The problem with our "criminal justice system" is we have a "FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE!" Part of that failure is from the system itself. We do a miserable job of modifying thuggish behavior. I'm saying "we" because I cannot point to just one piece of the system that is causing this problem. I can say the police are not a party to this offense though. Unfortunately, we have been told to fish all we want, but it's catch-and-release - we catch and they release! Wheeling and dealing so they can move cases, wheeling and dealing so they can get people out of jail, who REALLY need to be IN jail, wheeling and dealing so the prisons can be emptied out with the change of each season is reinforcing bad behavior in our criminals.
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From the Commercial Appeal -
I was thinking I would try to focus on thugs who have outstanding warrants, and if they were also gangsters, that would be icing on the cake, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.... This week's thug raised his hand and screamed at me, begging to be featured for his 43 arrests, and particularly his most recent.
Jerry Roark is a m/w, approximately 41 years old, (he shares a birthday with Bret Favre!) who is just trying to scrape a few coins together. It seems Jerry just never got the message - run with vultures, be a vulture, fly with eagles, be an eagle. It's syllogistic in it's simplicity. I understand that young people (under 30) think they are invincible, I know I was - all the way up to age 35. However, what I don't get, is how people can look at those who are crack addicts, meth heads, etc. and say, "I want to be like that!"
I will give this to Jerry though, he is as persistent as Brett Favre, though I don't think he's ever scored.
Most of the times Jerry has been arrested he listed an address in the Coro Lake area of Memphis - way down in SouthWest Memphis. So, if you happen to live close by, you might want to keep an eye out for good ol' Jer. Another note of interest is that the Commercial Appeal isn't helping by referring to Jerry as a "beggar". He isn't homeless. He actually has a house in the area near where he was arrested this last time. He has also had some serious charges over the yeras. A beggar is a Mr Bojangles who maybe "drinks a bit." This guy is just another thug who should be locked away for the rest of his life. Maybe we could take him to Texas or Mississippi and let him do a crime....
As long as I've been taking note of the repeat offenders, it still amazes me as to how many people we have who keep getting released back into the community to practice their trade. It's as though the system is releasing wild, rabid animals on us, because after 40 some odd arrests, this guy is not going to one day have an ephiphany (think Forrest Gump deciding he was tired) and say, "Hmmm, I think I'll stop being a buzzard and become a successful businessman, I'll help people around me, I'll...." It just isn't going to happen.
To the would be future thugs of Memphis I offer this thought, if you've been arrested a few times, it's time to stop and take account. YOU are at the crossroads of your life. One road leads downward and the other upward. You may have other chances, but the road narrows, the further you go; until one day, there is no road. It will ALWAYS be your choice! Find some Eagles to learn from and leave the buzzards alone, they are not your friends!
Here is a look at some of his charges - from the General Sessions Criminal Court:
Here are a few of the affidavits that have been filed on what the CA calls a bum.
