Notice these things ALWAYS involve "weapons charges"... FBI again.

[E505]

Authorities Fatally Shoot Campground Owner After Four-Day Standoff

VANDALIA, Mich. — A campground owner facing felony drug and weapons charges was fatally shot by authorities Monday night after a four-day standoff, according to local media reports.


St. Joseph radio station WSJM reported that Grover T. Crosslin, 47, was shot and killed after he exited a building on his property with a gun and ignored authorities' requests to drop the weapon.

The Cass County Sheriff's Department declined to provide information, but the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune confirmed Crosslin had been killed.

An FBI spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The shooting occurred about 5 p.m., Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. told reporters at the scene about five hours later.

Two people who had been holed up with Crosslin were still at the campground, including 28-year-old Rolland Rohm, who lived with the owner. Police were still negotiating with those people, WSJM reported.

Earlier Monday, authorities said they were not planning to use force to end the standoff.

"We're certainly in no hurry, and we're not gonna rush this," said FBI Special Agent Dawn Clenney. "Our goal is to resolve this as peacefully as we can without violence."

Negotiators Monday afternoon were still trying to contact Crosslin directly after communicating with him through a third party, Clenney said.

A judge signed a warrant Monday charging him with attempted destruction of an aircraft and using a firearm in a felony, Clenney said.

Authorities alleged Crosslin, who owns the southwest Michigan campground called Rainbow Farm, shot a news helicopter from WNDU-TV in nearby South Bend, Ind., as it flew overhead Friday. Shots also were fired at an unmarked state police plane Saturday but missed, police said. Both aircraft landed safely without injuries.

The situation began Friday when deputies went to the farm after neighbors said Crosslin was burning buildings on his property, which is the target of civil forfeiture proceedings. It appears a house and four main buildings on the campground property have been burned since then, Underwood said.

Deputies said they believe Crosslin was upset about a bond revocation hearing scheduled for Friday because police believed he was violating the terms of his release. A bench warrant later was issued for his arrest.

Authorities arrested Crosslin and five others on drug charges in May after a two-year investigation into allegations of marijuana use at the 34-acre campground, Underwood said.

Crosslin was charged with felony possession of a firearm, growing marijuana and maintaining a drug house.

A court order issued in June prohibited Crosslin from having festival gatherings at the farm, whose Web site says it "supports the medical, spiritual and responsible recreational uses of marijuana for a more sane and compassionate America." Police allege he violated the order by holding a festival August 17-18, which prompted the bond hearing.

About a mile away from the campground, about a half-dozen people displayed placards in support of Crosslin and Rainbow Farm.

Crosslin's attorney, Dori Leo, said her client was upset because a child he helped raise has been taken from the home he shares with a friend.

The boy was placed in foster care about a month or two ago after Crosslin and the friend, Rolland Rohm, were charged with the drug counts, Leo told the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune.

[E505]

Source is FOXNews

http://www.foxnews.com

[E505]

More on this...

South Bend Tribune. is reporting now that the local SD was handling this for the first four days. Along comes FBI, wants to give him a phone to begin negotiations and within hours wa-la!

Crosslin became agitated after authorities brought a phone to him in an attempt to begin negotiations, Underwood said. Crosslin asked to speak with a third party, and when authorities denied the request, he began making threatening remarks and gestures, the sheriff said.

Crosslin left the building with another man and began walking around outside the building with his weapon.

Crosslin "approached an area where an FBI observer had been stationed, and upon seeing the FBI observer, Crosslin immediately raised the weapon to shoulder height and pointed it directly at the agent," Underwood said.

The FBI agent shot Crosslin once, the sheriff said.

Whole article here...



VANDALIA, Mich. — A campground owner facing drug and weapons charges was fatally shot by an FBI agent Monday night after a four-day standoff, authorities said.

Grover T. Crosslin, 47, was shot and killed after he walked out of a building with a rifle and pointed it at the agent, Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. said in a news release Monday night. The FBI did not immediately return calls for comment.

