Accused porch pirate arrested after allegedly drawing gun on police

James Meeks James Meeks

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A homeless Indiana man was arrested Wednesday, after police say he pulled a gun when questioned about a package theft.

James Meeks
James Meeks

Pikeville Police say the woman returned to her Poplar Grove home Wednesday evening and found James Meeks, 53, of Crown Point, Ind., sitting on her porch. When she asked who he was and why he was there, the police report says he got angry and stormed off the porch, taking a package with him.

Police were able to get a look at him and his vehicle thanks to the homeowner’s doorbell camera, and they found him a short time later parked at Brookshire Inn.

When they asked him to get out of his truck, he allegedly refused and eventually pulled a Glock handgun. That prompted officers to draw their own guns and order him to drop his, which he soon did. He was then removed from the truck and arrested, while allegedly fighting with officers the entire time.

Once he was placed in a police car, an officer went back to retrieve the gun and package, finding two bags of marijuana and another gun in the process.

Police soon learned Meeks is prohibited from having guns due to a previous felony conviction.

He is now charged with trespassing, burglary, theft of mail matter, two counts of felon in possession of a handgun, and other charges. He is being held on a $5,000 cash bond.