An Ozark County man with 14 previous arrests on his record in Missouri is behind bars again, this time for using a drone to stalk the children of a law enforcement officer who previously arrested him. Fifty-year-old Orval Donnie Merriman of Theodosia is facing two felony charges for his latest arrest.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened in May of last year when the children were playing on their property and a drone started flying overhead. They said it flew low enough, they thought it was going to hit them. It frightened them, so they ran into the woods to prevent it from striking them. Once their father returned home later that day, they told him about it.
Five months earlier, the father had arrested Merriman for trafficking narcotics and other charges after serving a search warrant. After that, Merriman was arrested several times and would curse the law enforcement officer during his arrests.
In October of 2024, Merriman was again arrested on drug charges and his phone was seized. A search warrant was executed on the phone and investigators found pictures of the victim’s house from the perspective of a drone in flight along with other photos of the victim’s house. They also discovered where he tried to sell the drone on eBay. Text messages were also uncovered making investigators believe Merriman was bragging about flying the drone over the victim’s house.
Merriman is facing felony charges of second degree stalking and first degree harassment. His bond is set at $10,000.
Of his previous 14 arrests, Merriman has 12 felony convictions in two states and six counties dating back to 1994. Those convictions include second degree burglary, aggravated stalking, possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture, unlawful possession of an illegal weapon, first degree endangering the welfare of a child, stealing animals, resisting arrest, first degree tampering with a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while driver’s license revoked, nonsupport (not paying child support) and felonious restraint.
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