Chapter 5: Release the Dog

When they arrested Squirrel, the Sheriff instructed his deputies to confiscate every weapon and potential weapon they could find on Squirrel’s property. They did as thorough a search as I can imagine, over several days. Totally illegal. Squirrel is arrested on suspicion, not charged. No excuse to violate his rights. After three days in county lockup, he was released because of insufficient evidence to hold him. I suppose zero evidence is insufficient?

They released him at the door of the Sheriff’s office. Not even an offer of a ride home. Big mistake. Squirrel may not count his neighbors as friends but that doesn’t mean he is friendless. Actually, he has friends in high places who made their displeasure known to the Governor. The Governor subscribes to the policy, shit rolls downhill. Still, the deputies didn’t return Squirrel home, despite their new found courtesy of offering a ride. Squirrel had arranged his own. A military convoy of four National Guard vehicles, their trunks full of his weapons, by order of the Governor. Seems the deputies inventoried everything they took, listing it as evidence. Of course they never dreamed it would be returned. Their inventory list made them accountable for every single bullet and blade. Some of the rare collectible items were hard to locate, until deputies went home to look there. Eventually all were checked off the list as present and accounted for.

How is this information known in such detail? The church elders protested Squirrel’s release, to no avail, and witnessed the events just described. Their telling of it was in terms and tones of lamenting a great injustice being done, to the community. Squirrel is guilty by stint of public opinion, of church members. Everyone’s except mine. Squirrel belongs in a cage is the universal verdict. Except mine.

What happens if you harass and falsely accuse, lock up an innocent man? He is afterwards sweet natured and forgiving towards his tormentors, and turns the other cheek? Show of hands who believes in this scenario?

Isn’t feelings of resentment and a desire for payback more likely?

The local church, the only church in our neck of the woods, now holds Sunday services in a picnic pavilion at the community ball park. The church building mysteriously burned down one Saturday night or early that same Sunday morning.

Squirrel must of done it as revenge, is everyones opinion, except mine. The Fire Marshall representing the volunteer fire department, declared it arson. An accelerant was used to start the fire. Yes, it was arson, but no evidence against or connecting Squirrel and no way was the Sheriff messing with Squirrel again shy of catching him red-handed in a felony act.

Why don’t I think Squirrel set the blaze? Because I and everyone witnessed Squirrel’s victory dance, applause, shouts of exultation and glee watching the church burn. A crowd gathered to watch our volunteer firemen try to extinguish the blaze and give up. Next they concentrated on protecting nearby buildings with water spray and were successful. The fire was contained and eventually burned out.