Chad Lee Merriman

     A citizen tip this morning resulted in the quick arrest of 41 year old CHAD LEE MERRIMAN, who had a last known address of rural Mountain Home, after he had been published yesterday on the “Most Wanted” page of the Sheriff’s Office website.

    The Circuit Court had issued a warrant for the arrest of CHAD MERRIMAN on August 16th for  Residential Burglary and other charges following an investigation into an incident that happened in the early morning hours of August 15th.  Deputies had been dispatched to 29 Major Street in Norfork at 12:50 AM in response to an open line call received at the 911 call center from that address.   There is an order of protection in place prohibiting MERRIMAN from going to that residence.  He has reportedly violated the order numerous times, deputies have been called to the residence numerous times, and MERRIMAN has previously been arrested for doing so.  Deputies suspected again that the open line 911 call was an indication that MERRIMAN had come back to the residence.

     Upon arrival, deputies made verbal contact with MERRIMAN, who was hiding in the attic of the house.    Deputies heard a crashing noise. MERRIMAN had kicked out the wall of the attic, jumped to the ground, and then fled from the scene into the night.  Deputies searched for MERRIMAN, but he was not found at that time.

     The victim subsequently told deputies that MERRIMAN showed up at the residence around 12:30 in the morning.  She heard a knock on the door and saw MERRIMAN outside.  She then went to another room with the intention of calling 911 for help. MERRIMAN broke open the front door and made it into the room she had gone to 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.

     Today the Sheriff’s Office received a tip that CHAD MERRIMAN was at a residence in Izard County.  The Izard County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for assistance, and CHAD MERRIMAN was subsequently found and taken into custody in Izard County without incident.  He was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center where he has been booked on charges of:

Residential Burglary – Felony
Violation of an Order of Protection – Misdemeanor
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree – Misdemeanor
Fleeing from Officer – Misdemeanor

     Another warrant from the District Court was also outstanding for two misdemeanor counts of Violation of an Order of Protection and Fleeing.  That warrant had been issued in July.

   He is currently being held without bond on these charges pursuant to court order.  He will appear in the Circuit Court to answer on September 14th. MERRIMAN has 19 prior bookings in the Baxter County Detention Center alone since 1996, including five previous fleeing charges and also prior arrests for domestic battery and violating an order of protection.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff