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  FBI Agent Kills Rainbow Farm Owner
Posted by FoM on September 03, 2001 at 23:09:00 PT
By Lou Mumford, Tribune Staff Writer 
Source: South Bend Tribune  

FBI Grover T. “Tom” Crosslin’s standoff came to a deadly end Monday. The 47-year-old owner of Rainbow Farm Campground was fatally shot by an FBI agent about 4:40 p.m. EDT Monday, according to Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood.

It was a grim ending for supporters of Crosslin, an advocate of marijuana legalization and personal rights, who was shot and killed on the perimeter of his 34-acre farm and establishment at 59896 Pemberton Road in Newberg Township.

The shooting occurred on the fourth day of the standoff that had pitted Crosslin and two others — Brandon James Peoples, whose age and address were unavailable, and Rolland Rohm, 28, of Vandalia — against the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI had joined Cass County Sheriff’s deputies and Michigan State Police on Sunday.

Underwood said Monday night at a police staging area about a mile from the farm that Crosslin had been shot and killed by an FBI agent whom he did not identify. Although Underwood said the shooting occurred Monday afternoon, he didn’t make the announcement until about 10:15 p.m. EDT.

As a result, Crosslin’s supporters, some of whom had gathered only a short distance away from the staging area, weren’t aware he had been killed until they watched it on the evening TV news or heard it on the radio. When hearing the news, some screamed “murderers!”

“This deal has hurt a lot of people ... a lot of people,” said Geary Albright, an Elkhart resident and boyfriend of Crosslin’s sister, Shirley DeWeese.

The sheriff said efforts to negotiate directly with Crosslin to end the impasse looked promising Monday afternoon after he was given a telephone at his residence on the farm.

But Underwood said Crosslin asked to speak with a third party at the outset of the negotiation, and he became enraged when authorities denied his request.

He said Crosslin “made threatening remarks and gestures’’ before he terminated all efforts to negotiate and left the house with a rifle accompanied by Peoples. Upon leaving the house, Crosslin and Peoples were observed walking the perimeter of the residence with the weapon.

“They approached an area where an FBI observer had been stationed, and upon seeing the FBI observer, Crosslin immediately raised the weapon to shoulder height and pointed it directly at the agent,’’ Underwood said.

“At that moment, the FBI observer fired one round and fatally wounded Crosslin, with Brandon Peoples receiving minor injuries.’’

Peoples was slightly injured during the incident, and was immediately grabbed by authorities on site.

Rohm remained on the farm, and was still there negotiating with authorities early today.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Peoples would be charged with any crimes in the four-day standoff. Underwood said agents were still negotiating with Rohm for his possible surrender late Monday.

Earlier Monday, supporters of Crosslin said they anticipated a violent end to the standoff, which began Friday when Crosslin allegedly torched two buildings on his property.

“He’s (Crosslin) not going to give up. I know he won’t,’’ said Morel “Moses’’ Yonkers, of Elkhart. “I worked for him for 10 years. Trust me. I know.’’

Yonkers was among more than a dozen supporters of Crosslin at a makeshift campsite at Michigan 60 and White Temple Road, about two miles from the farm.

“I don’t think he’ll leave alive,’’ said Tommy Friend, a Cassopolis resident and an acquaintance of Crosslin who worked and stayed at his farm for two weeks.

Albright had spoken earlier Monday as if he clearly anticipated a tragic outcome.

”I wish it hadn’t come down to this. He’s done a lot of good things for people,’’ Albright said. “He’s a good man.’’

Crosslin’s father, Grover Crosslin, also of Vandalia, argued his son was non-violent, but stubborn.

“If he believes in something, he’s going to carry it through,’’ he said. “This is about property rights .... It’s enough to cause a war.’’

Crosslin advocated the legalization of marijuana. A Web site established by Crosslin after he purchased his farm and campground about 15 years ago touts “the medical, spiritual and responsible recreational use of marijuana for a more sane and compassionate America.’’

A former Elkhart resident, he had a varied work life that ranged from driving trucks and installing flagpoles to remodeling houses.

He was a history buff, buying a brick house built in 1807 that had once been a stop on the Underground Railroad with plans to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. And he was a staunch civil libertarian, having painted a Elkhart house on Dr. King Drive neon peach and lime green as part of a dispute with city officials over building code enforcement standards.

Vandalia Mayor Sondra Mose-Ursery said she knew Crosslin well and wasn’t surprised by his confrontation with authorities.

“I figured it was going to happen, by the way he had talked about not wanting to go to jail for (doing) something he believed in,’’ she said. “He believes he should be able to do what he wants on his own property.’’

She said she met Crosslin several years ago when he spent $2,000 on Christmas gifts for children in the village of Vandalia.

All seemed well for Crosslin until May.

That was when things began falling apart for the former Elkhart resident, who was arrested in May on drug charges.

