hands behind his back, Notarianni and another deputy handcuffed him.
Rather than taking Melerine to jail, Notarianni arranged for Caddo Fire District 6 personnel to conduct a medical assessment at the sheriff’s office substation.
During the assessment, Melerine reportedly told medical personnel that he had not eaten in three days and had not consumed any liquids in two days. He also said he had taken a GLP-1 injection the previous day.
Medical personnel determined Melerine was dehydrated and transported him to Willis-Knighton South for treatment.
Attorney Says Medical Issue Caused Disorientation
Melerine’s attorney, Eric Johnson, said the incident was the result of dehydration, lack of food and a reaction to a GLP-1 medication Melerine had recently started taking.
Johnson said Melerine had been traveling to Baton Rouge and back that day and had gotten little sleep. He said Melerine’s wife was concerned that he might be experiencing an adverse reaction to the medication.
Johnson also said a rock struck Melerine’s windshield, startling him and causing the SUV to leave the roadway.
According to Johnson, the deputies involved ultimately determined that Melerine’s condition was medical rather than alcohol-related and decided not to file charges.
Melerine was released from the hospital and is doing well, Johnson said.
The sheriff’s office did not arrest or charge Melerine with DWI or any other offense stemming from the July 22 incident.