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John Morin stories
John Morin is a former Lansing resident who now lives in Holt.
Flying bullets
police had just been in my neighborhood for a shooting. I told her that they had not been to my house. She reluctantly agreed to send out an officer. I was surprised that only one officer arrived, Officer Paul Beasinger. I quickly went over what had occurred. I showed him the bullet in the house, explaining that I had picked it up and placed it on the entertainment center because my dog seen it and was interested in it. His reaction was swift: "I had contaminated the evidence", he screamed at me. He attempted to take pictures, but found his camera did not work. He left and returned later with a new camera. After taking pictures, he then walked down Francis Ave. in front of the house. He stated that he had found numerous shell casings over on Clemens Street. I asked if that was where the other shooting had occurred. He nodded yes. I never stated any stance on being against anyone in the neighborhood, or that I had been previously victimized for that reason, as he said in the police report. He then left.
I went into the house and took a shower. After a few minutes I told Sheri that that was the worst investigation I had ever seen conducted by a police officer. So I decided to look further and see what I could find. My thought was to follow the bullet path and see where that led. I had told both 911 and the officer that I did not know who, why or how. I believe they felt it was a drive-by based on what they found on Clemens. A direct path led to a driveway across the street, and on the ground, on top of the grass were three shell casings, two small caliber, one large caliber. Pleased with the discovery, I called 911 back. Big mistake. The operator explained to me that 911 was for emergencies only and that I could be arrested for the phone call. I bit my tongue, wanting to ask her when the last time she had a bullet land at her feet. She then said she would contact the officer to return. Officer Paul Beasinger returned, I led him to the find, thinking to myself, pop, pop, bang, originated from this spot. He quickly corrected me by stating that these casings have nothing to do with my case. I did not show my feelings, rather asked him why. He said the casings have tarnish. My thought was the only tarnish was on the badge he wore. I bit my tongue. Even though he stated that they had nothing to do with my shooting, he would take them all anyways. My concern was further amplified when I FOIA requested a copy of the police report. In it he has made up a story and destroyed evidence, that being the 45 caliber shell casing. I contacted my insurance company by fax that I had concerns. I felt my next step was to contact the primary assigned officer, that being Detective James Gill. At this time I had not made the past connections to Gill from previous police reports. I called him on the phone, identified myself and the case. I explained that I had concerns over the police report Officer Paul Beasinger had written. He asked how I had obtained the report, I told him I had FOIA requested it. He asked why? I told him that I had concerns about comments he had made during the investigation and that I had more information to give him, and for my insurance company. His response was to yell over the phone that "You have insurance and your fucking calling me, wasting my fucking time. If I need something from you, I'll fucking call you, you got me?" I had just gotten smacked by the thin blue line. Next step, contact internal affairs about both Beasinger and now also Gill.
I called LPD internal affairs and spoke with an officer. He agreed that the behavior needed to be investigated and that I would have to come in for an in-camera interview. I explained that I worked long hours, which he told me were the only times available for the interview. Too important to ignore, I agreed to take time from work to do it. He instead said that he would conduct a phone interview with me the next day. After days of no return call, I called back to the number he had given me. When it was answered, I asked for the IA officer by name and was told he would be with me in moments. For thirty minutes, what was my lunch time at work, I listened to police officers laugh and joke about their Lansing exploits. Sounded more like romper room than what I eventually realized was the squad room. I finally hung up but far from gave up. Next I called Police Chief Yankowski's office, asking if he would call me back regarding misconduct by his officers. I then called Mayor Bernero's office stating a similar request. After at least four phone calls over a month's time, frustration finally led me to ask each of their secretaries if they left their balls in their wife's purse. Sure, they both defended their bosses, but I also then said they sure don't have the balls to call me. Next stop was to a City Council meeting and make some comments. I was not out to get anyone, so I just commented about the lack of police protection in the neighborhood, how we were being overrun by prostitution and crime. I found it interesting, some of the meeting involved ambulance service and which company is contacted. What I found was that the city has contracts with companies, and that's who they will call. The city doesn't care if you have a heart attack and there is an ambulance next to your house, they will still call their buddies, no matter how far away or how badly you may need help. The City is more interested in how much money they can make rather than your survival. After the meeting, I was amazed by the interest I had created. Carol Wood came up to me to talk and after a few minutes I blurted out that the main problem I see is that we have all these police that work for Lansing, and none of them live in Lansing. That was the wrong thing to say, she immediately turned her back and walked away ending our conversation. Next up were two more foolish council members approaching me. One male, one female, both black. No sense wasting time, after exchanging pleasantries, I hit them with the same question and received the same response, only this time the lady shot back with a "Good luck with that" response.
By the time I had contacted Detective Gill, it was to offer more information on the shooting. We discovered that a marijuana drug deal went bad. The guy who lived on Clemens had bought a quarter pound and not all of it was good. He wanted his money back, and when the dealer said no, he shot at his car. The driver of the car went home and retrieved his own gun and drove by the house on Clemens shooting at it. I knew none of the people involved. A bit later, the guy from Clemens comes over across from my house with his son, who believes the drug dealer lived there. He was wrong and the dad came over days later to apologize for shooting at our house. I guess that makes it all better that he apologized, right?
Gill claimed I was wasting his time because I had insurance. He forgets that like most home-owners, I have a deductible. From the break-in a few months earlier and now the shooting, I was out one thousand dollars. I also called the city clerk after I was cussed out by Gill. I knew it would be easy to bait him. I called and innocently asked what I pay thousands each year in taxes to the City of Lansing? His response was that we have one of the best police departments in the state of Michigan. Then I unloaded. I said, " Where the fuck do you live mother fucker, because there is no police protection in this fucked-up city". I then had to figure how to once again recover from another failure living in the city of Lansing. Who knew I had just entered the twilight zone with many more episodes to LPD...
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