Casey Merritt

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Name:
Merritt, Casey Lamar

Date of Booking:
08/09/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES

RECEIPT, POSSESSION OR TRANSFER OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON OR FELONY FIRST OFFENDER

POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, OR SALE OF LOW THC OIL LESS THAN 20 FL OZ

MARIJUANA-POSSESS LESS THAN 1 OZ.

PURCHASE, POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, OR SALE OF MARIJUANA

POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUG RELATED OBJECTS

OPEN CONTAINER

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE SUBSTANCES

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On August 8, 2026, at approximately 2300 hours, dispatch issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a reckless driving entering Oconee County from Walton County on Highway 78 Eastbound. The caller advised there was a grey passenger vehicle failing to maintain lane by leaving the roadway, driving in the grass/shoulder, in between both lanes of traveling, speeding up and slowing down. Active updates of the current location were given out.

During this time, the caller provided dispatch of the tag that was displayed on the rear of the vehicle in question, [REDACTED] (GA tag). I located the vehicle driving on Highway 78 near Highway 316, and conducted a traffic stop, in my marked patrol vehicle, based on the testimony of the complainant.

I approached the driver’s window announcing myself as law enforcement. I advised the reason for the traffic stop, and the driver, Casey Merritt, advised he had been using his phone while driving which was causing him to swerve. This statement from Merritt, confirmed the observations described by the original caller. While speaking with Merritt, I observed his eyes to be red, bloodshot, and watery. When asked, Merritt advised he would complete Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST). He was asked from the vehicle.

**Note: While speaking with Merritt at the driver’s window, the odors inside the vehicle were being masked by an extremely strong odor of fragrance, as if a new air freshener had been opened.**

Upon exiting, Merritt gave consent to the search of his person. Nothing was located. I conducted SFST’s and the results are listed below.

Prior to beginning SFST, Merritt admitted to having consumed half of an alcoholic beverage a few hours prior to being stopped.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN): 6 out of 6 clues
-lack of smooth pursuit (2 clues, one for each eye)
-distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation (2 clues, one for each eye)
-onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees (nystagmus observed at approximately 40 degrees)
-vertical nystagmus present in both eyes
**While completing HGN, and standing so close to Merritt, I smelled a faint odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.

Walk and Turn (instructions demonstrated): 4 out of 8 clues
-cannot balance during instructional phase (moved his feet from the starting position, and lost balance several times)
-steps off of the line
-improper turn (lost his balance and did not plant the front foot as instructed.)
-uses arms for balance
**I had to explain the instructions a second time, but did not demonstrate them.

One-Leg Stand (instructions demonstrated): 2 out of 4 clues
-swaying
-using arms to balance

After completing SFST, I began Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) testing. The results are below.
Modified Romberg Balance Test:
-27 seconds passed when Merritt stated he was finished
-eyelid tremors were present in both eyes

Finger To Nose Test:
-eyelid tremors present in both eyes
-Merritt missed the tip of his nose 4 out of 6 times he was asked to touch the tip of his nose

Lack of Convergence Test:
-lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes
-lack of convergence twice in both eyes

After SFST, Merritt provided a breath sample into the department issued PBT and the results were positive for alcohol on the breath and displayed the number 0.064. When asked, Merritt stated that he did smoke marijuana, but it was yesterday. He also stated he used THC vape cartridges, but it had not been today.

Merritt was placed under arrest. He was handcuffed behind the back. The handcuffs were checked for fit and double locked. He was searched and placed into the rear of my patrol vehicle. I read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or over, and Merritt verbally refused to provided blood for chemical testing.

A search of the vehicle was completed for any evidence of intoxicants. Under the front passenger seat, Cpl. Mattocks located a Jack Daniel’s watermelon flavored alcoholic beverage that was opened, partially empty, and cold to the touch. A photo was documented and attached to the report. I also located 5 other bottles of the same beverage, that were unopened. In the front seat there were two, unopened, Michelob Ultra beer cans.

While searching for intoxicants, I smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. However, it was a faint odor, due to the overwhelming smell of air freshener. A search of the trunk was completed by Cpl. Mattocks. He located two bags with a green leafy substance inside (suspected Marijuana), a digital scale with drug/narcotic residue on it, and a few other empty plastic bags.

All of these items were in a larger zip pouch. The marijuana was approximately 23 grams, bagged weight. It was also packaged in preparation for sale. Also located in the trunk, Cpl. Mattocks located two THC vape smoking devices.

During the vehicle search, Cpl. Mattocks located a Glock 17 pistol (serial #ADDY830), and two loaded magazines. The serial number did not return as stolen through GCIC. However, a criminal history for Merritt was run by dispatch, and it was confirmed that Merritt was previously convicted of possession of a schedule IV substance (a felony charge) in the Superior Court of Newton County, Georgia on 7/13/2013.

All evidence located during this investigation was photographed, collected, and placed into evidence locker 10 at the sheriff’s office.

The on-call wrecker, Wilson’s Towing, was called to remove the vehicle from the scene.

Merritt was transported to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and charged for the following, DUI-multiple substances, possession of an open container, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of drug related objects, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during certain felonies, and possession of THC oil.

[End of Narrative]

All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.

Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Case History:

8/10/26

FIRST APPEARANCE HELD — BAIL INITIALLY DENIED, THEN SET AT $10,000

What this means: Casey Lamar Merritt appeared before Chief Magistrate Judge Richard F. Connelly Jr. in the Magistrate Court of Oconee County on August 10, 2026, at 11:27 a.m. under Case No. 202608000069. At first appearance, bail was initially denied. The court noted that Merritt was currently on probation in Newton County for DUI and possession of a controlled substance, and that a 2022 Butts County possession of controlled substance case was also a factor. The court also noted Merritt is charged with a felony. A subsequent bond determination, filed in the court record on August 23, 2026, reflects that bail was set at $10,000 good security, with a notation that it was amended on 8/23/26 due to a probation hold.

8/26/26

DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR CASEY LAMAR MERRITT

What this means: On August 26, 2026, Megan Dempsey, an Assistant Public Defender with Georgia Bar No. 437654, filed a formal Entry of Appearance in the Magistrate Court of Oconee County, officially becoming Casey Lamar Merritt’s attorney of record in Case No. MGWF2026000441. A copy was served electronically to the District Attorney’s office. This means Merritt now has appointed legal representation handling the case going forward.

10/9/26

MAGISTRATE COURT CALENDAR CALL SCHEDULED

What this means: A calendar call has been scheduled for October 9, 2026, in the Magistrate Court of Oconee County for Casey Lamar Merritt’s case. A calendar call is a routine court date where the judge checks the status of pending cases — confirming whether the case is ready to move forward, whether a plea is being considered, or whether a trial date needs to be set. No outcome is determined at a calendar call itself.