CHICAGO, June 21, 2014 - A picture can tell a thousand words, however in the saga of Jeremy Meeks, those words are not quite true.
On June 18, 2014 the Stockton Police Department shows Jeremy Meeks, 30, who was one of four men arrested Wednesday in raids in Stockton, California. Meeks booking photo shows a pensive, full lipped, ice blue eyed man, with head tilted in a come hither my dear pose.
The cameraperson taking those booking shots needs to take their skills elsewhere. Because Meeks is not quite the good guy folks think he is.
Just ask his wife, who it is being reported, is quite furious over the fawning attention her ex is getting.
And the people of Stockton are not very pleased either. The city, located in Northern California, is the seat for San Joaquin County . With a population in 2012 of just under 300,000 Stockton is a small town and like many small towns has been effected by the recent economy and the 2008 subprime mortgage crises.
In July 2012, Stockton became the largest city in U.S. history to file for bankruptcy protection. The city approved a plan to exit bankruptcy in October.
A lovely city, Stockton is beset by some of the highest crime rates in the country. And Meeks was one of four men taken into custody during Operation Ceasefire. Operation Ceasefire is a 'multiagency mission to curb a recent increase in shootings and robberies in the Weston Ranch area of Stockton.'
Four firearms were confiscated during a sweep Wednesday involving the Stockton police gang unit, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Task Force and other agencies.
The Stockton Police have charged him with Street Terrorism, which is a gang related charge. When stopped by the police, the married 30-year-old dad was arrested on five weapons charges and one gang charge. During the search on his care cops found a 9mm round of ammunition and what they believe to be, but have not confirmed, as marijuana in his passenger compartment.
Meeks has a less than desirable rap sheet. Daily Mail reports that 'For a decade, he has been in and out of courtrooms in California and Washington for crimes including resisting arrest, faking his identity and grand theft, for which he served two years.'
The thousands words that Stockton may be using for Meeks include felon, gang member, 'street terrorist', criminal and maybe less PC terms like thug, bully, or Crip - as Meeks is reportedly a member of the feared gang.
In photos he shows gang tattoos, including the teardrop beneath his eye signifying that he has either a) killed someone, possibly as a revenge murder, b) signifies a 'hard life' or that the wearer has c) been made a 'prison wife.' The word 'Crip' on his forearm backup the Stockton Police assertation that he is a part of the Northside Gangster Crips.
CityData.com ranks Stockton, California as having the absolute highest crime related ratings for real crimes - not petty theft but gang related crimes like murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, and arson. The violent crime rate in Stockton is two to three times higher than that U.S. Average
Violent crime rate in 2012 Stockton: 857.6 U.S. Average: 214.0
Violent crime rate in 2011 Stockton: 778.5 U.S. Average: 214.1
Violent crime rate in 2010 Stockton: 763.3 U.S. Average: 223.2
Violent crime rate in 2009 Stockton: 691.1 U.S. Average: 238.0
Violent crime rate in 2008 Stockton: 799.5 U.S. Average: 252.4
Violent crime rate in 2007 Stockton: 771.3 U.S. Average: 259.7
Violent crime rate in 2006 Stockton: 808.4 U.S. Average: 264.1
Meeks has told ABC News10 in Stockton, California that he's 'not some kingpin' and that he's trying to clear his name.
'I appreciate (the attention), but I just want them to know that this really is not me,' Meeks said.
Younger brother Bryan Varela said Meeks is a changed man after his last prison stint. His mother, and the man himself, all claim his gang days are behind him and that this is all a misunderstanding. The guns were there for protection and they were just going to work.
'He's a man who learns from his mistakes,' Varela told CBS 13. 'With his past history, he got out of being incarcerated and put his mind on focus to his family and started doing what he had to do. Living the dream that he always wanted.'
Meeks' bail was raised to $1 million on Friday, CBS 13 reported. His arraignment is scheduled to continue on June 27.
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