He was scheduled to appear in court Friday for a hearing to revoke his $150,000 bond. But instead he skipped the hearing and then allegedly set fire to buildings on his property, which he had stood to lose under the state’s Drug Forfeiture Act.

Police said an anonymous telephone caller told them the fires were set “to ambush law enforcement officers when they arrived in response to the fire.’’

It’s believed Crosslin, Rohm or Peoples or a combination of the three also fired shots at three aircraft that flew over the property. One of the aircraft, a helicopter used by WNDU-TV, Channel 16, South Bend, was damaged.

On Monday, Crosslin had federal charges levied against him, resulting in the dispatch of FBI agents and a federal warrant against Crosslin on charges of attempted destruction of an aircraft and using a firearm to commit a felony. He was facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted of those.

On the state criminal counts, Crosslin was charged with manufacturing marijuana, more than 200 plants, a 15-year felony; maintaining a drug house, a two-year misdemeanor; felony firearm, a two-year felony; and possession of a firearm by a felon, a five-year felony.

Underwood said the show-cause petition and motion to revoke $150,000 bond for Crosslin grew out of a festival that was staged at the farm and campground Aug. 17 and 18.

He said bond conditions specified no such activity was to take place at the farm, based on drug activities that allegedly took place at the events.

Two more buildings were burned on the farm and campground, reportedly on Saturday. Underwood said the fires were set by Crosslin and not law enforcement.

Rohm is charged with manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and felony firearm.

Tribune staff writer Jennifer Mack contributed to this report.

Staff writer Lou Mumford: lmumford@sbtinfo.com

Ph: (616) 687-7002

Source: South Bend Tribune (IN)
Author: Lou Mumford, Tribune Staff Writer
Published: September 03, 2001
Copyright: 2001 South Bend Tribune
Contact: vop@sbtinfo.com
Website: http://www.southbendtribune.com/

Related Articles & Web Site:

Rainbow Farm Campground
http://www.rainbowfarmcamp.com/

Campground Owner Killed After Four-Day Standoff
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10808.shtml

Campground Owner Shot Dead by FBI
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10807.shtml


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Comment #20 posted by Rebel on September 11, 2001 at 18:06:38 PT:

FBI
Maybe the FBI should spend more time fighting terrorism and less time killing marijuana activists.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #19 posted by Rebel on September 05, 2001 at 12:47:55 PT:

Unintended consequences
If you have not read the book Unintended Consequences, find a copy and read it. It details how the country was/will be taken back from the BATF, FBI, DEA, and any other jackbooted thugs who would use military weaponry against its own citizens. The question is posed....when is it time to fight back...when a situation like Vandalia occurs?...Waco? Ruby Ridge? How bout when you are down to 90 lbs and locked up behind barbed wire. It's time!!!

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #18 posted by potatoshoe on September 04, 2001 at 18:00:48 PT
Message from Mark of Michigan
[this is being posted on several threads; please pardon
the redundancy]

A message from Mark Koernke -- Michigan militia leader, currently
in prison:

Subject: Urgent
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 19:28:20 -0400
From: "Eric Koernke"

My Dad (Mark Koernke) wanted me to send this message out.

First of all in light of what just happened in Vandalia, Cass
County, contact all individuals of poeple who videotaped it. Copy
the video's and spread them around. A review or survey of the area
needs to be done of people who videotaped who may not be in
contact with freindly's. Contact these people, and do the same.
For those that took pictures of the Vandalia incident do not
develop these pictures locally, at least take them a couple of
county's away. In addition make duplicates and send the duplicates
to another party, take one set and photo copy in color, or
black+white to be distributed.

We also need people making videotapes of news programs. We need
copys of all tapes that have been done already of the newspieces.
Anyone who can make it to the National Guard Posts, State Police
Posts, County Sheriff's we need to go to these sites, and take
pictures of them. We need people out there taking pictures, and
taping people going in, and coming out. Anyone who goes take how
to find us sheets, give them to people in stores, cover the town.
Every town one half hour radious needs to be covered with the how
to find sheets. The APC's that were in this operation were
military L.A.B. APC's. The news footage shows the drivers, they
need to be identified, anyone who can be identified should be
noted, we need to know who stinks the worst. We need news footage
of people under siege like this.


[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #17 posted by BCM on September 04, 2001 at 17:27:33 PT
It's time
On September 3, 2001 the Drug War took a turn for the worst, people nationwide will rise up in arms against the malicious government, it's time to take our country back from the Drug Nazis, it's time to kill them all...

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #16 posted by rabblerouser on September 04, 2001 at 07:11:17 PT
facts
On September 3, 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. It brought an end to the Revolutionary War.

