In the winter of 2000, a tragic series of events unfolded in Coffee County, Georgia, culminating in the death of Staff Sergeant Clyde Almond 'Tub' Merritt, a ten-year veteran of the Coffee County Sheriff's Office. The incident began on January 3, 2000, when Broxton Police Officer James Bryant was dispatched to a property to assist with the eviction of a renter. Unbeknownst to the officer, the man being evicted had concealed a deer rifle in the woods behind his trailer in anticipation of law enforcement's arrival. As Officer Bryant approached, the man fled behind the trailer, and when Officer Bryant gave chase, he was ambushed and fatally shot.
Staff Sergeant Merritt, along with a Georgia State Patrol trooper, responded to the call for assistance following the shooting of Officer Bryant. Upon their arrival at the scene, they found Officer Bryant wounded and attempted a rescue. While the trooper tried to crawl to the downed officer, Staff Sergeant Merritt provided cover. It was during this heroic act that the suspect fired his rifle again, striking Staff Sergeant Merritt in the chest and killing him. The male suspect was later apprehended after a standoff with officers from several agencies who had surrounded the area.
Following an investigation, the suspect, then 55 years old, was arrested and charged with the murders of both Officer James Bryant and Staff Sergeant Clyde Merritt. On November 15, 2006, he was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. The court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the deaths of the two officers. Staff Sergeant Merritt was survived by his wife and three daughters.
