By Samantha Sinclair
CNI News Service
Throughout his entire law enforcement career, Lavonia Police Officer Jonathan Merck has used handcuffs with SPC Daniel Lucas Elliott’s name inscribed on them.
The handcuffs once belonged to Elliott, who was a military police officer. Merck met him through their service in the U.S. Army.
“He was a soldier in my squad, and he was also my friend,” Merck said.
He said they had a lot in common, and were like brothers — they shared a very special bond. Elliott was from Franklin County, N.C., and the two had similar backgrounds and loved the outdoors.
In fact, they planned on going on a hunting trip with some of the guys when they returned from deployment.
Elliott was killed by an explosive device in Basrah, Iraq, on July 15, 2011, just three days before his 22nd birthday.
“He was a good man. I enjoyed his friendship, and I’m thankful for the time I did spend with him,” Merck said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him.”
Elliott’s mother, Patti, gave Merck his military utility belt. The handcuffs are something of Elliott’s that Merck carries with him every day.
When Gabrielle Beutler was determined to be lying about her veteran status, he made a simple request.
“Lucas was a real military police officer and was awarded a real Purple Heart,” Merck said. “I saw it only as fitting that a fake military police officer with a fake Purple Heart who never went to combat should have handcuffs placed on her belonging to someone who was a real hero and did things she claimed to have done.”
Elliott’s mother agreed, and Lavonia Capt. Joe Smith obliged.
Before Merck had to be in Ft. Bragg for his Army Reserves duties, he handed the cuffs over to Smith to use in Beutler’s arrest on Aug. 16 at the Lavonia VFW.
Beutler was arrested on charges of false statements and writings, false representation of a veteran and forgery.