Cop “Dunks” Drunk Guy, Lies About it, Gets Arrested

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The Misguided Arrest: A Story of Power, Mistakes, and Accountability

It was a routine night for Deputy William Woods. A seasoned officer with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, Woods had seen his fair share of DUI arrests and drunk drivers. On this particular evening, he was assigned to respond to a report of an intoxicated man in a truck at the Amelia Hotel by the Sea on Amelia Island, located near the Georgia-Florida border.

Tyler Merritt, a man from Georgia, had been drinking heavily at the Hammerhead Bar, and now he was sitting in his truck, in no condition to drive. His wife had already left, and he was reportedly sitting there waiting to get his debit card back from the bar staff, who had somehow kept it when he went to pay for his drinks. When Woods arrived, he saw Merritt sitting in his truck, intoxicated but seemingly harmless.

The scene started off like many others, with Woods calmly approaching the truck and talking to Merritt. It was clear from the beginning that Tyler was heavily intoxicated, but he wasn’t resisting arrest or acting aggressively. Still, Deputy Woods was determined to do his job and conduct a DUI investigation. This would be the beginning of a night that would alter the course of his career, and ultimately, his life.

The First Moments of the Arrest

The interaction between Deputy Woods and Tyler Merritt began with the usual exchange of pleasantries and questions. Woods asked Merritt about his drinking, and Tyler, who was clearly struggling to hold it together, rambled about his wife, his job, and his family.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, one being completely sober, 10 being blackout drunk, how would you rate yourself right now?” Woods asked, trying to gauge the severity of Merritt’s impairment.

Merritt responded with a strange and disjointed answer: “My mama was smoking crack… I’m You damn right. Do you lie?”

It was clear from Merritt’s speech that he wasn’t in a condition to drive. But rather than being combative, Merritt seemed confused and frustrated, his thoughts bouncing between his wife leaving him at the bar, his financial success, and his troubles with the bouncers. At one point, he told Woods that he made $100,000 a year, only to later correct himself, admitting he actually earned much less. Woods, still patient, continued his line of questioning, trying to focus on the task at hand: assessing Merritt’s impairment.

The Escalation

As the conversation continued, Woods attempted to conduct a field sobriety test on Merritt, who was clearly too drunk to follow the instructions properly. Merritt stumbled and slurred his words, his movements unsteady. He could barely stand up straight, let alone perform the delicate tasks required in a field sobriety test. Woods could have chosen to let Merritt go, but as a DUI investigator, he was committed to doing his job.

What happened next would set off a chain of events that would destroy Woods’ career.

Merritt, in his confused state, began to headbutt the window of the police truck. The officer’s body cam footage captured the exact moment: Woods, hearing the banging noise, immediately approached the truck. He opened the door, and in a violent motion, yanked Merritt out of the vehicle, still handcuffed, sending him headfirst onto the concrete.

The impact knocked Merritt unconscious, and he lay there, motionless, for several minutes. The other officers on the scene, along with the public, were now watching in disbelief. Merritt’s wife and nephew, who had arrived at the scene, could only stare in horror as the situation unfolded.

The Aftermath

What should have been a straightforward DUI arrest had now spiraled into something much darker. Merritt was unconscious, his body limp as paramedics arrived on the scene. Deputy Woods, though, seemed unfazed by the consequences of his actions. He continued talking about the situation, telling his colleagues that he had used force to subdue Merritt after he tried to headbutt the window.

“Yeah, he’s fine. He’s breathing. He just lost consciousness for about two minutes,” Woods said, trying to justify his use of force.

The officers on the scene quickly realized that something was terribly wrong. They had seen the footage, and it was clear that Woods’ actions were excessive. The situation went from a standard DUI arrest to a case of police brutality.

What followed was a cover-up. Woods and the other officers involved in the arrest submitted false reports, claiming that Merritt had been resisting arrest and that his head had hit the concrete during a struggle. The truth, however, was very different.

The Investigation

As with most incidents like this, the truth eventually comes to light. Two months after the arrest, the Office of the Public Defender, who was representing Tyler Merritt, reviewed the body cam footage and sent it to the state’s attorney’s office. They recognized the excessive force used by Deputy Woods and decided to take action.

The footage clearly contradicted the reports written by Woods and the other officers. It showed Merritt being violently yanked from the truck, his head slamming into the concrete, causing him to lose consciousness. There was no struggle, no resistance, and no justification for the force used. Woods had gone too far.

The investigation into the incident quickly picked up pace. Deputy Woods was placed on suspension, and by September 2025, he was arrested and charged with official misconduct and battery. The video, now public, was damning. It was clear that Woods had overstepped his bounds, and the cover-up attempts only made matters worse.

The Fallout

Woods’ termination from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was swift. His career, once built on hard work and a niche in DUI investigations, came crashing down in an instant. He had been praised for his dedication to his job and even received an award from the sheriff for his work in DUI enforcement. But now, his name was synonymous with excessive force and police misconduct.

The fallout was also significant for the sheriff’s office. The failure of the other officers at the scene to report the excessive force, along with the false reports they submitted, highlighted a culture of silence and complicity within the department. It wasn’t until Tyler’s public defender stepped in that the truth came to light, and justice began to take shape.

The Legal Consequences

In the end, Deputy Woods was not only fired but also criminally charged. His trial date was set for June of the following year, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March. His life, once full of promise and accolades, had been reduced to a criminal case. The charges against him—official misconduct and battery—were serious, and the evidence against him was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Tyler Merritt, the man who had been subjected to the excessive force, was charged with DUI. However, the charges of obstructing an officer without violence and careless driving were dismissed. Merritt had his own legal battles to fight, but at least he had the comfort of knowing that the officer responsible for his injuries would be held accountable.

The Bigger Picture

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the consequences of police brutality. It’s one thing for officers to make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but it’s entirely another when they attempt to cover up their actions and protect one another from the consequences.

Deputy Woods’ actions were not an isolated incident; they are part of a larger pattern of misconduct in police departments across the country. The cover-up, the false reports, and the failure to act by the other officers present that night show the systemic issues that persist within law enforcement. While some may argue that Woods acted out of frustration or a desire to control the situation, the fact remains that his actions were excessive and unjustified.

As for Tyler Merritt, his life was forever changed that night. He was lucky to survive the incident, but the trauma he endured at the hands of a public servant will never be forgotten. His case stands as a testament to the power of the public defender’s office and the importance of transparency in law enforcement.