Chad Lee Merriman

     A Norfork man, 41 year old CHAD LEE MERRIMAN, was arrested early Tuesday morning, June 27th at a residence in Norfork after deputies were called there. MERRIMAN had outstanding arrest warrants and was violating an Order of Protection by being at the residence.

     Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the residence on Major Street at approximately 2:39 AM after being notified of an open line 911 call from there.  Recent calls from that address would indicate that CHAD MERRIMAN was either at the residence or trying to make entry into the residence.  Deputies have responded to this residence numerous times regarding MERRIMAN violating a protection order. 

     Deputies arrived and found CHAD MERRIMAN asleep.  There were already outstanding warrants for Violating an Order of Protection and for Fleeing from previous incidents.  Deputies made contact with MERRIMAN and informed him he was under arrest. MERRIMAN refused to comply with instructions and resisted the arrest.  Deputies deployed pepper spray in an effort to take MERRIMAN into custody.   While scuffling with deputies, MERRIMAN grabbed the duty belt of one of the officers. MERRIMAN was eventually subdued and taken into custody.  One deputy was injured in the scuffle, sustaining a large cut to his neck.

     Once MERRIMAN was arrested drug paraphernalia was found concealed on his person, including seven syringes and a spoon containing suspected methamphetamine residue. CHAD MERRIMAN is being held in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000 bond on charges of:

Battery in the Second Degree – Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Felony
Resisting Arrest – Misdemeanor
Violating an Order of Protection – Misdemeanor
Fleeing (3 counts) – Misdemeanors

     MERRIMAN is scheduled to appear in the Circuit Court to answer the charges from this incident on June 29th and will also appear on in District Court later on the misdemeanor warrants that were outstanding.  Records indicate that CHAD MERRIMAN has been booked into the Baxter County Jail a total of 19 times since 1996 on various charges.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff