Michigan woman thanks officer whose traffic stop led to her recovery
Officer pulled her over four times before an arrest changed her path
LANSING, Mich. (Aging Untold) — A Michigan woman is thanking the police officer who arrested her during a traffic stop, saying the encounter led her to recovery from addiction.
Officer Dillon Platte spent nearly three years on the Eaton Rapids police force before joining the Lansing police force and he was involved in a number of traffic stops.
He had pulled Christina Latoski over no fewer than four times while she was driving her 1996 red Chevy Camaro, often for issues with her taillights or headlights.
A different kind of stop
On Aug. 4, 2024, a stop on a dark rural road became different from the others. Platte’s patrol car computer showed Latoski was wanted for failing to appear in court.
“Christina, I need you to come over here. I have to detain you because you have a warrant out,” Platte said.
Platte asked to search her car. During the search, he found what he identified as methamphetamine.
“That looks like meth, Christina,” Platte said.
Latoski was placed in handcuffs and read her rights.
“I remember standing in front of his patrol car that night, and I just looked at him. I said, ‘I’m done. I can’t do it no more. Please just put me in the car and just take me to jail. I’m done,’” Latoski said.
Jail, rehab and a letter
Latoski spent the next three months in jail, followed by three months in rehab for what she described as a 25-year addiction to methamphetamine and alcohol.
“By the grace of God, Platte passed me that night,” Latoski said.
She said the arrest was the beginning of her road to recovery, which inspired her to write a letter to Platte.
“To the officer who saved my life. You probably don’t remember me. Just another traffic stop and just another night. But I remember that night. You changed everything. ... If it weren’t for you making that traffic stop I have no doubt in my mind my children would be motherless because I would be dead. ... Because of you, I’m alive. I’m here. And I’m continuing to work on my sobriety every day. Thank you. I’ll forever be grateful for you,” Latoski wrote.
A reunion, one year later
Latoski and Platte met again at the site of the traffic stop a year later.
“Hello, Christina, long time no see,” Platte said.
“You unknowingly did something for me that night that I didn’t even know I needed,” Latoski said. “Thank you for unknowingly saving my life.”
“Being able to have an impact on someone’s life like this is something I think everyone would want to do. I know any officer in my position would feel and do the same thing,” Platte said.
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