Willie Merrill

Willie Merrill was originally from Eufaula, Alabama. Merrill has an extensive criminal history; he was already a sex offender in Georgia before the Takedown incident. In 2002, Merrill was convicted of Statutory Rape and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes in Georgia, although the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that it was in 2005. In 2017, Merrill was arrested for soliciting a prostitute and failure to comply with his sex offender registration. In 2018, he was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender.

Due to Merrill's unpredictability, detectives arrested him in the parking lot of the hotel from his car. While being handcuffed on the ground, Merrill told deputies not to break his glasses and asked what he was being arrested for. He also accused deputies of harassing him while repeatedly requesting that a lawyer be present. While being led into the hotel, Merrill looked at the cameras and said, "This is what they do to people for no reason."

Described as "agitated and argumentative" by Chris Hansen , Merrill had to be pushed back into a chair after making a sudden movement to get out of it. Merrill requested that the officer's action be caught on film for his lawyer to see. He also threatened to sue both the State of Florida and Polk County. Despite repeatedly yelling that he had nothing to say, Merrill continued to speak, at one point asking deputies multiple times to hit him again. He also claimed that he "don't speak no English." Merrill asked what he was being arrested for, but after being told by deputies, he demanded that they not speak to him until his lawyer was present. Merrill denied attempting to meet a minor for sex.

Merrill refused to cooperate with a search of his person, requiring deputies to physically hold him up. While deputies were searching, Merrill accused them of planting money and a condom in his pockets. He also accused them of planting things in his hat and durag. Merrill stated, "Don't take my durag off. You just took it off. You violated my rights." He further accused deputies of choking him while they lightly touched the hood of his sweatshirt to search for contraband. During the search, it was discovered that Merrill had urinated on himself at some point. Merrill requested that he be allowed to call his brother.

When Chris was able to interview him, Merrill turned away and asked Chris whose side he was on. Merrill told Chris to get out of his face and stop harassing him. Merrill then refused to speak further with Chris through Chris' many questions. Merrill continued to deny having any intention to have sex with a minor, while deputies called him "sick." Merrill also claimed that deputies broke his leg when they removed him from his vehicle.

In exchange, the other charges were dropped. He was sentenced to 112.05 months (or 9 years and 4 months) in state prison, with credit for 547 days, followed by 10 years of probation. Merrill is scheduled to be released from prison on June 25, 2033.