YCSO involved in Graham shooting incident

A traffic stop turned into a sheriff’s office shooting incident last month in the 1200 block of 4th St. in Graham. The incident took place Dec. 28, around 9:45 p.m.

A release from the Young County Sheriff’s Office states Jimmy Ray Earl Merrifield, 45, of Gainesville, refused an order to step out of a vehicle, identified as a 2009 silver Chevrolet Silverado by the Graham Police Department. The release states Merrifield drove off, nearly striking the deputy in the process.

Deputy Joshua Gallardo was identified in the GPD incident report as the deputy attempting to pull Merrifield from the vehicle. Sgt. Christopher Post of the Graham Police Department wrote that it was confirmed to him by Deputy David Crouch, who fired his service weapon at Merrifield, after believing that Merrifield struck Gallardo with his vehicle. Merrifield fled from the scene and was later found at the Valero gas station located at 1000 Indiana St.

For the rest of the story, see the Jan. 16 edition of The Graham Leader.