cannabisnews.com: Crosslin Warned of Possible Shootout










  Crosslin Warned of Possible Shootout

Posted by FoM on September 07, 2001 at 10:53:35 PT
By Mike Rupert, H-P Staff Writer 
Source: Herald-Palladium 

More than two years before a five-day standoff with police would leave him dead and buildings at his Rainbow Farm campground burned to the ground, Tom Crosslin already was forecasting his fate. "I have discussed this with my family and we are all prepared to die on this land before we allow it to be stolen from us," Crosslin wrote in a March 29, 1999, letter to Cass County Prosecutor Scott Teter. Teter had sent Crosslin a letter five days earlier warning him he could lose his 34-acre farm if drug use and distribution there continued. 
"How should we be prepared to die?" Crosslin asked. "Are you planning to burn us out like they did in Waco, or will you have snipers shoot us through our windows like the Weavers in Ruby Ridge?"Maybe the Governor can call in the National Guard for another Kent State?"While Crosslin's statement seems prophetic, Teter said during a press conference Thursday that law enforcement officials made every effort to avoid violence and the use of force in their dealings with Crosslin, 46, and his 28-year-old partner, Rolland Rohm."This a tragedy that could have easily been avoided," Teter said. "We wanted to avoid having a highly combustible dangerous situation, we wanted to avoid a Kent State situation. "Although it took longer, we thought if we took it to the court system, where Mr. Crosslin could present his side and we could present our side, we could avoid a potentially dangerous confrontation. Unfortunately, that didn't happen."Crosslin was shot to death Monday after authorities said he pointed a gun at an FBI agent. Rohm was killed by police Tuesday after he exited the farm's main house, which had been set on fire, and aimed a gun at a Michigan State Police officer, authorities said. The standoff began Friday after Crosslin missed a bond revocation hearing and neighbors reported he was burning buildings. The Cass County Sheriff's Department said an anonymous call warned them the fire was set up to ambush police, so officers set up a perimeter around the camp for safety reasons. The FBI became involved after reports that shots had been fired from the campground at a WNDU-TV news helicopter and an unmarked police plane.Critics say Teter and other law enforcement went overboard in pursuing Crosslin and Rohm, who favored the decriminalization of marijuana, and pressured the two men to their breaking point."Remember, we are pacifists, we do not allow weapons on our farm," said Crosslin in the same 1999 letter to Teter. "We are striving to bring about peaceful change from within the system of laws set up for that purpose."Yet in the same letter, Crosslin hinted at a more violent means. "Our friends at the Michigan Militia have their ideas of how we should handle your threats," Crosslin said. "But as I said, we are pursuing a peaceful change ...""You have the opportunity to help us change the world in a positive direction or you have the opportunity to continue the path you are on and have the blood of a government massacre on your hands."Legalization of marijuana not the issue Teter denied his actions had anything to do with Crosslin's political beliefs."This is not about whether or not marijuana should be legalized," Teter said. "I understand Mr. Crosslin felt very strongly for that belief. I have no problem with people believing that. But you can't disobey the laws you don't believe in."Teter said police first heard about the Rainbow Farm festivals in the summer of 1997, when they began receiving complaints of trespassing, littering, noise and property damage. Law enforcement officials began gathering evidence over the next year and sent several warnings to Crosslin of possible legal action, but none was taken due to lack of sufficient evidence, the prosecutor said. In the summer of 1999, Teter said law enforcement officials attempted to shut down the farm's operations based on a lack of permits for "large gatherings" and failure to comply with county health codes for campgrounds.Crosslin responded by obtaining a temporary campground permit and a non-profit status for the farm which excluded him from the county " large gathering" ordinance, the prosecutor said. After receiving the permits, Teter dropped his complaints against the farm.That same summer, undercover officers observed widespread drug use and sales during festivals and were able to purchase "liquid" acid and marijuana, Teter said.In the summer of 2000, investigations were increased, and a confidential informant became one of 20 Rainbow Farm employees. The informant reported employees were paid strictly in cash, with no taxes being withheld.Officers able to buy drugs At the same time, undercover officers from the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team were able to buy marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, hashish, LSD, mushrooms and prescription drugs at four festivals at Rainbow Farm from 1999 through April of this year, Teter said. "We're not talking about the selective private use of marijuana - that's not what was occurring there," Teter said. "We're talking about the widespread use and distribution of not only marijuana, but virtually every other controlled substance available."(Our undercover officers) were able to purchase everything but heroin."Teter showed a short video of what he said were about a dozen drug transactions and instances of drug use on various dates during the two-year period, including shots of festival security guards smoking marijuana. Police officials said students as young as 14 from Buchanan, Lakeshore, Bridgman, Coloma and other area high schools had attended the festival concerts in the two years SWET was working undercover at Rainbow Farm.On the morning of April 21, Konrad Hornack, a Coloma High School student from Eau Claire, was killed when he drove his vehicle into a school bus carrying the Eau Claire High School softball team after he attended what was billed as the 420 Festival at the farm.A toxicology report showed marijuana in his bloodstream. The amount was enough to impair his driving and judgment of space and distance, the doctor making the report said. "The potential risk to citizens of our community with 3,000-4,000 people coming in, using controlled substances and then entering onto the roads of our communities," left him no choice but to act, Teter said. "When they market festivals at the high schools, I have no choice. "And when a young man drives into a school bus because of what he was involved out there and kills himself, I have no choice."Mr. Crosslin and Mr. Rohm had a choice. What happened doesn't mean they're bad people, it just means they made bad choices."Drugs found at farm State police believe 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 and weapons charges. The five were arrested after police executed a search warrant - originally for business records - at the farm and found 301 marijuana plants, growing equipment and three loaded guns.After the arrests, Teter said complaints were filed seeking forfeiture of the property and a temporary injunction against holding any more festivals. Crosslin was released on $150,000 bond and charged with marijuana manufacture, maintaining a drug house, and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. Because of a prior felony conviction in 1995 for attempted assault with a deadly weapon, Crosslin was ineligible to own a pistol and was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Rohm was released on $25,000 bond.Police believe the boy's removal may have been a catalyst for the standoff, but Teter said law enforcement officials made efforts to keep the boy in contact with his father. A May 16 court order allowed Rohm weekly visitation with his son, even though Rohm faced up to 15 years in prison and was not entitled to any visitation, Teter said."The child was living in the house at the time of the arrests," Teter said. "He was living on top of the growing operation and among the unsecured weapons. Anytime a child is found in a home with controlled substance we are required to fill out a report to the state."Teter said all reports showed the visitations seemed to be going well.Court order violated Despite several more orders extending the prohibition of festivals planned throughout this summer, a small festival was held Aug. 17-18.An undercover officer attended the event and was passed a pipe containing marijuana by Crosslin and also witnessed Rohm smoking marijuana, Teter said. On Aug. 2., Teter filed motions to revoke the two men's bonds and hold Crosslin in contempt for violating the injunction against holding festivals. A hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.Crosslin and Rohm failed to show and Teter said reports of fires being set at Rainbow Farms had already been reported.Source: Herald-Palladium, The (MI)Author: Mike Rupert, H-P Staff WriterPublished: Friday, September 07, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Herald-PalladiumContact: letters heraldpalladium.comWebsite: http://www.heraldpalladium.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Rainbow Farm Campgroundhttp://www.rainbowfarmcampground.com/Tom Crosslin & Rolland Rohm Memorial http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/rb.htmCamp Drew Line in Blood http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10847.shtmlFBI, MSP Defend Shootingshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10836.shtmlCannabis News Articles - Tom Crosslinhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Crosslin 

