Arrest made in Izard County for local man who hid in attic

news-update-8

A citizen tip has led to the quick arrest of a rural Mountain Home man who has 19 prior bookings in the Baxter County Detention Center since 1996. Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says 41-year-old Chad Lee Merriman was arrested Thursday morning in Izard County after he had been published Wednesday on the Baxter County Sheriff’s Most Wanted website.
Sheriff Montgomery says a warrant for Merriman’s arrest was issued for residential burglary and other charges following an investigation into an early morning incident Tuesday. Deputies were dispatched to 29 Major Street in Norfork in response to an open line call received at the 911 center from that address.Sheriff Montgomery says there is an order of protection prohibiting Merriman from going to the Norfork residence. Merriman has reportedly violated the order numerous times, with deputies being called to the residence previously and arresting him. Deputies suspected the open line 911 call was an indication that Merriman had come back to the residence again.The victim told deputies she heard a knock at the door and saw Merriman outside. When she went to another room to call 911, Merriman broke open the front door and made it into the room where she was before she could dial 911. Merriman was carrying a stick and approached the victim in an aggressive manner. During this time, she was able to dial 911 on her phone, but could not verbally communicate with the 911 operator.

When officers arrived at the scene, the victim unlocked the front door and said in a whisper that Merriman was hiding in the attic.

With one officer watching the attic opening, the second called to Merriman outside the residence through the ceiling of the front porch. Merriman agreed to exit the attic. But while one officer was waiting at the opening, he heard a crashing noise right above from Merriman kicking out the wall of the attic and jumping to the ground.   The second officer ran around the house in time to see Merriman running into the woods. Officers pursued Merriman, but were not successful in capturing him.

On Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Merriman was at an Izard County residence. With assistance from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office, he was located and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center where he has been booked on a felony charge of residential burglary and three misdemeanor offenses.

Merriman is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court on September 14th. Merriman’s prior offenses include five previous fleeing charges and arrests for domestic battery and violating an order of protection.

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