SILENCE FRUSTRATES POLICE

Campground Owner Refuses To Talk To Authorities

A bizarre standoff continued into a third day Sunday at the Rainbow Farm
and campground, with 46-year-old property owner Tom Crosslin giving no
indication of turning himself in. Frustrated law enforcement officials said
they still were hoping for a peaceful resolution.

But the longer Crosslin remained holed up, without even directly talking to
authorities, the more it seemed the conclusion might be punctuated by violence.

The standoff at the farm/campground at 59896 Pemberton Road, where
activities and concerts have revolved around causes like the legalization
of marijuana, was still ongoing Sunday night. The farm likely would have
been the scene of a similar activity this weekend, but it was shut down in
May after Crosslin's arrest on drug charges.

"We're evaluating the situation, taking it day by day,'' said Cass County
Sheriff Joe Underwood at a press conference at a police command center
about a mile from the farm. "There is no timetable (for Crosslin's capture).''

Unlike Friday and Saturday, Underwood said it didn't appear Sunday that
either Crosslin or anyone else on the property, perhaps Rolland Rohm, 28,
had burned buildings or taken pot shots at aircraft. A WNDU-TV helicopter
was struck by at least one shot Friday, and a state police fixed-wing
aircraft drew fire again Saturday.

Neither the state police plane nor an unidentified civilian aircraft that
also was in area Saturday was believed to have been damaged by the shots.
But as a precaution, police have notified airports to keep aircraft away
from the farm.

On Friday, two buildings on the property were burned, apparently
intentionally, and another pair of structures were burned to the ground
Saturday. Underwood said at the news conference he believed the only
significant building still standing is the farmhouse.

As for a motive for the arsons, Underwood said in a prepared statement that
an anonymous caller told his department shortly after the first fire was
reported at 12:15 EDT Friday that Crosslin set the blaze "to ambush law
enforcement officers when they arrived in response to the fire.''

The sheriff didn't state why the other buildings were burned. However, a
supporter of Crosslin, James Parker of Hillsdale, Mich., said he may have
set the fires in response to the state's attempt to confiscate his property
under the Drug Forfeiture Act.

Underwood confirmed papers were filed in May to initiate proceedings to
seize Crosslin's property.

Parker was among dozens of supporters who turned out Sunday in support of
Crosslin. Most gathered at a makeshift campsite at White Temple Road and
Michigan 60, about two miles from the campground.

"I've met Tom (Crosslin) twice. He's been good to us,'' said Parker, the
chairman of the Hillsdale branch of the Libertarian Party. "We support
everybody's property rights.''

Other supporters echoed Parker's views, mentioning Crosslin's humanitarian
activities such as giving Christmas presents and hayrides to children. They
said he shouldn't be branded for his views on personal rights.

"This is about a person's right to do what he wants in his own home, when
he's not hurting anybody else,'' said Melody Karr, of Mesick, Mich.,
sporting a button depicting a red, white and blue marijuana plant and the
words, "I'm not a criminal.''

Crosslin and Rohm, arrested on drug and firearms charges in May, were both
scheduled to appear in Cass County Circuit Court Friday in response to a
show-cause petition and a motion to revoke bond for allegedly violating
terms of their bonds. When neither showed up, Judge Michael Dodge issued
warrants for their arrests.

However, friends of Crosslin said the standoff was more a result of the
removal of Rohm's 13-year-old son from the farm and campground. Because of
the drug charges, the child, who had been living on the farm with Crosslin
and his father, was placed in foster care recently.

Underwood said a passer-by who's familiar with Crosslin told officers he
had been observed Friday walking down the street in camouflage clothing,
carrying what appeared to be a weapon. The report led to the filing of an
additional felony charge.

Also, the sheriff said neighbors of Crosslin told his department that
Crosslin had contacted them Friday and advised them to leave the area
because "all hell was going to break loose.''

Underwood said police have been able to negotiate with Crosslin only
through a third party, whom he wouldn't identify. Phone calls to the
residence Sunday were met with busy signals.

"We feel he's frustrated with the system, how things are going with the
court action, how things are going with his family,'' the sheriff said. "He
hasn't said what he wants. We have no list of demands at this time.''