|
|
| FBI, MSP Defend Shootings |
|
Posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 12:52:03 PT By Mike Rupert, H-P Staff Writer Source: Herald-Palladium 
The rolling hills and scenic woodlands at the 34-acre Rainbow Farm Campground provided a stark contrast Wednesday to the charred remains of the five-day standoff that left two men dead. The burned-out shell of a Volkswagen Beetle and the lingering smell of smoke from buildings that were destroyed by fire were a constant reminder of the violence as state and federal officials worked to find out exactly what happened. Grover T. "Tom" Crosslin, 46, was shot from about 25 feet away and Rolland Rohm, 28, from about 100 to150 yards, law enforcement officials revealed during a media tour of the campground. The standoff began Friday when neighbors complained Crosslin, who had worked for the decriminalization of marijuana, was burning buildings on his property. Crosslin was shot by FBI agents in a wooded area about 200 yards south of the farm's main house while returning from a neighbor's house Monday evening, said FBI Special Agent in Charge John Bell Jr. "The agent was secreted behind a tree in an observation post," Bell said, pointing to the tree and the fire pit in the heavily wooded area where Crosslin was shot. "When Mr. Crosslin spotted the agent, he raised a gun to his shoulder, pointed it directly at the agent and the agent fired." Bell said a coroner's report shows Crosslin was hit more than once, but would not say exactly how many times Crosslin was shot or if he was shot by more than one agent. However, Bell did say two agents were involved in the shooting. Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood said Crosslin stormed out of the main house after growing frustrated with negotiators earlier that evening. Underwood said a camouflaged Crosslin was openly carrying the rifle as he walked through the woods. A well-worn two-track littered with beer cans, broken lawn chairs and other debris led to the site of the shooting from the farm's main house. Rohm, who lived with Crosslin at the farm, was shot just outside the farm's main house early Tuesday morning by Michigan State Police from a distance of 100 to150 yards, said Capt. Richard Dragomer, 5th District state police commander. Dragomer said police believed Rohm was going to surrender after a deal was struck for him to talk with his 13-year-old son who was removed from the home in May after Crosslin and Rohm, along with three others, were arrested on drug charges. Police believe the boy's removal may have been a catalyst for the standoff. "We were hoping he was going to walk out and end this peacefully after the negotiations," Dragomer said. Dragomer said flames starting coming from the main house around 6 a.m., and when Rohm came out 45 minutes later with his rifle aimed at state police, officers had no other alternative but to protect themselves. Two state police officers shot at Rohm across a clear meadow from a tree line, Dragomer said, though he would not say whether one or both hit him or how many times he was shot. Crosslin and Rohm were both brandishing .223-calibre Mini-14 semiautomatic rifles that were "loaded to the gill" and "ready to fire," Bell said. As many as 60-75 FBI agents, 30-35 sheriff's deputies, and another 35 state troopers were called in during the stand-off, according to law enforcement officials. Despite the large amount of manpower, law enforcement officials maintained that at no time did officers take any aggressive action to provoke Crosslin and Rohm. "For a majority of the time we were trying to establish negotiations," Bell said. "There were sets of observer teams stationed along the perimeter of the farm. They knew we were there -- but these men were allowed to roam freely. "We were merely acting as observers hoping to find a way to end this peacefully through negotiations." Investigators from the FBI, state police and the state fire marshal's office sifted through the remains Wednesday of the 10 buildings at the campground that were destroyed by the fire. Nine of the fires were set Friday and another was set Tuesday at the two-story main house just before Rohm was shot. Bell emphasized Crosslin and Rohm set the fires, not police. Bell said investigators have found the remains of several long guns, a revolver, hundreds of shell casings and what they believe to be a detonated pipe bomb and several propane tanks that may have exploded during the fire. Dragomer and Bell both said no evidence of narcotics has been found on the farm, but said if any was located within the buildings it would have burned in the fires. Bell said further evidence could provide more details into what exactly these men's operations were at the farm, and why the events unfolded as they did. Dori Leo, the lawyer for Crosslin and Rohm, explained why the pair decided they had no option of leaving the farm alive and provoked police into shooting them to death in separate but similar incidents 13 hours apart. "I was stunned Rollie didn't make it," Leo told the Detroit Free Press. "I knew what would happen to Tom after we talked. Tom was the defiant one. But Rollie was scared." Leo, a former Cook County, Ill., prosecutor, wondered why her clients had to die. "Why can't we maim them? Or tranquilize them?" she asked. Leo said she asked the Cass County Sheriff's Department on Friday afternoon to back off in the hopes Crosslin and Rohm would surrender. Leo said the sheriff was concerned about public safety. "Maybe they were justified," she said. "But it's too bad it had to end this way." The FBI had 15 to 20 people working the site Wednesday, including members from the national laboratory in Washington, D.C., who are conducting an internal investigation, Bell said. "Anytime an agent fires his gun there is an investigation -- it's normal business procedure," said Bell. Bell said two agents -- neither from Southwest Michigan offices -- have been questioned in the investigation of Crosslin's death, but both remain on active duty in other areas of the state. Bell would not release the names or home offices of the agents. The two state police officers are on paid administrative leave pending the results of a state investigation, Dragomer said. Those names are also being withheld. A sheriff's deputy arrested one protester, Brian McCullough, 38, of Gilbertville, Ky., on Wednesday at the entrance to the campground and charged him with disorderly conduct. He posted a $100 cash bond and later returned to the protest site. McCullough, who drove to the campground with three other protesters, said he was arrested after uttering an obscenity to the deputy. Holding a handwritten sign bearing the words "THEY KILLED THEM," Mesick, Mich., resident Melody Karr, 37, said she didn't know how long she and her fellow protesters would continue. "I think as long as it takes to get some answers," Karr said. The Associated Press contributed to this story Source: Herald-Palladium, The (MI) Related Articles & Web Site: Rainbow Farm Campground Police Defend Shootings of 2 Men at Rainbow Farm Inside The Campground Martyers or Menaces? Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #31 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 22:35:28 PT |
| I was wondering if everything was OK because I hadn't seen you in a while. Glad you're back but the news is very upsetting. I'm making a Memorial page and I have links on most of the pictures towards the top of the page. Also Dr. Russo is at a Pain Mangement Convention and will be speaking. That's the important news. Good to see you again. Tom Crosslin & Rolland Rohm Memorial [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #30 posted by freedom fighter on September 06, 2001 at 22:20:13 PT |
| Finally got back online after fixing my computer only to find this sad news... How many more? Why were the Feds down there? What so federal about the Rainbow Farm? Just how many more? ff [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #29 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 21:09:22 PT |
| Will anyone have a way of emailing me with news, not news articles? If so I will pass them on. I don't understand about hand held computers or lap tops but if it could work please try it. Many of us will only be there in spirit and it would be nice to receive updates if possible and if not that's sure ok. Ekim, I can't find the poll. I thought I had it in my email but I couldn't find it. If I do though I'll post it. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #28 posted by New Mexican on September 06, 2001 at 20:54:51 PT |
| Please let everyone know about the gathering storm at Rainbow Farm. It's now or never folks, and we have massive public opinion on our side right now, due to comparisions to Ruby Ridge, Waco, Kent State and other U.S. atrocities. Remember Sep. 3-4, 2001, we must not let this pass unoticed and blacked out in the Amerikkkan media. I suggest we contact the foreign press as they will be outraged at the cover-up. Greg Palast of the BBC, where are you? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #27 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 20:54:14 PT |
| You all should check out the comments in the Detroit News. Ekim, I just saw your question and I'll go try to find the poll but it was over 70 percent in our favor the last time I saw it. I think I can find it. I will look. http://data.detnews.com/feedback/lettersindex.hbs [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #26 posted by Lehder on September 06, 2001 at 20:32:28 PT |
| Looking in my bookmark folder "U.S. Domination", uhmm... Northern Italian communities had, for years, complained about low-flying American military aircraft. In February 1998, the inevitable happened. A Marine Corps EA-6B In response to outrage in Italy and calls for vigorous prosecution of those responsible, the marine pilots argued that their charts were inaccurate, that their altimeter had not worked, and that they had not consulted U.S. Air Force units permanently based in the area about local hazards. A court-martial held not in Italy but in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, exonerated everyone involved, calling it a "training accident." Soon after, President Bill Clinton apologized and promised financial compensation to the victims, but on May 14, 1999, Congress dropped the provision for aid to the families because of opposition in the House of Representatives and from the Pentagon. Please read on: and in other chapters from the same book, Blowback It may be that the drug war is too small an issue to be resolved all by itself. The personal tragedy and social violence are first of all too poorly appreciated, and so far, well within the tolerance level of the American public. Hey, in ancient Carthage, on one day, over 9400 gladiators fought, half of them, of course, being killed. There was nothing but cheering. No, it's gonna take a depression, a major war, a disasterous change in climate, a plague - something to divert attention to someone else, resolving nothing, really. Look what so many people are really like: getting drunk at football games, overturning cars, setting fires, shooting hippies. Sometimes I think if we could get the evil and stupid ones out of control, we could educate or at least amuse enough of the others to make a relatively peaceful world; sometimes I think it hopeless. Maybe our grandchildren will be able to leave the planet. good luck with your probe, dddd! i hope you have ample federal funding for your "studies." and, lookinside, please don't feel bad. it's impossible not to be frustrated. i'm dealing with it tonight through black humor. And I stood on the sands of the sea, and there arose from the sea a beast with seven heads and ten horns, and on the horns lay ten crowns, and on the heads there was written the word Blasphemy! