Bio & Incident Details
Age: 53
Tour: 15 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 1/3/2000
Weapon: Rifle; .30-.30
Suspect: Committed
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Deputy "Tub" Merritt was shot and killed after responding to assist other officers. This incident occurred when Officer James Bryant of the Broxton Police Department had been shot and killed.
Deputy Merritt and a state trooper had arrived to offer assistance and were attempting to rescue Officer Bryant. As Deputy Merritt provided cover, the state trooper attempted to crawl to Officer Bryant. The suspect then shot Deputy Merritt in the chest with a rifle, killing him. The suspect was later arrested after being surrounded by officers from several agencies.
On February 11, 2005, the suspect was found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial and committed in a state mental institution.
Deputy Merritt had been employed with the Coffee County Sheriff's Department for ten years, and is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Related Line of Duty Deaths
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Patrol Officer James Clinton Bryant |
