The Texas Rangers will investigate a Tuesday incident that occurred at the Scurry County Courthouse.
Sheriff Trey Wilson said he forwarded an assault complaint filed by Gayle Summers, who was allegedly shoved by Scurry County Pct. 2 Commissioner Craig Merritt, to the state agency on Thursday. Summers filed an assault complaint with the Scurry County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon.
The incident followed a Hermleigh Water Works board of directors meeting. The Scurry County Commissioners’ Court makes up the Hermleigh Water Works board.
After the meeting had officially adjourned, Summers and Merritt began exchanging words.
Summers had wanted to address the board about concerns she had with the county, but County Judge Dan Hicks said that since the comments did not involve Hermleigh Water Works, Summers would not be allowed to speak and adjourned the meeting.
Summers and Merritt then exchanged words over Summers’ accusation that Merritt had broken promises he made to voters when he ran for office.
Merritt took exception to the accusations and the two drew close to each other before agreeing to discuss the matter further in Merritt’s office.
Shortly afterward, the two once again got into a heated discussion at the doorway of Merritt’s second floor office in the Scurry County Courthouse.
After Summers repeated her accusation, Merritt said, “Don’t call me a liar,” approached Summers and shoved her back into the hallway, according to an eyewitness.
The pair was separated for a brief period, with Merritt going into his office and Summers sitting on a bench in the hallway outside. Finally, with Sheila Eckert acting as a witness, Summers and Merritt resumed their conversation, minus any noticeable heated words, in his office.
Due to the location of the camera, video surveillance of the incident does not show Merritt making contact with Summers. It does show her in the doorway of his office and suddenly moving back a foot or two.
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