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #25 posted by Rock-N-Roller on September 06, 2001 at 19:59:35 PT |
| Alright, way to go brother. This is the kind of activity that we need. But keep it non-violent. Do not give the people who dissaprove a reason to point fingers. Keep things peaceful. Always remember, cool heads will prevail. We can not let this just go away, we must keep it up untill the status quo starts understanding ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Sooner or later the media and other factions will have to recognize this (I think they already know but are afraid to make the move). Thank you for your help to keep the efforts of these modern day patriots from going to waste. You are a credit to the brotherhood of man. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #24 posted by Charlie on September 06, 2001 at 19:54:15 PT |
| Found this interesting over on Yahooka... http://www.yahooka.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/001771.html [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #23 posted by Rock-N-Roller on September 06, 2001 at 19:48:12 PT |
| Alright, way to go brother. This is the kind of activity that we need. We can not let this just go away, we must keep it up untill the status quo starts understanding ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Sooner or later the media and other factions will have to recognize this (I think they already know but are afraid to make the move). Thank you for your help to keep the efforts of these modern day patriots from going to waste. You are a credit to the brotherhood of man. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #22 posted by ekim on September 06, 2001 at 19:43:16 PT:
|
| Fom did you get a final count. The last time I looked it was way more that the Feds caused the whole mess. Thanks for all your hard work and thanks to your family that must beleive in what you are doing. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #21 posted by lookinside on September 06, 2001 at 19:37:53 PT:
|
| of course you are right...and my comments are dehumanizing both to me and them... in my anger i sometimes forget that hate is harder on those our impotence when we see this kind of injustice makes me although my words and comparisons may be spewed out of [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #20 posted by dddd on September 06, 2001 at 19:19:01 PT |
| ....first off,,we have the shootings themselves,I dont have cable TV, so I surfed all the network news,PBS,,NPR,(National Public Radio),, waiting for some mention of this incident........if it was mentioned,,I missed it.The term,"news blackout" is very appropriate here.To suggest that shark attacks,(less than last year),are somehow more significant, and relevant than a federally sponsored murder,is PROOF,of the collusive connection between the "free press",and the federal government!..I know I'm always rambling on about this topic,but when you think about it,,,the fact that such collusion actually exsists,is far more significant and disturbing than ANYTHING else!.......When the cries of injustice can be muted by the governments control of the press,,it means we have entered a whole new era sovietesque control of the people.This incident was purposely silenced from the masses due to concerns that it would look alot like Waco!...As soon as the FBI stepped in,people were DEAD.The crosshairs of the FBI were trained on Mr Crosslins forehead,,just waiting for the chance to take him out...As far as I'm concerned,this was an execution. ..and the fact that it was an execution is one thing,,,but when such an incident is so obviously blanked out in the media,it becomes a far more chilling and spooky conspiracy to murder an American citizen. The Labor Day weekend started with the cop getting shot in the ATF raid down here in LA,and the fire that was started by the feds,that was purposely allowed to burn until the suspect,and any evidence,was fried to ashes. Now,,we have the bad joke of hearing that the "Justice department",and "Iron Butterfly to investigate heavyness of Inna-Gadda-da Vida" "Bill Gates to begin probe into Microsoft wrongdoings" "AOL-TimeWarner to look into allegations of anti-trust violations" "Jesse Helms to launch inquiry into civil rights laws" "dddd asked to lead federal probe into Marijuana laws" dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #19 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 18:22:33 PT |
| ALERT ACTION VANDALIA CAMPOUT PROTEST Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2001 19:24:28 -0400
[ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #18 posted by Rock-N-Roller on September 06, 2001 at 17:59:37 PT |