Crosslin became agitated after authorities brought a phone to him in an attempt to begin negotiations, Underwood said. Crosslin asked to speak with a third party, and when authorities denied the request, he began making threatening remarks and gestures, the sheriff said.

Crosslin left the building with another man and began walking around outside the building with his weapon.

Crosslin "approached an area where an FBI observer had been stationed, and upon seeing the FBI observer, Crosslin immediately raised the weapon to shoulder height and pointed it directly at the agent," Underwood said.

The FBI agent shot Crosslin once, the sheriff said.

Earlier Monday, authorities said they were not planning to use force to end the standoff at the southwest Michigan campsite.

"We're certainly in no hurry, and we're not gonna rush this," said FBI Special Agent Dawn Clenney. "Our goal is to resolve this as peacefully as we can without violence."

Negotiators until Monday had not been able to contact Crosslin directly and had been negotiating with him through one of two other people at the campsite, Clenney said.

Roland Rohm, who lived with Crosslin, remained inside the residence Monday night, and FBI agents were negotiating for his surrender, Underwood said.

A judge had signed a warrant Monday charging Crosslin with attempted destruction of an aircraft and using a firearm in a felony, Clenney said.

Authorities alleged Crosslin, who owns the southwest Michigan campground called Rainbow Farm, shot a news helicopter from WNDU-TV in nearby South Bend, Ind., as it flew overhead Friday. Shots also were fired at an unmarked state police plane Saturday but missed, police said. Both aircraft landed safely without injuries.

The situation began Friday when deputies went to the farm after neighbors said Crosslin was burning buildings on his property, which is the target of civil forfeiture proceedings. It appears a house and four main buildings on the campground property have been burned since then, Underwood said.

Deputies said they believe Crosslin was upset about a bond revocation hearing scheduled for Friday because police believed he was violating the terms of his release. A bench warrant later was issued for his arrest.

Authorities arrested Crosslin and five others on drug charges in May after a two-year investigation into allegations of marijuana use at the 34-acre campground, Underwood said.

Crosslin was charged with felony possession of a firearm, growing marijuana and maintaining a drug house.

A court order issued in June prohibited Crosslin from having festival gatherings at the farm, whose Web site says it "supports the medical, spiritual and responsible recreational uses of marijuana for a more sane and compassionate America." Police allege he violated the order by holding a festival August 17-18, which prompted the bond hearing.

About a mile away from the campground, about a half-dozen people displayed placards in support of Crosslin and Rainbow Farm.

Crosslin's attorney, Dori Leo, said her client was upset because a child he helped raise has been taken from the home he shares with a friend.

The boy was placed in foster care about a month or two ago after Crosslin and the friend, Rolland Rohm, were charged with the drug counts, Leo told the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune.

[E505]

Getting to be an every day occurance isn't it. Which brings up the question, are people just getting so fed up with the interference in their lives that they are willing to kill and die? Or is everyone just going nuts all at once?

Is this a growing trend? Pretty chilling.



I guess Lon Horiuchi's gotta work too...
Just more blood on the hands of the FBI.

[LawDog]

Crosslin left the building with another man and began walking around outside the building with his weapon.

Hmm. Fourth day of the standoff and he decides to take a walk around outside with a gun. Sounds like he's winding up for suicide by cop.

Crosslin "approached an area where an FBI observer had been stationed, and upon seeing the FBI observer, Crosslin immediately raised the weapon to shoulder height and pointed it directly at the agent,"

*sigh* Looks like he got his wish.

LawDog

[jimpeel]

... Grover T. Crosslin, 47, was shot and killed after he exited a building on his property with a gun and ignored authorities' requests to drop the weapon.

Ah, yes, the ol' "request". "Uh, excuse me, Mr. Crosslin, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you take it upon yourself to please put your weapon on the ground? We'd be most appreciative, Sir."

