Mearday headed back to jail

**Pedro56** · 08-20-06, 07:57 AM

August 19, 2006

BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter

A man who received a $1.75 million settlement for a 1997 beating at the hands of Chicago Police officers pleaded guilty Friday to selling $100 worth of crack cocaine in DuPage County.

Jeremiah Mearday was sentenced to six months in jail and placed on two years' intensive probation by Judge George Bakalis, who also ordered Mearday to perform 120 hours of community service work.

In addition, Bakalis ordered Mearday to pay $2,500 in fines and court costs.

Paying shouldn't be a problem for the 27-year-old Addison man, who last October agreed to accept the seven-figure sum from Chicago to settle a lawsuit he filed against two police officers.

Mearday suffered serious head and facial injuries during the beating, which prompted high-profile disciplinary and legal proceedings against the officers, who ultimately were fired. The incident triggered bitter disputes between police and black community leaders.

Mearday was arrested last Dec. 10 in Glendale Heights after an undercover police officer saw him sell about 1.5 grams of cocaine on a street corner in the western suburb. Mearday received about $100 for the transaction, DuPage County authorities said.

Mearday -- who spent nine days in jail after his arrest -- wept at times during the hearing. Bakalis allowed him to surrender next month to begin serving his jail sentence. He likely will spend about 81 more days behind bars.

"He's upset about going back to jail," defense attorney Brian Telander said of Mearday.

Mearday, who is currently not working, will have to get a job and work 40 hours weekly as part of his probation, prosecutors said.

drozek@suntimes.com

**Pedro56** · 08-20-06, 08:04 AM

I guess you would have to be from Chicago to smell the sweet justice off of this arrest. This Asshat got 3 coppers fired, because he ditched the dope and it was never recovered. Then the jackass gets locked up months later again with dope, and the judge drops the case. (Hooray Cook County Criminal System) Then this scerwball moves to the burbs thinking he is getting away from it all, and looky what happens, he gets hammered with dope again. I absolutely love it.