Algonquin police sergeant charged with domestic battery

A veteran Algonquin police sergeant is on paid leave following his arrest earlier this week on allegations he struck his wife during a dispute at the couple's home, officials said Friday morning.

Sgt. Wade A. Merritt, 46, of Crystal Lake, was arrested about 10 p.m. Wednesday by McHenry County Sheriff's deputies on a charge of domestic battery.

A criminal complaint filed Thursday states Merritt "smacked (the victim) in the head, specifically the area around the left ear, knocking her to the ground."

Merritt spent Wednesday night in the McHenry County jail and posted $150 bond after a court appearance Thursday morning. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Algonquin Deputy Police Chief Ed Urban said the department will await full police reports and other information before deciding what to do next.

"Once we see all the official documents, we'll go from there and take the appropriate action," he said. "Fortunately, this isn't something we've had to deal with before."

As a result of his arrest, Merrit was required to surrender his firearm.

Merritt has been with the department for 22 years and currently serves in its traffic unit, Urban said.

Sheriff Keith Nygren said deputies were called to Merritt's home Wednesday night and found probable cause that a domestic battery had occurred.

"At that point we're required to make an arrest," Nygren said. "He was treated like anyone else would have been treated. We follow the law, and it doesn't matter what a person's vocation is."

Merritt is scheduled to return to court March 25 before McHenry County Judge Gordon Graham.