Chad Merriman of Norfork who was accused of a number of crimes — including battery on a police officer, violation of a protective order and resisting arrest — pled guilty during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court to amended charges and was given five years probation.
Most of the charges against the 42-year-old Merriman were reduced to misdemeanors except a single count of possessing drug paraphernalia.
The other charges he faced included third degree battery, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, violating a protective order, criminal mischief and fleeing.
According to court records, Baxter County deputies responded to an “open line” 911 call to a residence along Major Street in Norfork June 27th of last year suspecting, based on other such similar calls from the residence, Merriman might be there or be attempting to gain entrance into the residence even though his presence would violate a protective order.
When deputies arrived, a female resident of the home told them Merriman was not only violating the protective order, but had an active warrant for his arrest as well.
She directed deputies to a bedroom where Merriman was sleeping. When officers woke Merriman, he stood up on the bed and refused to comply with the deputies’ commands, pepper spray was administered twice. Merriman then tried to punch a deputy. The deputy avoided being hit. Merriman grabbed the duty belt of one of the deputies. Another deputy began striking Merriman’s arms with a flashlight.
The deputies were eventually able to put Merriman in custody. One of the deputies suffered a large cut to the left side of his neck during the altercation.
Merriman said at one point he did not remember details of the scuffle. He said the officers “woke me up out of bed” startling him, and he fought back.
Deputies returned to the house August 15, 2107 after another 911 call was made by Merriman’s wife, Casey Merriman. When deputies arrived, Casey Merriman whispered to them her husband was hiding in the attic of the home.
After a time, Merriman agreed to come down from the attic. The deputies were waiting for him to make good on his promise when they heard a crashing sound. Deputies discovered Merriman had kicked out the wall of the attic, jumped to the ground and took off.
Deputies were unable to locate Merriman at that time.
Later, Merriman returned to the house and gained entry by breaking down the front door. At one point, Casey Merriman was able to make yet another 911 call to report her husband’s return. Merriman was eventually arrested and brought to the Baxter County Detention Center.
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