cannabisnews.com: Campground Owner Killed After Four-Day Standoff Campground Owner Killed After Four-Day Standoff Posted by FoM on September 03, 2001 at 20:58:41 PT Breaking News Source: CNN.com A campground owner involved in four-day standoff with police in rural southwestern Michigan was shot and killed Monday evening, according to a source at the multi-agency task force headquarters created to deal with the standoff. The task force was composed of members of the FBI, the Michigan State Police and the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Tom Crosslin, 46, owner of Rainbow Farm Campground, was wanted on federal charges for firing at an aircraft, in addition to state drug and firearms charges. Police and the FBI tried for four days to talk with Crosslin, who was holed up in a house on the property along with two other people. The standoff began Friday after gunfire was reported on the campground, which according to its Web site advocates legalizing the use of marijuana. A forfeiture proceeding was initiated against the property in May. When sheriff's deputies responded Friday and found several structures on fire, Crosslin began firing gunshots as they attempted to approach the structures, authorities said. Neighbors told police Crosslin had warned "all hell was going to break loose," and officials evacuated nearby residents. WNDU-TV in South Bend, Indiana, said its news helicopter was struck Friday by one of the bullets as it flew over the scene to cover the fires. The station broadcast pictures of a bullet hole in the helicopter's stabilizer. Sheriff's officials notified area airport control towers Friday to keep aircraft out of the area after several gunshots were also fired at an unmarked Michigan State Police aircraft and a civilian aircraft. Later that day, a warrant was issued for Crosslin's arrest when he failed to make a scheduled court appearance in connection with a prior drug charge. An official with the sheriff's office said authorities were going to revoke Crosslin's bond because he was again allegedly involved in drug activity. Another warrant -- for felony possession of a firearm -- was issued after Crosslin was spotted carrying an "assault-type weapon," the sheriff's statement said. A statement from the sheriff's office said Monday that Crosslin also faced "a federal complaint and an arrest warrant has been authorized for attempted destruction of an aircraft." Vandalia is in southwestern Michigan, about 30 miles north of South Bend, Indiana. Newshawk: RobbieSource: CNN (US)Published: September 3, 2001Copyright: 2001 Cable News Network, Inc.Contact: cnn.feedback cnn.comWebsite: http://www.cnn.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Rainbow Farm Campgroundhttp://www.rainbowfarmcampground.com/Campground Owner Shot Dead by FBI http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10807.shtmlFBI Steps in To Help Relieve Officers in Michigan http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10804.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by Rock-N-Roller on September 04, 2001 at 22:40:44 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, and Normal to attend the funerals and deliver the eulogies. We need to have thousands of people attend the services, so many people it overcomes the place, 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. 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. Get up, Stand up, Stand up for your right. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by lookinside on September 04, 2001 at 04:41:52 PT: dddd... this is the point i'm trying to make...a dozen protesters amile away from the action is something to be ignored..if theroads had been clogged with people, and vehicles, all movingtoward the site...witnesses to the injustice, video camerasin hand...do you think the orders would have been the same?maybe...but a few eyewitnesses other than law enforcementmight have made a difference...if this slides by with no protest, maybe they'll go afterthe co-ops next...time to get involved, folks... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Lou Vee on September 04, 2001 at 03:02:48 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 getsome 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 #5 posted by dddd on September 04, 2001 at 01:12:16 PT hi moonz ..I hear ya when you talk about a lack of Marijuana usersstepping out,and standing up for the cause,,,but things arepretty spooky and brutal nowdays...how big of a blip do youthink a person could make by physically approaching the Rainbowfarm,and trying to speak out?....They shot Mr Crosslin in theforehead,and that didnt even make the evening news. The outspoken protesters of today get clubbed,and incarceratedquicker than you can say,"what about my rights?"I dont mean tocritisize what you are saying,but if you've ever been there,andseen the new breed of storm trooper cops,gas, bat,and brutalizean outspoken protester,,it really makes you think twice aboutusing the bold approach of trying to make a glorious statement bycrossing police lines. I used to kinda think that the cops could never get away with crackingthe skull of a peaceful protester,,I always sorta thought that publicoutrage would prevent such events from occurring,,,but the outragegoes unreported,blacked out,and neutralized by the twisted mediaspin,,,and to add insult to injury,,the stories headline would read;"Anarcist crack-head marijuana protester injured in attempted assaulton law enforcement officer,whos wife is pregnant!".ddddP.S.thanx again rockinroller aka nottelling? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Will on September 04, 2001 at 01:03:06 PT: How about a memorial site for everyone? Why not make a memorial site for everyone who has ever been killed in the war on drugs? I feel just as much sorrow for the family of a police officer killed in a botched drug raid as I do for the families of those killed by the police. Both are victims of the drug war, whether they realize it or not. This is a civil war, in which Americans on both sides are dying, so why not honor the dead on both sides in an effort to promote peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by moonz on September 03, 2001 at 23:43:38 PT: a webpage for those martyred in the cause Grover (TOM) Crosslin was being persecuted for his views on marijuana use...standing up for his beliefs caused him to get killed...countless brave souls have lost their lives in the same manor...these people are the "bravehearts" of the cause...the "warriors", as the american indians would refer to them...unfortunately their bravery is far too unique, today...from what I can gather only a hand full of people even had the nerve to go near Crosslin's campground and show support for him...this is the great disgrace of the marijuana culture...the majority of us are pretty much gutless when it comes to real confrontation...that is probably why the marijuana laws are harsher now than they've ever been in the past 30 years...at the very least one of these "cause related" websites should maybe put up a webpage with pictures of these bravehearts amoung us...these martyrs to the cause...these warrior braves who believe so strongly that god gave them the absolute right to partake of the natural herb that they offer up their very lifeblood to display their conviction...such a webpage should surely humble us all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Rock-N-Roller on September 03, 2001 at 23:21:44 PT Another Patriot Another patriot, like the Minute Men, like the people involved with the Boston Tea Party, like Paul Revere. Yes these are just a few men that put lives on the line so we can have freedom. Freedom also for people that with the thinking of our lost souled brother, Winston. We should feel bad for people with the "Winston mindset" and try to educate them. Although this is a very tall order, I have tried it, and on occasion suceeded. It is very hard to do, and I will not give up. dddd is good at what he does, we can only hope that his words are heard well beyond this board where they need to be heard, all the way to congress. We have the numbers, they have the guns. The pen can be mightier than the sword, history shows, when applied properly. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by angel fang on September 03, 2001 at 22:21:21 PT: Atrocities and loss of rights Tom Crosslin reminds me of the American Patriot Patrick Henry who said, "Give me liberty or give me death" (You can follow a link to the statement at http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/henry-liberty.html Americans are losing the right to free speech and the right to bear arms. Prison populations are 6 times greater in the U.S. than other industrialized nations. Now DEATH AFTER DEATH for a drug war gone awry. The secret police, or the S.S. of the U.S. as I call them, are zeroing in and taking their score. Pity America. It is time to organize and act. May your future meetings go well at your next permanent farm. I think I may start a campground and invite G. Gordon Liddy to run his anti-anarchist group as an adjunct facility. Americans are losing the right to free speech and the right to bear arms. Prison populations are 6 times greater in the U.S. than other industrialized nations. The government has ways of pushing people until they go over the line. I pity the poor man who was killed and honor him.Contrary to popular belief, you are guilty until proven innocent if you are a common man in America. Vote Libertarian or Social Democrat. Corporations are whores, governments are their whips, and U.S. unions are the handles to the whips. Welcome to AmeriKa 2001.Now DEATH AFTER DEATH for a drug war gone awry. The secret police, or the S.S. of the U.S. as I call them, are zeroing in and taking their score. Pity America. It is time for a revolution. May your future meetings go well at your next permanent farm. I think I may start a campground and invite G. Gordon Liddy to run his anti-anarchist group as an adjunct facility. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment