cannabisnews.com: Inside The Campground










  Inside The Campground

Posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 07:36:56 PT
By Christine Cox, Tribune Staff Writer 
Source: South Bend Tribune 

Even though he didn't see them at first, Grover T. "Tom" Crosslin apparently knew police were watching. During a standoff that started Friday, Crosslin and his roommate, Rolland Rohm, fired periodically into the trees surrounding Rainbow Farm Campground to keep police back, state police Detective Lt. John Slenk said Wednesday.And when he spotted an FBI agent Monday afternoon after stealing supplies and a coffee pot from a neighbor's vacant home, Crosslin, dressed in camouflage from head to toe and armed with a semiautomatic rifle, was ready to shoot, said John E. Bell Jr., FBI special agent in charge of the state of Michigan.
When he caught sight of the agent lying in the brush about 25 feet away, Crosslin "immediately brought the gun up and pointed it at the agent," Bell said. The agent shouted "FBI, FBI" and ordered Crosslin to put the gun down. When Crosslin didn't comply, two of three FBI agents nearby fired shots and killed him, Bell said.Those were among the details released during a news media tour of 34-acre Rainbow Farm about the deaths of Crosslin, 46, and Rohm, 28, who was shot and killed Tuesday morning by Michigan State Police at the farm at 59896 Pemberton Road. Two state troopers shot at Rohm. It was not clear whether one or two hit him, police said.A third man, Brandon Peoples, 18, of Vandalia, was with Crosslin and Rohm during the standoff, but suffered only minor injuries and was not hospitalized, police said. Peoples has been told by the FBI not to discuss details of the standoff publicly, his father and girlfriend have said.While police have not said how many times Rohm was shot or where on his body he was hit, they did give information about events leading up to his death.After negotiating with police by radio and public address system after Crosslin's death, Rohm agreed to surrender at 7 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Slenk said."He indicated that he just wanted to go to bed and sleep because he was tired," Slenk said."He would talk to his son in the morning and then surrender. So in the morning when they moved in to accept his surrender, he burned the house. Once the house started burning, everything went sideways from there."Police made arrangements for Rohm's 13-year-old son Robert, who currently lives in a foster home, to speak with his father. But Rohm's plans either changed or, as Slenk suspects, he was trying to lure authorities to the home under false pretenses.At about 6:15 a.m. EDT Tuesday, police surveying the scene saw smoke and fire coming from the house, Slenk said.As police approached in an armored car, they saw Rohm dressed in camouflage and face paint carrying a rifle, driven from the blazing house. Rohm caught sight of a state police officer who did not see him and aimed his gun at the officer.Two other state troopers downhill from Rohm ordered him to put down his gun. He was shot and killed when he did not comply, said Capt. Richard Dragomer, the Paw Paw-based 5th District commander for Michigan State Police.Investigators said both men's Ruger mini 14 semiautomatic rifles were loaded with bullets in the chambers.They were also apparently expecting to receive fire from police.Slenk said Crosslin and Rohm had blocked the windows of the two-story home with bales of hay to prevent bullets from coming through. The men also used propane tanks as booby traps in the house to explode when the house was lit, Slenk said.Heat also set off ammunition in the house and one pipe bomb went off during the fire, police said."There were multiple explosions," Slenk said of the home burning after Rohm set it on fire Tuesday morning. "It sounded like the Fourth of July out here."Newberg Township Fire Department put out several hot spots on the property Tuesday morning after Rohm's death. The department was also on scene Wednesday. One firefighter said no fire departments had been out to the scene before Tuesday because Crosslin would not allow them on the property.Bell said there were 10 buildings on the property that were all burned to the ground except for a "ratty old chicken coop" and a doghouse.The chickens stayed near their coop on Wednesday.The other buildings included the house, a store, camping huts and sheds. Now they are not much more than black piles of debris throughout an otherwise hilly, lush green site.Bell said investigators found several weapons, hundreds of shell casings and evidence of a pipe bomb.State police fire marshals said they did not find evidence of accelerants in any of the buildings.Other law enforcement from various FBI divisions from Detroit and Washington, D.C., state police and the state police fire marshal division combed the scene for bullets, shells and other evidence.They found no booby traps or tunnels on the property as had been rumored, Bell said. They did find the remnants of revolvers, long guns and ammunition containers, he said. All weapons on the scene were legal.A bomb dog, cadaver dog and fire dog were working the scene as well.As well as investigating Rainbow Farm, state police also searched Crosslin's historical home, a former Underground Railroad site, at the corner of Michigan 60 and Calvin Center Road on Tuesday, Slenk said. He did not know what, if anything, they found.Slenk said the shooting of a WNDU-TV news helicopter on Friday and taking shots at other aircraft on Saturday was a clear message from Crosslin to police that "I'm willing to shoot planes out of the air and I'll shoot you."A federal warrant was issued Monday for Crosslin for the aircraft shootings.He also faced charges from May for manufacturing marijuana, more than 200 plants; maintaining a drug house; felony firearm possession during the commission of a crime; and firearm possession by a felon.He had posted a $150,000 bond and was released.Rohm was initially charged with manufacturing marijuana, more than 200 plants; maintaining a drug house; and felony firearms. The last two charges were dismissed on June 22, court records show. He had posted $25,000 bond on the charges.The standoff started Friday, the same day Crosslin and Rohm were to appear in Cass County Circuit court on a bond revocation hearing. Police said they observed the men smoking marijuana on Aug. 17.The investigation into alleged drug activity at the farm has resulted in a civil suit seeking the public seizure of the land under the federal Controlled Substance Act.Crosslin's funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home & Crematory in Elkhart.Arrangements for Rohm were pending Wednesday night at the Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home in Nappanee.Note: Police give added details on standoff.Source: South Bend Tribune (IN)Published: September 06, 2001Copyright: 2001 South Bend TribuneContact: vop sbtinfo.comWebsite: http://www.southbendtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Rainbow Farm Campgroundhttp://www.rainbowfarmcampground.com/ Pair Saw One Escape: Death http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10832.shtmlCrosslin's Passions Led To Downfallhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10828.shtmlFatal Ending: Vandalia Standoff Claims 2nd Lifehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10827.shtml

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Comment #16 posted by tdm on September 07, 2001 at 06:26:55 PT:

reach out to Rohm's son -- crosspost
After listening to Richard Cowan's analysis (link below), I was struck by his comments regarding Rohm's son. This boy is now without a family. I read that his grandparents were going to try to gain custody, but that does little to ease the pain he must be feeling right now. Imagining what he must be going through at age 13 is painful. My father died when I was 16, but that seems to pale in comparison.My thought -- we need to let this boy know he has an extended family of thousands, if not millions. Two ideas came to me: 1) If we can find out how to reach him, we can all send him a word of encouragement in a card or letter, letting him know he is far, far from alone in this world. 2) We can show the world the love and compassion in each of us by establishing a trust fund for his ongoing care, wherever he may end up. Imagine if everyone who ever inhaled sent just $1. A $70,000,000 trust fund might just do the job. I'm sure that's not exactly what would happen, but we can sure give it our best shot.I'd like to hear comments. And anyone who has the expertise to set up such a fund, please contact me and I will do everything within my power to help see that it happens. Likewise, if you know how we can get cards and letters to the boy (anyone know his name?), please post the information here. We can then spread the word to the entire online community.
Richard Cowan - POT-TV
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Comment #15 posted by dddd on September 07, 2001 at 03:45:45 PT

Yes...Robbie and Schmeff
Why???  .why would ANYBODY be told not to discuss the detailsof the standoff publicly?????? Give me one good reason!...heck,,give me one crummy reason...????" Peoples has been told by the FBI not to discuss details of the standoff  publicly, his father and girlfriend have said."WHY NOT???What "details" of this event are not recommended for publicscrutiny???,,,,and WHY!This in itself,should be a Mega-Shocker Scandal-O-Matic,,,What the F*ck is going on here?How ironic that the guys name is Peoplesdddd
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Comment #14 posted by w b ere on September 07, 2001 at 03:17:20 PT

cary on preaching
I hear wat ure saying legerlise it now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Comment #13 posted by lookinside on September 06, 2001 at 17:46:22 PT:

a letter to the tribune...
re: inside the campground...I found this article to be so biased that your credibilityas a source of news has been severely compromised...i wouldsuggest that a lengthy interview with Brandon Peoples is inorder to get a more truthful version of events leading up tothe death of Tom Crosslin...Quoting police innuendos isrediculous at best and more likely sinister in it'simplications of your agenda when reporting a case of themost extreme violation of these men's civil rights...Shameon you...               Frank L. Cowsert Jr.
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Comment #12 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on September 06, 2001 at 15:18:39 PT:

So Much wrong with this story.
There is SO much wrong here, I havent a clue where to begin. Thank God others are involved too.Its clear having control of the media is the FBI/Law Enforcement 's main strategy in this situation.100 Officers for 2 hippies? Sounds like a Death Squad. All those law enforcement officer's testimoney will be a carbon copy of the FBI-Justice Depatment Choreography.It is profiundly nauseating. America is Gone.
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Comment #11 posted by msg on September 06, 2001 at 12:26:40 PT:

The Swiss Cheese Account
so many holes in this story.>Rohm caught sight of a state police officer who did not see him and aimed his gun at the officer.Wasen't this supposed to be a stand-off? Are they saying that cops were just standing around where they could be shot at?Come on.
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Comment #10 posted by smileysmiles on September 06, 2001 at 11:31:44 PT

ACTION
I can see where you are coming from MDG as I have been there myself. I would also like to point out "how do the media know they are being told the truth?” "How do the people know they are being told the truth by the media?” The simple fact is that a very select few know the real truth. Everything else is speculation. And in most cases that speculation is biased by the personal beliefs, thoughts and ideas of all concerned on all sides. The most important truth, from where I'm standing, is that no person is free until they have infinite choice that does not impinge on another person’s freedom. Assumption is the mother of all F* ! ups. I don't have to assume that the government is taking our rights. I know. It's there in black and white, written down, for anyone to see. "I think this happened..." stories won't convince the public at large, the ones who have to be convinced in order for change to take place. The media is the main source of information whether that is true or false. And until there is a loud enough voice within the media to get your point across the information will be as it is now. "If the truth is told in a way in which it is understood, it will be believed". Action, and I know there has been a lot up until now, is the most effective way at the moment to get a point across.God rest every soul that has died for what they believed.
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Comment #9 posted by schmeff on September 06, 2001 at 10:46:25 PT

Cleaning-up Loose Ends
Peoples has been told by the FBI not to discuss details of the standoff publicly, his father and girlfriend have said.Kind of chilling, wouldn't you say? I wonder how it was put to him..."Mr. Peoples, we really can't be having any contradictions to our official account of the incident; we would hate to see any accidents befall you or any members of your family, so please don't give us any reasons to talk to you again."He is then released from custody, so that when he does have an accident, it will not be in the FBI's backyard. Meanwhile, the agent who failed to take Peoples out when Crosslin was executed is now heading-up the field office in Winnemucca NV.
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Comment #8 posted by MDG on September 06, 2001 at 10:09:21 PT

Repeat performance...other can be deleted.
Slenk said the shooting of a WNDU-TV news helicopter on Friday and taking shots at other aircraft on Saturday was a clear message from Crosslin to police that "I'm willing to shoot planes out of the air and I'll shoot you." Is there proof that Crosslin fired at aircraft? Wouldn't one suspect that if he were being hunted by the FBI and having his property seized by the government, he would want the news cameras around? Do you think it's likely that Crosslin shot a helicopter considering the FBI/LEOs can get off a head-shot with pinpoint accuracy before Crosslin could even squeeze the trigger? Or the fact that LEOs don't like prying cameras, is it possible that Crosslin didn't fire on a helicopter? I mean, nevermind that innocent until proven guilty bit.Police made arrangements for Rohm's 13-year-old son Robert, who currently lives in a foster home, to speak with his father. But Rohm's plans either changed or, as Slenk suspects, he was trying to lure authorities to the home under false pretenses.Yeah, once again, he was trying to booby-trap the LEOs with pipe bombs, propane tanks and escape through the Waco-styled tunnels they had burrowed in anticipation. That's certainly not a smear. My guess would be this: Rohm believed what the police told him, that he could speak with his son. So, he decided "Hey, they're not getting my house" and torched it. Not a bad idea, if you ask me. So, the Feds got pissed and killed him, whether or not they suspected "false pretenses". Control freaks get angry when they're not in control.Police said they observed the men smoking marijuana on Aug. 17. Quick! Arrest these men with the demon weed before they become holed-up, camouflaged, booby-trapping, tunnel-burrowing, hay-bale window blocking, helicopter-shooting, house-burning, armed felons ahn druuugs! No, what we'll do, is proceed with our unConstitutional seizure of the property, and execute the men later, after no one is watching of course, with our highly-trained sniper, uh I mean, observation teams. Or, let's just look at these two short paragraphs, and see what might have happened:And when he spotted an FBI agent Monday afternoon after stealing supplies and a coffee pot from a neighbor's vacant home, Crosslin, dressed in camouflage from head to toe and armed with a semiautomatic rifle, was ready to shoot, said John E. Bell Jr., FBI special agent in charge of the state of Michigan.When he caught sight of the agent lying in the brush about 25 feet away, Crosslin "immediately brought the gun up and pointed it at the agent," Bell said. The agent shouted "FBI, FBI" and ordered Crosslin to put the gun down. When Crosslin didn't comply, two of three FBI agents nearby fired shots and killed him, Bell said.Okay, he steals from his neighbor (did he have previous permission from the neighbor to take something if he needed it? Possibly, but it looks better to shoot a thief than an innocent man, right? After all, he's ready to shoot). So, he somehow spots an agent who's lying down. Is the agent observing? Yeah, right through the scope of a high-powered rifle. Not exactly bird-watching here. Now, they say they repeatedly identified themselves as FBI agents and ordered Crosslin to disarm himself all in the time it took a ready-to-fire person to draw the rifle to his shoulder and not pull the trigger. Sounds fishy to me.I wasn't there either, but I want the War on Rights to end. In fact, I think it's unreasonable to not take sides for this reason: a person who will not assume the government is stealing their rights is allowing them to be stolen. Rights and Freedom are inseparable, and should be guarded jealously. Complacency has caused the situation in which we find ourselves today. The government deserves NO credit, and it should not be assumed they act justly. Is it coincidence that Terry Nichols is now being charged with murder? No.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 06, 2001 at 09:27:11 PT