The situation began Friday when deputies went to the farm after neighbors said Crosslin was burning buildings on his property, which is the target of civil forfeiture proceedings.

So there's the reason they are there. They are trying to protect the value of the property they are attempting to seize. Follow the money. They are trying to preserve the value of their "investment". Bounty hunters, all.

[jimpeel]

By the way, this is the perfect setup for these torchmasters as these guys have already shown a propensity to burn their own buildings. After the fire that kills them all, the FBI will have a pattern of behavior to point at when saying "The suspects started the fire which killed them. We didn't do it nor did all of those incendiary ferret rounds we fired."

Their only problem was to make sure there were still some buildings standing when they got there so they could have some fun too.

[Hippie]

It getting more ridiculous by the day folks. How come the FBI even got involved in this? As far as I can tell, this guy was just pissed that he was losing his property to Big Brother. Forfeiting your property for smoking pot??? Sheesh. I can fully understand this guys pissed off attitude. Regardless of the laws, the government taking every thing you own cause u got caught growing/ using pot have got to be unconstitutional. I feel for this guy and his family.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention... i caught bits and pieces of this on the news only. Its now crystal clear what the deal was.

[Master Blaster]

The fact is that this gentleman was excersizing his God given right to polute his body with fill in the blank__________ . Choices
Beer, Booze, Tobacco, prescription drugs Prozac Haldol etc, Marijuana, Lead styphenate and nitro fumes,

Opps it was the one the Givernment says is bad Marijuana, So he had no right to grow it or smoke it on his own property.

The penalty? lets see if you murder someone with a gun and make the right plea bargain, you will get 15 years for 2nd degree murder, and be out in 5 years with good behavior.

Smoke some pot, or grow it and you lose everything you own and get 15 years with no probation or parole, and another 15 for the gun.

In the first instance you are only killing another serf, subject of the government.

In the second instance you are questioning the authority of the Emporer, the emporer cant have his power questioned so the penalty is more severe.

Besides the government can't have people using drugs that are so easy to produce, how can they tax them?

Hey this sounds fair to me, how about you?

[jadams951]

******************************************
Once again jumpin to conclusions people. Before we start assuming things we need to be objective. I don't remember anything saying the civil proceedings were the result of his herbal use. If I did let me know

[Hippie]

The reason for the civil action of his land is implied in the article. H
eres the website if there is any doubt why.
http://www.rainbowfarmcampground.com/

[Hippie]

Sept. 4th.Rainbow Farm owner Tom Crosslin, and Rolland Rohm shot to death
This weekend after a standoff at Rainbow Farm, Tom Crosslin, owner of the Farm was killed. He was shot by the FBI, and another man that was with him was also hurt. As of Monday night there was one person still holed up in the house. This morning around 6:30, Rolland Rohm was also shot, bringing to a close the standoff. Tom and Rolland were good guys, and we will miss them, and the Farm. There will be alot of stories and rumors, but I have hope that this will spur people to help end this war on drugs, it seems that it has become a war on people. The war now has claimed two more people, in Michigan, far from Columbia. Our Heart goes out to the families, and let Toms and Rollands death not be in vain.
Rest in Peace, Bonner
More info, Cannabis.com,,,Rev.Happy, and Channel news 3, out of Kalamazoo

And now.. u have the rst of the story....both men shot dead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Hippie]

Rolland Rohm's father arrived Tuesday morning hopeful of a peaceful solution to his son's standoff with police at Rainbow Farm Campground. Also hoping for an amenable ending were Rolland Rohm's mother, Gerry Livermore, and her husband, John, who had driven for 12 hours Monday night to Vandalia from near Chattanooga, Tenn.
But when a minister arrived sometime after 9 a.m. EDT at a police staging area near the intersection of Black Street and White Temple Road, John Livermore knew it was a bad sign.

And when Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood met with the news media about 10 a.m. EDT, his worst fears were realized.

Rolland Rohm, 28, was already dead. He had died early Monday morning.

