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| Police Kill Second Suspect In Standoff at Farm |
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Posted by FoM on September 04, 2001 at 21:56:47 PT By Robert E. Pierre, Washington Post Staff Writer Source: Washington Post 
Authorities today shot and killed a second man at a Michigan farm, ending a five-day standoff in which two aircraft came under fire and several buildings at the "alternative campground and concert arena" were set ablaze.An FBI agent shot Rolland Rohm, 28, after Rohm allegedly pointed a rifle or shotgun at a police officer just after 6 a.m. Rohm's roommate, Grover T. Crosslin, 47, owner of the Vandalia, Mich., campground, was killed Monday evening after pointing a gun at police. The deaths were the culmination of a siege that began Friday with Cass County sheriff's deputies arriving after reports of buildings burning on the farm. Authorities did not attempt to put out the fires because neighbors told police that Crosslin intended to ambush them, said Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. Underwood said that Crosslin had told neighbors to leave the area because "all hell was going to break loose." Soon after officers arrived on Friday to set up a perimeter around the property, a news helicopter from nearby South Bend, Ind., was hit by a bullet as it flew overhead. Later, an unmarked Michigan State Police aircraft was also fired upon over the campground. Police speculated yesterday that the men were desperate over the possibility of losing their farm, located about 120 miles east of Chicago, in the wake of an undercover drug investigation that had yielded charges against both. The campground, Rainbow Farm, was frequented by people who advocated legalization of marijuana and was scheduled to host the annual "Hemp Aid 2001" festival on Memorial Day Weekend. But after a two-year probe in which undercover police officers allegedly purchased drugs, including marijuana and LSD, festivals at the site were banned by a local judge until the trial. Crosslin was charged with growing marijuana, maintaining a drug house and felony possession of firearms. Rohm faced similar charges. Authorities called in Dori Leo, attorney for the two men, to help mediate a peaceful resolution. Leo had been representing the men in court and was also fighting government attempts to seize the farm. Leo said that after Crosslin was killed, police asked her to talk to Rohm on a walkie-talkie in an attempt to calm him down. "He was scared," Leo said in a telephone interview. "He asked pointed questions about what charges could be brought against him and what the consequences would be for the charges. He was adamant that our society is run by a bad government and wanted that message to get out." About 3:45 a.m., Rohm asked authorities to allow him to see his 12-year-old son, who had recently been placed in foster care after living at the site with the two men for more than five years. "I was hopeful this would end peacefully," said Leo, still shaken. The sheriff said police were in the process of granting the request when a fire was reported at the compound shortly after 6 a.m. and Rohm was seen leaving the residence with a long gun. About a half-hour later, Underwood said, police ordered Rohm to drop the weapon, but he pointed it at an officer and was shot and killed. Crosslin was being mourned in a posting on the Rainbow Farms Web site. "The Final Roach Roast was this weekend. Prayers to the family of Grover T. Crosslin," it read. "He is an inspiration to us all. It is never a happy occasion when someone is murdered, but it is an honor dying for a cause you believe in. God Rest His Soul." Underwood said authorities had hoped for a peaceful resolution. "It just didn't seem like they wanted that to happen. It appears they must have felt the campground was going to be permanently closed." Complete Title: Police Kill Second Suspect In Standoff at Michigan Farm Source: Washington Post (DC) Related Articles & Web Site: Rainbow Farms Campground Police Kill Second Man at Rainbow Farms CannabisNews Articles - Crosslin Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #1 posted by jacksplace58 on September 05, 2001 at 04:20:05 PT |
| At 200 yards these guys can drive a tack, at 1000 make a good head shot if the wind isn't too strong, the government pays them to learn these skills and it buys their weapons,usually a heavily modified rifle. If these highly trained men with special weapons couldn't make a nonlethal shot to incapacitate these men then the government has wasted even more money on the drug war. you know the marksman(sniper) had a crosshair on the guy from the moment he stepped into view so being suprised is no excuse, it was murder straight and simple. Not to be outdone by the feds the state police just had to take their turn! [ Post Comment ] |
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