22-year-old faces battery, possession, 3 other charges
A Wheeling man was accused of slapping an Alcohol Beverage Control Administration official and spitting on a cop on Saturday morning.
Malik Anthony Merrick, 22, was charged with battery on a government official, possession of a controlled substance, destruction of property, battery on a law enforcement official and obstructing an officer.
An officer with Morgantown Police Department saw someone, later identified as Merrick, push an ABCA official on Walnut Street about 2:45 a.m. Saturday, according to a criminal complaint. ABCA officials put Merrick on the ground and struggled with him until the MPD officer detained him, the complaint said.
Merrick was “highly intoxiciated” with red, glassy eyes, slurred speech and his breath smelled of alcohol, according to the complaint.
ABCA officials told the MPD officer Merrick slapped and pushed multiple ABCA personnel and one individual’s body camera fell to the ground, breaking, when Merrick shoved them, the complaint said.
Once at the city police station for processing, an officer searched Merrick and found a bag with 6.1 grams of marijuana, according to the complaint.
While in a cell at the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department on Walnut Street waiting to be arraigned, Merrick began banging on the door and screaming, the complaint said. He was told to calm down and be quiet, but didn’t comply and was moved to a padded cell.
Once in the padded cell, Merrick was told to get on his knees, but wouldn’t, according to the complaint. An MPD officer pushed on the back of Merrick’s knees to get him to kneel and placed him in a sitting position after he was shackled.
As the officer was standing over Merrick, the accused spit on the right side of the officer’s face, the complaint said.
Merrick is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
