Close Menu
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
What's Hot

CCA Lady Patriots open season with 9-1 win over Southland Academy Lady Raiders

August 3, 2025

Two fights allegedly break out at Baymeadows boat ramp on July 26, three arrested and jailed

August 2, 2025

Trojans eke by Purple Hurricanes in preseason scrimmage

August 1, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok
Trending
  • CCA Lady Patriots open season with 9-1 win over Southland Academy Lady Raiders
  • Two fights allegedly break out at Baymeadows boat ramp on July 26, three arrested and jailed
  • Trojans eke by Purple Hurricanes in preseason scrimmage
  • DPD officer hears woman screaming on East College Park Drive, makes arrest on drug charges
  • Two charged with DUI following three-car accident on Willacoochee Highway
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok Pinterest
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Douglas NowDouglas Now
Home»News»23 years later: Remembering officers Tub Merritt and James Bryant
News

23 years later: Remembering officers Tub Merritt and James Bryant

Kristen KitchensBy Kristen KitchensJanuary 3, 2023160 Views
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Submitted photos
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link

On this day twenty-three years ago, two local law enforcement officers lost their lives when a 55-year-old man ambushed and fatally shot them while on duty.

 

 

On January 3, 2000, Broxton patrol officer James Bryant, 35, was dispatched to assist a property owner in removing a trailer from his property on the north side of Broxton. Willie Mitchell, known as a “recluse and hermit,” was living in the mobile home at the time.

 

 

Mitchell hid a high-powered rifle in the woods behind the trailer before Bryant, and other officers arrived, according to the evidence presented during his trial. When Bryant arrived, Mitchell dashed into the woods, retrieved the gun, and shot Bryant in the head and both arms. Staff Sgt. Clyde Almond “Tub” Merritt of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol trooper Lisa Stocks arrived to assist.

 

 

Sgt. Merritt provided cover for Stocks as she attempted to crawl to Bryant after he had been shot. Mitchell then opened fire at Sgt. Merritt, fatally shooting him in the chest.

 

 

Mitchell remained in the woods with his weapons for some time as local law enforcement and officers from all local agencies surrounded the property. He was eventually apprehended and arrested on various charges, including two counts of malice murder.

 

 

In November 2006, Mitchell was found guilty of the charges by a Ware County jury. 

 

 

Following his conviction, Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

 

 

Sgt. Merritt had worked as an employee with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office for ten years. He shared three daughters with his wife.

Broxton, Georgia Clyde Almond Coffee County Sheriff's Office end of watch fatal officer shooting Georgia State Patrol James Bryant Lisa Stocks Willie Mitchell
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link
Douglas Now Profile Pic
Kristen Kitchens

Related Posts

CCA Lady Patriots open season with 9-1 win over Southland Academy Lady Raiders

August 3, 2025

Pamela Howell, 70

August 2, 2025

Two fights allegedly break out at Baymeadows boat ramp on July 26, three arrested and jailed

August 2, 2025

Comments are closed.

Top Posts

Convicted child molester allegedly gets drunk, lends truck to girlfriend, forgets and reports it stolen, then gets arrested for failure to register

February 19, 202572,509 Views

18 bodies in various states of decomposition found at funeral home during eviction process

October 27, 202465,991 Views

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

November 11, 202445,170 Views

Three dozen defendants indicted in major South Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy

January 30, 202537,702 Views
RSS Latest Headlines from Fox News
  • Senate drives off for recess, leaving Trump’s 150+ stalled confirmations in its wake
  • Yankees manager Aaron Boone defends players after Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez criticism
  • Microsoft SharePoint bug puts critical government agencies at risk
  • FCC seeks to shift power from national programmers to local broadcasters in public interest push
  • ‘King of the Hill’ co-creator says Hollywood often treats southerners ‘as a sort of caricature’
Follow us on Social Media!
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
© 2025 DouglasNow. All Rights Reserved.

Newell Media

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.