On September 3, 1941 the first use of Zyclon-B gas first used on Russian prisoners of war at Auschwitz.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #15 posted by Lehder on September 04, 2001 at 06:52:14 PT
other repression
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/03/concert.disturbance/index.html

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #14 posted by SirReal on September 04, 2001 at 06:38:16 PT
waco-whackos
please everybody! post on cnn's drug war board to bring to light the atrrocities commited

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #13 posted by SirReal on September 04, 2001 at 06:36:49 PT
waco-whackos
please visit and post on cnn's drug war board
http://www.cnn.com.html


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #12 posted by SirReal on September 04, 2001 at 06:35:35 PT
waco-whackos
http://www.cnn.com

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #11 posted by SirReal on September 04, 2001 at 06:33:19 PT
Awaken the masses
everybody, pease visit and post regularly at http://www.cnn.com.html to bring attention to mainstream Amerca whats going on.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #10 posted by SirReal on September 04, 2001 at 06:28:29 PT
Waco-whackos
Please don't let this slip by folks. Start writting, start calling, start fighting back or we will all be eating soylent green!

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #9 posted by Poisoned1500Days on September 04, 2001 at 06:00:21 PT
fbi tactics
I think the fbi needs to
invest in a few armored water cannons.
Less lethal. Will knock gun
out of distraught idiot's
hand.


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #8 posted by tdm on September 04, 2001 at 05:50:53 PT
idea -- web blackout
I've been depressed about the circumstances surrounding the standoff ever since I heard about it. Waking this morning to here this news has made me physically ill, and I'm fighting back tears. Tom will be remembered by me as one of the most courageous men I've never met. He shares this distinction with Peter McWilliams.

Does anyone have any experience in organizing a web blackout? If every supporter of Tom's participated by not only blacking out their own sites, but also spread the word to other liberty-loving people and organizations, I think it would have a profound impact. This was tried on Feb. 10, 1996 by supporters of free speech after Clinton signed the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which included the Communications Decency Act. If people can get fired up over a new law, surely we can get them to show their support for the outrageous murder of a peace-loving man just trying to mind his own business. What do you think?

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #7 posted by Lehder on September 04, 2001 at 05:42:30 PT
U.S. Einzatsgruppen Executioners
http://www.newseum.org/holocaust/html/massmurder.htm

There are reasons too why many people are skeptical or unconcerned today, yet when the true story is told it will be clear to all that this killing was orchestrated. They'll get away with it for now.

Many of us have learned from history, and so have today's more sophisticated enemies of civilization: They have learned from Hitler, from Waco, from Chicago 1968, from Kent State, and they will learn from Rainbow Ranch and refine their techniques of death and repression further still. Nazis with television. Nazis with computers.

It took all of Europe and America too to defeat the Nazis, and it will take all the Americas and Europe together to arrest this demented governemnt and the madness of the millions that makes it possible.

You have a duty to survive this holocaust. The story must be told, the lesson must be learned, justice must be served.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #6 posted by petitioneer on September 04, 2001 at 05:32:22 PT
PRA
Yes PRa will go on the ballot we are going door-to-door for signitures. Many people will sign just ask.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #5 posted by mr.greengenes on September 04, 2001 at 05:02:34 PT
Update
About 6o'clock this morning, another building was seen burning and Rolland Rohm still hasn't surrendered.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #4 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on September 04, 2001 at 04:57:37 PT:

WHACKED!
Mr. Crosslin may have or may not have pointed something at someone; I don't think we can ever know.

This is a situation purley made from prohibiton of cannabis, and Mr. Crosslin is its newest Martyr.

I think he should have dealt with the local law people and with his attorney. They were going to screw himout of his 34 acres under the guise of "protecting the public". But his public were out there trying to protect him from our protectors.

Do you all feel any safer now that Mr. Crosslin is dead?

I don't.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #3 posted by Lou Vee on September 04, 2001 at 02:53:29 PT:

Anger over Tom's needless murder can fuel PRA
I believe that absolutely everything, no matter how bad, also contains some element which is good.

I feel very angry and very sad over Tom's needless murder. I'm sure that many others, who got to know him much better than I did, feel more angry and upset.

Anger can be used as an excellent fuel. I can think of no more fitting memorial to Tom than to see PRA on the ballot.

So, if you are feeling outraged, pick up a couple of clipboards (and perhaps a sign and/or some leis) and go get some signatures for Tom.

Between now and October 3rd I plan to spend every spare moment petitioning - I trust many others will do the same.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #2 posted by Rambler on September 04, 2001 at 01:35:55 PT
anonymous caller
" Police said an anonymous telephone caller told them the fires were set “to ambush law enforcement officers when they arrived in response to the fire."

The old anonymous caller ploy.Think about it,"Police said",who is "police"?,whoever he is,he said,"anonymous caller" told "them".

It's too bad "anonymous caller" failed to mention that the person who lit the fires,was also a witch.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #1 posted by John Markes part 2 on September 04, 2001 at 01:04:30 PT
Figures
It seem we can always count on people getting killed when the FBI shows up. Or other screwups...

If the feds had remained out of it, it would most likely have ended peacefully. But you know those FBI agents, they just can't stand letting someone else run the show and have all the fun...

[ Post Comment ]


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