FBI, MICHIGAN STATE POLICE PROBE STALEMATE DEATHS

Investigations 'Normal' After Shootings

VANDALIA -- The shooting deaths of two Vandalia men who staged a
five-day standoff with police and federal agents are the subject of
probes by the FBI and the Michigan State Police.

Grover T. "Tom" Crosslin, 46, was fatally shot by an FBI agent Monday,
the fourth day of the standoff at Rainbow Farm Campground, 59896
Pemberton Road. The stalemate ended Tuesday morning when Michigan
State Police shot and killed Crosslin's longtime roommate, Rolland
Rohm. Two state troopers shot at Rohm, though it is unclear whether
one or two hit him, authorities said.

Police say both men were shot after they aimed weapons at law
enforcement personnel.

Crosslin, the owner of the 34-acre campground, held a rifle as he
walked the perimeter of his property after negotiations with police
failed, Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said.

He reportedly approached an area where an FBI observer was stationed,
raised the weapon to shoulder level and pointed it at the agent.

Underwood said Monday that the agent fired one round at Crosslin, but
FBI Special Agent Dawn Clenney confirmed Wednesday that two shots were
fired at Crosslin.

"We thought it was one shot, but with the medical exam we learned it
was two," Clenney said.

The fatal shot was to Crosslin's head. Clenney declined to say where
the second bullet struck.

FBI Special Agent in Charge John E. Bell Jr. said that two agents
fired at Crosslin.

Dori Leo, the attorney for Crosslin and Rohm, said she was surprised
by the revelation that Crosslin was struck twice, not once as
initially reported.

"The shooter sure knew if he pulled the trigger twice or not," Leo
said. "You've got to know how many times you pull the trigger. Why is
it a surprise?"

Regardless of the number of times or the number of agents who fired at
Crosslin, the shooting would have been reviewed by a team of agents,
Clenney said.

"That is done in all shootings," Clenney said. "It is a normal course
of action."

MSP spokesman Lt. Mike Risko echoed Clenney in describing the
investigation into Rohm's death.

The unidentified member of the Emergency Support Team was placed on
administrative leave after the shooting. In addition, troopers from
MSP's 5th District Post in Paw Paw, Mich., are investigating the shooting.

"We're doing that as we speak," he said Wednesday.

Both actions are standard procedure, he added.

But shooting to kill should not be a police standard, according to
Leo, an attorney with Vlachos and Vlachos in Kalamazoo.

"I'm afraid they're going to determine this was a standard operation
followed to a T," she said. "I do not think the officers did anything
wrong, I think they were following commands."

It is those commands that Leo opposes.

"They have a protocol specially for this, and that's shoot to kill,"
she said. "Why can't it be shoot to maim? Why can't it be shoot to
tranquilize?"

Leo added that she did not believe that Crosslin and Rohm tried to
provoke police into shooting them.

Neither Leo nor Risko could disclose any details about Rohm's death,
including where on his body and how many times he was struck.

Autopsy results for Rohm and Crosslin were unavailable Wednesday from
Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.

Crosslin and Rohm were 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. Crosslin had
been a convicted felon on a firearms charge before his arrest in May.

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.

Both men were scheduled to appear in Cass County Circuit Court on
Friday in Cassopolis for a show-cause portion of a hearing. County
authorities sought to revoke Crosslin's $150,000 bond and Rohm's
$25,000 bond because both men allegedly smoked marijuana at a festival
in August.

But instead of appearing in court Friday, the two men remained in the
farmhouse on the Pemberton Road property. Two buildings on the
property were ablaze -- apparently by Crosslin's hand -- when law
enforcement personnel arrived at the property Friday afternoon.

Leo continued to express her surprise by the turn of events that
resulted in Crosslin and, especially, Rohm's deaths.

"I didn't get an indication from Tom that he was ready to give up,"
she said. "I got the impression that Tom was defensive and Rollie was
scared.

"I'm just angry about the whole thing. Why did it have to be so
harsh?"