| Get up, Stand up, Stand up for your right. In order to bring more media attention to this tragedy we need to make a lot of noise. We need the likes of Gary Johnson, Jessie Ventura, and Normal to attend the funerals and deliver the eulogies. We need to have thousands of people, attend the services, just like the police and firemen do. If this could happen the media cannot completley ignore this. If we get more media attention it can possibly help to educate the ones who need it. E-Mail Gary Johnson's office, and Normal, lets try to get them there. This will show to the nation and the families of those who died, that the efforts of these modern day patriots will not be in vain. To sit and do nothing is what the opposition would like to see. They would love to just see it go away. I will make several posts of this comment. Do not be angry or surprised if you see this again. I will post it in other places to get more attention. I like the idea of the movie thing that people are talking about. E-Mail Hollywood also. Get up, Stand up, Stand up for your right. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #17 posted by E. Johnson on September 06, 2001 at 17:54:21 PT |
| they behaved like a pack of blood lusting mutts and should be treated as such... The way we got into this situation is through being dehumanized. Many of these people think of us as a bunch of dirty dogs who should be put down. Do you really want to make your own brain work in the deformed way? It's not good for the head to think like they do. Look what it does to them! Are they happy? No, they're all dying from job stress like crazy. That's why they drink so much. They have an ill campaign, through and through. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #16 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 17:39:06 PT |
| I mentioned it last night or this morning, I can't remember which, and he did it right away! We can't lose the web site. You must have missed it so here it is. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread10836.shtml#2 [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #15 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on September 06, 2001 at 17:27:04 PT:
|
| Tin soldiers and Ashcroft coming it's heating up again this summer we heard more drummin 2 dead in Michigan gotta get down to it You may not have known them [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by Kathy on September 06, 2001 at 17:24:10 PT |
| Is there any way to safeguard the Rainbow Farms website? I think it would be good evidence of the good that the people at the farm were trying to do, and I believe that the government might try to take over the site.....if anyone can print it out and also copy it to another server in the case it might get hacked by the FBI/other then I would advise doing it. Also, what is the evidence that it was one of the Rainbow Farms men that shot at the helicopter, and that the men aimed a gun at agents? Were there any witnesses? Isn't it more likely that the agency just wanted to get it over with, like they always do, they get impatient, and would rather murder someone than have humanity and peace inside. The comment on this website about the government being more humane to bears---yes, I guess it is more humane to tranquilize than kill someone, but why do either???? I think when they want to shut someone up, then they do what they think they have to do. It must be investigated and those responsible for the murders brought to justice, and not just internal justice within their good old boys clubs, FBI needs to be investigated itself!! Too long overdue!!!! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by Kathy on September 06, 2001 at 17:12:58 PT |
| Regards this sort of thing not happening in Canada, it sure does.....against Native Americans who have been murdered in Canada many times, unarmed people who have been gunned down by the PP===Provincial Police, such as Dudley George who was murdered in Ontario, and others....also in Canada, the people are fighting against British corporations who are contaminating the Great Lakes with rad waste, such as at Bruce Nuclear Reactor, and the Chalk River area has killed indigenous people with its cancer causing rad waste for generations. Canada is not perfect either, in some ways it is even worse. People in Canada even have trouble getting an environmental assessment before a radioactive waste dump is put in their community, so they have not even the freedom of information. So don't think the USA is the only ones that are not free. It is the condition of the world unmasked. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by The GCW on September 06, 2001 at 17:06:56 PT |
| 9:6:1 i CAN FEEL THEIR PRIDE An urban team of assault crusaders, tank in tow. Taking their cannabis, taking their money, taking their children, taking their freedom, taking their property, taking their will they took their lives. No. They took the lives of God. For we are bought with a price. Those men belonged to Christ God. Those men were taken from Christ God, against the will of Christ God. May we also pray for those men who took what did not belong to them. That Christ God will be merciful, to all. The dark side, and its dark deeds will not be hidden in the light. I pray that our Father will forgive those men, all of them. For, for us to do so is right. And what is right is light. Today the light concerns that of a rainbow. May others also sacrafice a bit of time, to pray to the promised HOly Spirit of Truth, for all, for the straight and narrow path.
[ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by Kath on September 06, 2001 at 17:02:13 PT |
| I am also asking that all witnesses to the events at Rainbow Farms concerning the murders of the 2 men there, unite together in solidarity....so that justice can be achieved somehow, and to contact Amnesty International and urgently request an independent investigation of the incident===by having the FBI and MSP investigate themselves, it is doubtful an honest and true evaluation will be the outcome. Did you ever notice that after a seige, the press and authorities try their damnable best to dig up all the dirt that they can on individuals. It disgusts me that this is being done again, and I am asking all the people that knew the 2 victims, and the families all band together so that the memories of the 2 murdered men will not be slandered and thrown mud and sick assumptions at, is it is the technique to try to swing public opinion to the side of the government against the awful things they do and are doing. Do you realize how very chained to ignorance and evil a person is to be in their shoes? If they do not answer here on earth for the crimes such as Pine Ridge, Waco, Ruby Ridge, and Rainbow Farms, the Vietnam War, nuclear reactors, etc etc etc, they will have to answer to their creator, and they are in deep trouble! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 16:54:31 PT |
| I think we work very well together. You've been a very good teacher. You've taught me the need to verify information and I'm still learning about so much. I hope that people from the area will post information so we all know. I also hope that those that are going to the funeral will take a camera and video. We need explanations so we can know what really happened. Peace, Martha [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by The Offspring on September 06, 2001 at 16:49:43 PT |
| What is going on in the USA. I thought your Government was "By the People, for the people" but it doesn't look that way anymore. Why was Tom Crosslin and Rolland Rohm murdered. It surely wasn't for public safety. If the cops and FBI agents left the farm I don't think the public would have been in any danger. If this happened in Canada ,I would guarentee that both men would be alive today {I can't really guarantee it but there is a good probability}. Everyone knew once the FBI took over that this would end violently {Waco}. I hope the American People can take their Government back because it is setting a bad example for the reat of the World, which your Government tries to control. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #8 posted by Richard Lake on September 06, 2001 at 16:46:23 PT:
|
| Martha, we sure make a great team on the 'net, don't we? Being one of the Michigan activists that knew the guys well, I have been receiving and making a lot of phone calls. It is hard to confirm everything happening on the ground and we do not want to tell folks things that turn out not to be for real. However, I will let you know what I can confirm immediatly so you can post it here. There is a bookmark now for the MAP archives of news stories, many from your work, Martha. Click the link! [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #7 posted by lookinside on September 06, 2001 at 16:37:31 PT:
|
| are like dogs...the more of them you gather together, the stupider and more violent they become...they had quite a pack there vying for the opportunity to show off their killing and lying skills... every last one of them should be tried for murder, accessory they behaved like a pack of blood lusting mutts and should [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by The GCW on September 06, 2001 at 16:10:31 PT |
| Try to find that info in the web and web varifyable, and send in the info to MAP. they will archive it along with the other 65K + news articles etc. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/index.htm below is the place to go to send in the info. This site will help those in the vicinity to act accordingly. + Gary, that's 125+ &&& THEY HAD A TANK. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Kathy on September 06, 2001 at 16:05:16 PT |
| The FBI must be held responsible for their crimes against humanity. Pine Ridge, Ruby Ridge, Waco, now Rainbow Farms...no matter how any one feels about the use of hemp/marijuana, nothing can justify the FBI murders of the 2 men at Rainbow Farms.....the FBI has had a long secret history of human rights violations. I was one of their victims during the Vietnam war, and I was almost killed by them when they put a needle in my arm and forcibly shot me up with drugs, took my child from me, incarcerated me without a trial, built a case against me etc....I know that they are a batch of misguided renegades, that murder and destroy lives, they plot and plan underhanded frame ups, and work in the dark until they surface to try to whitewash their crimes. I saw the news this morning. The FBI disgusts me that they think they did a good thing at Rainbow Farms. I am asking that the people at Rainbow Farms that are left to tell the story get a press release out asap. I emailed international activists about the news. I hope what happened comes to light. I was never lucky enough to come to Rainbow Farms or know the people there, but I am in solidarity with you. I apppreciate the environmental things on the rainbow website, such as organics and recycling. I am praying that God will give you strength and help you through this great tragedy, and I also think you should secure a very good attorney, contact human rights and peace groups, and prepare a good defense as well as to bring the murderers in the FBI to account, to trial, and condemn them all for their crimes against humanity. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #4 posted by Free Liberty on September 06, 2001 at 15:19:27 PT:
|
| Here is a Rainbow Farm page, petition, and webring: not to glamorize violence, but to protest Drug Laws in general and to support their intended goals... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by sm247 on September 06, 2001 at 14:54:37 PT |
| Protest march approved in Elkhart,Indiana Sept. 15th. Permit applied for by Helen Russell whose son was shot by a police officer investigating "suspected drug activity" at Weston Plaza Hotel July 3rd of this year. I can't find an article about this on the web but it appeared in our local paper and was released by the AP. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 13:33:50 PT |
Check out the picture on the page. So the main house is burned down too? Is this new or just new to me? Plus Matt Elrod was so kind as to mirror The Rainbow Farm's web site. Thank You Matt!
http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/rainbowfarm/ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on September 06, 2001 at 13:05:46 PT |
| "As many as 60-75 FBI agents, 30-35 sheriff's deputies, and another 35 state troopers were called in during the stand-off, according to law enforcement officials." I guess they needed such a large crew to make sure the evidence was destroyed and the coverup fully in place. How many FBI agents does it take to execute two American heroes? [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |