UPDATE: July 1st, 2015
WFAA reports on Grapevine Volleyball Coach Damian Merrick’s arrest for drugging and sexually assaulting a minor
June 26, 2015
As first reported on LNO May 27, 2015 Grapevine, Texas
Mr. Merrick apparently has gone on the Lam. Apparently a warrant was issued for his arrest that trumped the Charge of Distribution of Marijuana to a Juvenile to include Sexual Assault of a Child. Merrick has made the Grapevine PD TOP TEN WANTED LIST.
Grapevine Police arrested 48 year old Damian Merrick of 1076 Rosewood Drive, Grapevine, Texas on a Felony Second Degree Charge of distribution of Marijuana to a Juvenile. The alleged felony happend at 507 Landing Ct. in Grapevine from March 29, 2015 to April 03, 2015.
Merrick was arrested at 2100 W. NW Hwy.
A check of the Facebook Page for Mr. Merrick has numerous photos of young girls in volleyball attire.
The GrapevineVolleyball.com web site states:
“GVC is a family. Our teams are about cohesion and cooperation and only through respect, sportsmanship and dedication can we make that happen. We encourage our older athletes to help the younger athletes and ask they support and cheer for each other at every opportunity. Our coaches are dedicated to teaching the basic fundamentals and advanced techniques of the game of volleyball, as well as determined to help guide our athletes to being better people. We expect both our athletes and our coaches to constantly find ways to improve and grow. While we are aware of life outside of volleyball, we expect commitment from our athletes and parents, a commitment our director and coaches share.”
12 Comments
Ann
The information disclosed in your report is inaccurate and severely askew. Mr. Merrick is not currently in police custody. He is not, nor was he ever, “on the Lam” as is stated. A warrant’s existence could not be confirmed as it wasn’t entered into GPD’s system until after being told Mr. Merrick was working out of town. Once the warrant could be confirmed, GPD was informed of Mr. Merrick’s return schedule, including the day and time he would make himself available at the station. Mr. Merrick was able to return earlier than expected, and as such, he contacted GPD and voluntarily arrived at the station. As is the duty of a respected journalist, I trust that you will correct the misleading information appropriately.
Editor - Nelson Thibodeaux
Well our source has been right on everything regarding Mr. Merrick to date. Further, I suspect Mr. Merrick was aware of a charge involving sexual conduct with a minor along with the providing illegal substances.
Of course, Grapevine did put Mr. Merrick on the Top Ten Wanted, I suspect this would give anyone the distinct impression that Mr. Merrick was not being cooperative at the time.
Mason
I don’t understand how the author of this report tries to make a story within a story with the facebook comment. That’s horrible journalism. Of course he is going to have pictures of girls playing volleyball…he is a volleyball coach. It’s unfair but obviously you are the voice of the Grapevine police.
Mason Dougherty
Don Gibson
What planet are you on. This is a pedifile that has set up a business to groom victims. I think you are missing the point. This is a worst case scenario.
Don Gibson
Anthony
Where is Mr. Merrick now? Is he, in fact, in police custody?
Anthony
I checked with the Grapevine police and Mr. Merrick is NOT in police custody as of Sunday, June 28. He is evidently out on bond.
Susie
The information in this report is very accurate. Mr. Merrick was in police custody after he spoke with police and turned himself in. The police tried repeatedly to make contact with his family, they continued to refuse to talk to police and even fled their own home to avoid his arrest.
James Martinez
Ann, Horse crap and to the good folks out there reading this, please keep your children away from this guy. The Grapevine Police department and LNO are only publishing the facts to the matter.
andrew6969
I would be very, very careful referring to this ‘mom and pop’ operation, calling them journalists. More often than not, they include information that is incorrect, out of date or right out slanderous. I read this site often just so I can entertain myself. There are also more grammar and punctuation mistakes made. Perhaps these ‘journalists’ should brush up on their skills or get a new career. pritz@qualityservice.com
Editor - Nelson Thibodeaux
Well “Andrew6969” apparently is out to kill the messenger. He is obviously an English Professor critical of the LNO “grammar and punctuation mistakes,” however unable to keep from going to the site to be “entertained.”
As far as being careful about information not correct, LNO broke the story on Mr. Merrick first and as one will see in this column now; WFAA TV had a featured story Wednesday night June 30, 2015; so I suppose this is another mom and pop source calling themselves journalists.
Mr. Andrew6969, we are posting your comments, but next time please have the courage to include your name and a correct email so all of our readers can enjoy your comments, otherwise we can no longer post without the author taking credit.
Nelson Thibodeaux, Editor LNO
Jim Krenshaw
Thanks for getting the story out. Obviously this predator brainwashed more than just children. There should be a lot more to follow.
Carlene Altom
Thank you for reporting the truth! One of his victims that he hurt is someone I love. If I have my way, every news media source will be sharing this story. Keep digging…there is more… look into his 2012 allegations that happened in Colorado as well. This is not His first rodeo and we believe there are more than the 3 victims that have come forward. NOBODY in his family, including him would cooperate with the police even though they knew he had a warrant out for his arrest for the sexual assault charges. The call that came in just after 7 last friday…was music to our ears…yet we were just sick that he was allowed to bail out. Ann and any other supporter should be rejoicing that the public is being informed and that this site could possibly be the reason more victims come forward …which is the first step to becoming a survivor. These girl deserve to have our support..not the drug dealing pedophile.
Carlene Altom