According to Underwood, at 6:30 a.m. EDT, Rohm was observed leaving the residence at the campground with a long gun and he walked out into the yard.

After several orders to put down the weapon, Rohm pointed the weapon at a Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team member.

At that moment, Rohm was fatally wounded, Underwood said.

Rohm's close friend, Grover T. "Tom" Crosslin, 46, whom he had lived with for 11 years, was shot Monday night by an FBI agent when he, too, had pointed a gun at law enforcement.

Underwood would not divulge how many times Rohm was shot or where.

Both men had been facing drug charges from arrests in May.

Crosslin was charged with manufacturing marijuana, more than 200 plants; maintaining a drug house; felony firearm possession during commission of a crime; and firearm possession by a felon.

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.

Another man, 18-year-old James Peoples, received minor injuries during the standoff, but he was not in custody and was not charged with any crime.

Though some of Crosslin's supporters were questioning police's handling of the events in the five-day standoff Tuesday, Underwood said people should examine the facts involved.

Both men had been holed up at the campground since fires were set there Friday and police and fire officials were advised not to come in.

"I think you have to look at the situation and the events of what has happened here and what steps that were taken to try to end this very peacefully," Underwood said.

"We did not go up to the house. We had observers back from the house. They engaged our officers that were out in the field. There was no aggressive attempt made by law enforcement. They were engaged at the site.

"They were 100 yards back or more last night. ... After setting the house on fire, he comes out with a weapon. And he engages officers again and they have to respond."

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Risko defended police actions and said Rohm was repeatedly ordered to put down his gun.

"In each occasion, both subjects pointed firearms at officers, and I don't know what else you would have officers do," Risko said.

The FBI has said little about the standoff. Crosslin was shot by a federal agent, and Rohm by state police.

Special Agent Dawn Clenney said officials were investigating and still did not know what sparked the standoff.

FBI and state police investigators planned to spend Tuesday night outside the campground.

"It's a big crime scene out there," Clenney said. "We've got a lot to do."

A total of five buildings burned down during the five-day standoff. Newberg Township Fire Department firefighters put out several hot spots Tuesday morning.




The violent ending came just minutes before police were expecting Rohm to surrender.

Rohm's attorney, Dori Leo, of the Vlachos and Vlachos firm of Kalamazoo, had spoken to him via walkie-talkie for one half hour before midnight Monday.

At about 3:45 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Rohm requested that his son, Robert, 13, be brought to see him and he would then surrender at 7 a.m. EDT, Underwood said.

Law enforcement authorities were in the process of granting this request, Underwood said, when at about 6:12 a.m. EDT, it was reported there was a glow in the upstairs of the residence on Rainbow Farm and that it was on fire.

Rohm was then observed leaving the residence at 6:30 a.m. EDT before pointing the long gun at Michigan State Police and being fatally shot.

"It's very frustrating," Underwood said. "He did not appear agitated when we were making arrangements for him to come out. We wanted a peaceful resolution."

So did Rohm's family and friends, some of whom claimed officials were not telling the truth Tuesday.

"They made a deal with Rollie that they would bring his son over here," his stepfather, John Livermore, said. "Rollie was not violent. He was slow. He was easily led. He had a learning disability. He trusted them. They made a deal.

"At a few minutes before 7, they say he came out with a gun. I don't believe he did. I believe that he walked out expecting to see his son and he met his death."

Livermore was also mad that police did not let him or other family members, including Livermore's wife, Gerry, Rohm's mother, and his father, Robert Rohm, talk to Rohm.

"I wish they would have let us talk him out," he said. "We were here. They knew we were coming.

"They told me just as soon as they made contact with them this morning, that they would allow me to go ahead and talk to Tom and Rollie. I told them that I had good communication with them and I know I could talk them both out. But they did not want them to come out."

Livermore said they did not know that Crosslin had been killed until Tuesday morning after they arrived. Livermore said he and his wife were planning on taking legal action.

