Man who wrestled deputy's gun away and tried to kill him sentenced to Life in prison - Larry Basford

Former BCSO Inv. Dakota Merritt, left, watches bodycam footage during the trial of Michael Barrett, far right, who was found guilty of trying to kill the investigator and sentenced to Life in prison.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet, right, and former Inv. Dakota Merritt examine his holstered weapon during trial.

A man who wrestled a gun from a deputy investigating a jewelry theft and tried to shoot him is awaiting transfer to state prison where he has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Michael Caleb Barrett, 40, a transient, was found guilty May 31 of Attempted 1^st Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Depriving an Officer of Means of Communication. Circuit Court Judge Timothy Register Monday sentenced Barrett to Life.

Michael Caleb Barrett (left to right, top to bottom), at the time of his arrest, during his May trial with his attorney, and at sentencing Monday.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet presented the case, which resulted in a guilty verdict in about 90 minutes.

“Law enforcement and their families risk so much every single day,” Overstreet said. “This verdict will remind those who try to harm our law enforcement officers that we will aggressively prosecute these cases and seek the mandatory life sentences they deserve. And it will remind our officers that this community supports them.”

Former Bay County Sheriff’s Office Inv. Dakota Merritt was investigating a jewelry theft April 29, 2021. He received information the defendant, a suspect in the case, was outside near the Bay County Library and headed there even though his shift was minutes away from ending.

Overstreet presented testimony and witnesses proving Merritt found the defendant, identified himself as a deputy, and the defendant reached into his pocket and refused commands to stop. A struggle ensued and the defendant gained control of Merritt’s weapon, striking the investigator in the face. Bloodied, Merritt testified he held onto the slide of the gun as the struggle continued and a bullet was fired beside his face.

Merritt, who suffered a severely broken nose and orbital socket around his eye, was able to regain control of the gun and the defendant was shot once in the shoulder.

BCSO Cpl. Jacob McGowin spoke for Merritt, who retired a few months after the attack, at Monday’s sentencing. McGowin said Merritt was “put on this earth to be a cop,” and took every case seriously.

“He is more than a victim” in this case, McGowin told the court. “He is a survivor, a warrior, and a hero. He won a fight for his life that others wouldn’t have won.”

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office and the Panama City Police Department for their rapid response that day, and for the thorough investigation conducted with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.