The 40-year-old suspect, who beat police officer from Jacksonville at a Walmart store, found and arrested, report
When the police officer got to the Walmart on Phillips Highway, she saw the person suspected of stealing as he was walking away. As they were talking, the suspect, 40-year-old Joseph Merrill, hit her in the face and knocked her to the ground.
JSO says that Merill then got on top of her and hit her until a second officer came.
Merill then tried to get away, but he was caught after a short chase. When he ran away, he left a blue duffle bag on the side of the road. It was full of things he had stolen. According to the incident report, the value of the goods was $176.45.
The officer was taken to the hospital quickly, but his injuries were not so bad that they would kill him.
“I’m thinking about and praying for our officer. This is one of those sad events that reminds all of us in law enforcement that the job we chose to do can be dangerous. I’d like to thank both the police and the people who helped the officer. Sheriff T.K. Waters said, “Thanks to them, this violent suspect will now have his day in court to explain what he did.”
