Deputy sheriff accused of choking teen daughter

A Ferry County deputy sheriff and former Republic police chief is under arrest.

Nick Merritt – the police chief for more than six years before leaving a month ago to take a job with the sheriff’s office – was arrested Tuesday on a charge of felony second-degree assault for allegedly choking his 16-year-old daughter, authorities said Thursday. Merritt was also charged with interfering with reporting domestic violence.

The deputy and his wife have two biological children. Three foster kids have been removed from Merritt’s home.

According to a court document, Merritt denied he tried to choke his daughter, but admitted he put his hands on her neck after she referred to him in a profanely derogatory manner. The daughter ran from the family home after the ruckus, and stayed with a relative. Merritt slept near a tree in the yard.

Although it’s the first time 38-year-old Merritt has been arrested and jailed, it isn’t the first time he’s been in trouble.

He was suspended for 13 months in 2001 from his job as Republic police chief after he got drunk and fondled a woman at a bar in front of his wife. An officer took him home, but then saw the drunken chief again fondling the same woman later that night at a different bar. Police officers and witnesses said they’d seen Merritt drunk off and on the job.

The current investigation began with an anonymous tip to state Child Protective Services on Monday. The alleged assault occurred on Saturday. Washington State Patrol is investigating.

Merritt was booked into jail Tuesday but posted bail Thursday and was released pending further legal proceedings.

The state Department of Social and Health Services is conducting its own probe.

Merritt and his wife have been licensed foster parents since April 2006, said Karen Lee, a spokeswoman with the department. The state agency is determining whether the Merritts should be allowed to keep that license.

For now, “we felt it was better all around to remove the (foster) children and put them in another home,” Lee said.

It’s the second time there’s been a referral to the state about the couple.

“In August of 2007, we had a call about Mr. Merritt and the caller alleged a concern about his behavior around his biological children,” Lee said. “Our licensor investigated and did not find the complaint valid, and there were no foster children placed with the Merritts at that time.”

The Merritts did not return a phone call for comment.

While the three foster children were removed from the Merritt’s home following the recent assault charge, the couple’s biological children were not, officials said.

Merritt has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the current investigation, according to Ferry County Sheriff Pete Warner, who refused to comment about hiring the former police chief.

Though Merritt fulfilled the 13 conditions set by then-Republic Mayor Elbert Koontz, including proving he can shoot straight, no one reached at the Republic Police Department would speak about the former chief.

Nor would the former mayor comment. “I have absolutely no comment,” Koontz said.