Just a Note
I am in need of a few hours of rest. This is really intense. I know I'm missing articles about the drug war but I know Mapinc. covers them and I thought it would be best to stay close to this sad story. I will be posting other news very soon and for the people who email me I'm really sorry but I just don't have enough time in a day to respond to all the emails but I do read them all and thanks again.I'll keep my eyes open for news but I'm just going to slow the pace down a little and catch my breath.Thank you all for being so great through all of this.
Tom Crosslin & Rolland Rohm Memorial 
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Comment #5 posted by Patrick on September 06, 2001 at 09:15:31 PT

Dead Wrong
"The standoff started Friday, the same day Crosslin and Rohm were to appear in Cass County Circuit court on a bond revocation hearing. Police said they observed the men smoking marijuana on Aug. 17.The investigation into alleged drug activity at the farm has resulted in a civil suit seeking the public seizure of the land under the federal Controlled Substance Act."Two major things are wrong here:1. Smoking or growing marijuana needs to be recognized as not being a crime. It is less harmful than violation of speeding laws. Certainly, it is not a crime that requires forfeiture of ones property followed by a swift execution. Lethal force to serve a warrant for marijuana smoking is a crime = to murder.2. Laws designed to seize property are a crime = to grand theft. These laws were passed with the intention of hurting huge wealthy drug kingpins. In reality, all these laws accomplish is the corruption of our law enforcement agencies as they make a grab for otherwise peaceful citizen's property. Law enforcement should never be a "for profit enterprise." These laws are exactly opposite the guarantees in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Both documents apparently mean nothing to those that currently hold power at the barrel of a gun. Just when I begin to think that I live in an enlightened age, I find the dark side of human nature emerge as being in "charge."
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Comment #4 posted by Robbie on September 06, 2001 at 09:13:36 PT

Official version of events v2.3
A third man, Brandon Peoples, 18, of Vandalia, was with Crosslin and Rohm during the standoff, but suffered only minor injuries and was not hospitalized, police said. Peoples has been told by the FBI not to discuss details of the standoff publicly, his father and girlfriend have said.If everything the cops and feds say is so above board, why is the information Mr. Peoples has so un-utterable? Are they worried about what people will actually think? As opposed the to the pap being fed to these over-eager reporters.Investigators said both men's Ruger mini 14 semiautomatic rifles were loaded with bullets in the chambers.But from http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread10835.shtmlwe get:Crosslin raised his .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle to shoulder height and was fatally shot by two agents from a distance of about 25 feet.So what is it coppies? Did Crosslin have a Ruger or a 22? You should get your obfuscations straight before you talk to the press lapdogs.Bell said there were 10 buildings on the property that were all burned to the ground except for a "ratty old chicken coop" and a doghouseBy all means...seize the chicken coop. Another trophy in the War On Drugs.State police fire marshals said they did not find evidence of accelerants in any of the buildings.But didn't the FBI guy say that proppane tanks were intentionally set inside so that the houses would burn more quickly? When two *official* versions get published, it's easy to see that we're not getting the *real* version.A federal warrant was issued Monday for Crosslin for the aircraft shootings.Federal warrant? Call it what it is....federal death sentence.
Freedom To Exhale memorial
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Comment #3 posted by Rock-N-Roller on September 06, 2001 at 08:16:19 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.
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Comment #2 posted by smileysmiles on September 06, 2001 at 08:05:54 PT

How do you know?
I'm not taking sides here as I wasn't there. How do you know it is a smear campaign? The issue seems to be getting a little blurred here. All I want is cannabis to be legalised.
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Comment #1 posted by tdm on September 06, 2001 at 07:46:24 PT

propaganda juggernaut
And so the smear campaign shifts into high gear. I'm sickened all over again.
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