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John Morin stories
John Morin is a former Lansing resident who now lives in Holt.
Sheri's legal problems
A relationship should always start with honesty, why, it's what develops into mutual trust, creating lasting relationships. Our friendships, coworkers and spouses depend on honesty, or you have no friends, job, or marriage. Meet a stranger, you show them respect, women and children, you hold the door for them. We all get along this way, other wise there are hurt feelings and chaos.
No one likes an unexpected knock on the door, especially after a hard day at work and you finally sit down with a plate of food to enjoy while relaxing. I was not expecting a uniformed lpd officer at my door, but sure enough, there he was. I looked beyond him and observed two other uniformed officers at my gate fingering their belt buckles. Being polite and respectful, I asked the officer at my door, "how may I help you". I immediately picked up that he was uncomfortable and finally he said, "we had a report of a disturbance here". I had just arrived home ten minutes earlier, so I turned to Sheri, she was on the computer figuring out a word game, and asked her if there had been any disturbance. She said "no", so I turned to back to the officer and reported no problems here, and once again asked why he was knocking on my door. This time his response was that they had received an anonymous phone call, at which point I cut him off and said that our tax money pays for the best caller ID money can by, there is no such thing as anonymous with the police.
That broke the ice and he then told me that I have a very nice house and they had a call regarding my neighbor, and they felt maybe I could give them some information on the neighbor before they went over there. My neighbors were black, the three officers white. By this time the plate of food in my hand was not as appetizing, and the officer stood there while I vented my anger. I said "if you want to know about my neighbor, go ask them. If you can't come to my house and be honest, don't come, now get off my property". All three left and went to the neighbors house. They were in their driveway with the grill filled with a variety of meat. For thirty minutes all three officers were there and when done, left laughing and sounding as if everyone got along.
Myself, I had a few issues with my neighbor, we lived in different worlds. At times he would get involved in dealing drugs, often to the prostitutes that roamed the neighborhood, sometimes to neighbors. He also liked to show off his short barreled six shooter that he kept in his front pocket. He had pulled it out a few times, pointing it at people, threatening at times. I finally went over and had a talk with him about the gun, where I would put it if I hear he has pulled it on anybody. I am not against the police and would have mentioned the gun to them, but the conversation started out with a lie. Then there was that other time.
A day or two later I went to visit Sheri at the county jail. Uneventful it was not. I was driving the Alero with cruise control set at seventy. A few miles from my turn off I seen a vehicle, just a dot at first. I thought, I hope it's not a state cop because I'm not in the mood. Not even a quarter mile from my exit, and sure enough I'm being passed by a state cop who must have been doing ninety or better. Irritated I gave him the finger as he went by, and then he nearly went off the road slamming his brakes on to get behind me. But this will be a different story to tell, one that led to more insight about how the deck is stacked. Everyone wants to know what happened to Sheri. She was having a sentencing hearing in front of Judge Giddings. The state was represented by Gail Trimble, Sheri's former probation officer. Besides myself, Sheri had her sister and a couple brothers in the courtroom. We all sat in the courtroom, her family members asking Gail about what Sheri was facing. From what I heard, Gail wanted Sheri to do some time in jail and then rehab. I asked about anyone being allowed to speak on behalf of Sheri, everyone thought it a bad idea. So I sat there and listened to the proceedings. It did not look good for Sheri, wringing her hands behind her back wearing a jail coverall. As the Judge was getting ready to sentence, my hand went up and I asked permission to speak. After a few moments and a few questions I was allowed to approach. I agreed to their claim of how Sheri was a few years earlier - the drugs, out-ofcontrol behavior. But then I spoke about the direction she had taken, that she was in a stable environment that allowed her to better herself and be a contributing member to society. I spoke for about five minutes, and afterwards, the Judge ruled that the only crime he could see was that she had jail clothes on and needed to change her clothes and have a good life. She was released a few hours later. The moral to this story, if you care about someone, don't sit on your ass while people who don't know your loved one, judge your loved one. Five minutes of time to show the defendant is more than the bad everyone there has focused on can make a difference.
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Sometimes police will lie
in order to make an arrest. Sheri was enjoying life on this day, she
had family over. The occasion was Sheri's birthday, and part of the
celebrating was her getting wet with the hose. When I heard a knock at
the door, I discovered a female State Police officer. Polite I asked
her how I could help? She told me that she was looking to make contact
with Sheri, an emergency with one of her children was the concern. I
brought Sheri to the door and the officer suggested that they talk
privately out in the street. Sheri followed her and after they left the
property, the officer turned, handcuffs in hand told Sheri she was under
arrest. There was the old fleeing and eluding charge that she received
probation for and failed to complete. My reaction was to stick my
finger into the officers face telling her repeatedly that she was
nothing more than a lying pig to come to my house and use me to lure
Sheri outside. Once again a conversation begins with a lie and ends
with anger and a lack of trust. Later Sheri told me that the officer
talked about me all the way to the jail, about my attitude. Sheri told
her that lying to me was the wrong thing to do.