END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on September 09, 2001 at 00:38:12 PT
tdm, thanks!
Martin Luther King said the same thing in effect.."It is American duty to break laws that are bad."ff
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 07, 2001 at 21:18:10 PT
News Brief - WNDU-TV 
Letter Gives Insight to Crosslin's IntentionsSource: WNDU - TVPublished: September 07, 2001Copyright 2001 Michiana Telecasting Corp. Website: http://www.wndu.com/news/ It was one week ago when Newscenter 16 first brought news of a standoff at the Rainbow Farms campground in Vandalia. No one could have predicted the deadly outcome for campground owner Tom Crosslin and his partner Rolland Rohm.Friday, Newscenter 16 obtained a copy of a letter Crosslin wrote to the Cass County Prosecutor more than two years ago. It's a two page letter dated March 29, 1999 to Prosecutor, Scott Teeter. In it, Crosslin responds to what he calls threats by the Prosecutors Office to seize his land. Ordered to stop drug-related events:Teeter ordered Crosslin to stop conducting marijuana related gatherings at the now demolished Rainbow Farms near Vandalia. Yesterday, they released undercover video that showed the marijuana use at the campground. Crosslin felt marijuana should be legalized and said he wanted to change the laws peacefully. But he also said he would be willing to die for his beliefs. It may seem, to some, that Crosslin foresaw the standoff that ended with his death this week.A letter he wrote to the Cass County Prosecutors Office in March of 1999 said, “Our friends at the Michigan militia have their ideas of how we should handle your threats, but as I said, we are pursuing a peaceful change to the laws...We are pacifists, we do not allow weapons on our farm."Last Friday however, gunfire erupted from the campground, marking the first day of the five-day standoff.Willing to die for beliefs:The letter reads on and clearly stated Crosslin's intentions. "I have discussed this with my family and we are all prepared to die on this land before we allow it be to stolen from us...Will you have snipers shoot us through our windows like at Ruby Ridge?," he wrote. Then, in what seems like self fulfilling prophecy, Crosslin died by police gunfire on Monday. Rohm met the same fate on Tuesday.In the meantime, funeral services for Tom Crosslin will be held Saturday morning at eleven o’clock. Rohm’s funeral has yet to be scheduled. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by tdm on September 07, 2001 at 17:32:29 PT:
civil disobedience
Now seems like a good time for us all to review this classic by Thoreau. If you've never read it, get to it. It's a requirement for liberty lovers.
Civil Disobedience
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by lookinside on September 07, 2001 at 17:20:04 PT:
tdm...agreed...
and when a government turns putrid, turning it's back on theideas on which it originally founded, revolution is the onlycourse...we will suffer a pogrom....this is the beginning...do we goquietly to the showers?we can be safe, or we can be free...we can't have both ...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by tdm on September 07, 2001 at 14:54:58 PT
Thoreau said it best
"This is not about whether or not marijuana should be legalized," Teter said. "I understand Mr. Crosslin felt very strongly for that belief. I have no problem with people believing that. But you can't disobey the laws you don't believe in."One of our country's greatest thinkers and writers felt otherwise...Anyone in a free society where the laws are unjust has an obligation to break the law.--Henry David Thoreau
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by objective on September 07, 2001 at 11:37:26 PT:
Martyrs and Patriots
These men were valiant martyrs and should be exalted. Every war has its heroes, and the drug war is no exception. There should be a wall or monument somewhere with the inscriptions of the many names of people who have fought for the personal freedoms which we are denied, but constitutionally guaranteed. It is an honor to die as these men did, and as the insanity continues, there will be more deaths. They were true modern patriots.
[ Post Comment ]




  Post Comment