"We thought there was a chance to get him out," Gerry Livermore said. "I was frustrated this morning when I could not get him out.

"We do not believe he came out with a gun. I am shocked but now my main concern is his grandson."

Underwood said family members were not called upon to speak with Rohm because police believed that things were under control.

"We felt we had established a relationship with Rolland," Underwood said. "We had a conversation with him. We had an agreement with him.

"His son was brought here to the command area. This was the first time we had actually had a dialogue with Mr. Rohm and we felt we were bringing it to a successful conclusion at 3:45 a.m."

A few miles from the campground, on Michigan 60 on Tuesday afternoon, Crosslin and Rohm supporters had signs placed supporting the campgrounds and its leader.

They, too, were asking questions.

"I can't believe if he thought his life was going to be threatened that he would shoot one round at two men," David Watts, a friend and past employee of Crosslin's said of Tom's death Monday. "I don't understand it."

Trena Moss, of Hillsdale, Mich., also was at the site on M-60.

"The whole thing could have been handled differently," Moss said. "The whole thing is insane. I can't get over it.

"It's not just here but what is happening all over the country. What is happening to our government and why is our government persecuting the people? All we are trying to do is help people."

Crosslin's uncle felt police could have left things alone.

"What they did on Tom's property was Tom's business," said his uncle, George Coldwell, of Elkhart.

"It's a very hard situation to talk about, very hard," said Crosslin's aunt, Josephine Vanitta from Smithville, Tenn. "I don't believe Tom meant to kill anyone."

John Livermore was choked up.

"We were an hour late," he said. "It's just a sick society. That's all it is, a sick society. If you've got somebody that's a thorn in your side, you just kill them and get rid of them. And that's not right."

Underwood said authorities feared the campground was booby trapped.

Local, state and federal officials were still at the campground Tuesday afternoon. A bomb squad also was on the scene, but Risko said no bombs had been found.

"The house is still smoldering, so it will be a few days before we get the investigation part of it done," Risko said.

Tribune staff writer Christine Cox and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Seeker]

I wasn't gonna... but Hippie got me started. It is most definately time to end the War on Drugs.

A number of recent studies in the US (one commisioned by the Drug Czar, and one by the DEA) and in the UK have indicated that the most dangerous aspect of Cannabis use is that it is illegal. This is based on the fact that a user may have an encounter with LE or because users are forced to deal with the black market to obtain Cannabis.

Studies also indicate that it is not a "Gateway" drug in any way other than the smae black market source for Cannabis may have a more extensive product line, and attempt to "sell up".

The Feds, ignoring the Tenth Amendment, attempt to prevent medicinal use as voted for by the citizens of several states saying that there is no medical use for Cannabis. At the same time Pharmacutical companies produce and sell Marinol and similar products.

More than half of the people in prisons in the US are not there because they are violent or thieves, they are there for Cannabis related offenses. To stop putting people in jail for Cannabis would sure take the wind out of Criminal/jail Industrial complex would'nt it? Can't have that, we must lock up more people so that prisons can be built and people employed.

We don't dare legalize it and sell it in liquor stores like booze because: "What kind of message would we be sending to the Children?".

What business is it of the Gubmint what I grow n my yard or smoke (or cook with) in my home? NONE.

But now the Drug Warriors (and the companioes that provide UA tsting services) have convinced industry that Pre-employment and Random drug testing needs to be done, to improve production and reduce time loss. (A company that I worked at implamented Random testing _they already had pre-employment testing- and time loss went up 15 to 20 percent. Production rates didn't matter 'cause they couldn't sell all they produced anyway.). When in fact the UA tests can't tell if a person is under the influence of Cannabis, because it tests for the metabolites of THC not THC itself, they can only tell that the individual has used Cannabis within the last three months. A complete invasion of individual rights brought to not by Gubmint, but by Big Business, the owner of politicians.

-30-

Wanna ask me why I use the work Cannabis instead of Marijuana?