Chad Merriman of Norfork, who is accused of a number of crimes, including battery on a police officer, violation of a protective order and resisting arrest, made a first appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday and entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him.
Baxter County deputies responded to an “open line” 9-1-1 call from a residence on Major Street in Norfork on June 27th suspecting that, based on other similar calls from the residence, that the 41-year-old Merriman might be there or attempting to get into the residence even though his presence on the property represented a violation of an active order of protection.
When deputies arrived, a female resident of the home told them that Merriman was not only violating the protective order, but had an active warrant for his arrest as well.
She directed the deputies to a bedroom in which Merriman was sleeping. When officers awoke Merriman, he abruptly stood up in the bed. Merriman refused to comply with the deputies’ commands and pepper spray was administered twice. Merriman remained combative, trying to punch a deputy. The deputy avoided being hit, grabbed Merriman by the waist and a scuffle broke out in the small room.
During the altercation, Merriman grabbed the duty belt of one of the deputies. Another deputy began striking Merriman’s arm with a flashlight. The deputies were eventually able to take Merriman into custody. One of the deputies suffered a large cut on the left side of his neck during the altercation.
During his brief court appearance Thursday, Merriman said he did not remember details of the scuffle. He said the deputies “woke me up out of bed” which had startled him.
Merriman is due to reappear in Circuit Court July 6th. His bond is set at $10,000.
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