Teen arrested again for breaking into cars | Crime

Less than three months after he was charged with breaking into several cars in a south Jonesboro neighborhood, 19-year-old Jayquan D. Meredith is back behind bars, charged with the same crime.

Meredith is accused of breaking into six cars early Saturday morning.  According to police, he stole several items, including a camera and a backpack containing bank papers and a check book, from five cars in the 1000-block of Haltom Street.  The other break-in occurred in the 600-block of East Oak.

According to Officer Heath Loggains initial report, while interviewing one of the alleged victims he noticed a woman walking her dog, which was “barking and attempting to pull her to the west side of the road.”

Officer Loggains said when he went to investigate he “observed a black male in all black moving on the ground, acting like he was passed out.” 

After placing the man in handcuffs, Officer Loggains asked him his name.  The suspect, who was later identified as Meredith, reportedly said he was another man known to Loggains.  When the officer said that was not his name, Meredith reportedly said his name was Jayquan Smith.  “I told him that he had a tattoo of a J and an M on each hand,” Loggains reported.  “He then looked at his hands, observing the tattoos.”

A search of his vehicle reportedly turned up a bag containing a pint of brandy, a pint of gin and four beer cans.

Loggains then arrested Meredith and took him to the Craighead County Detention Center.  During the ride, Officer Loggains said he observed Meredith “passed out in the rear of my patrol.”

At the jail, Meredith reportedly said he had not drunk anything; but said he “did take about 5 Hydros.”  According to Loggains’ report, Meredith measured a .16 on a breathalyzer test.

Meredith is charged with the following:

• Breaking or Entering/Articles from vehicle-felony
• Theft $1,000 or less from vehicle-Misdemeanor
• DWI/Drugs (unlawful act)-Misdemeanor
• Refusal to submit-Misdemeanor
• Obstructing governmental operations/Obstructs, impairs, hinders-Misdemeanor
• Driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked-Misdemeanor
• Purchase, possession of intoxicating liquor by minor-Misdemeanor
• Public intoxication-Misdemeanor
• Criminal trespass in or on a vehicle or structure/premises-Misdemeanor

This is the second time since May that Meredith has been arrested and charged with breaking or entering vehicles.

Jonesboro police say on May 23, Meredith and two others broke into several cars in the Sydney Cove area.