FARM DREW POLICE LONG BEFORE STANDOFF

Long before two men who ran Rainbow Farm Campground died by law enforcement
bullets, their parties had drawn the eye of the government. Law enforcement
affidavits on file in Cass County say that children attending annual pot
fests witnessed drug use, took drugs themselves, and sometimes saw nudity
and sex.

Friends and family said Tuesday that Grover T. "Tom" Crosslin and Rolland
Rohm tried to evoke change, pushing for the legalization of marijuana. But
their parties sometimes ran afoul of the law.

Family and friends of Rohm and Crosslin wondered Tuesday whether the men
were so fervent in their beliefs that they would sacrifice themselves.

A standoff began Friday when Crosslin skipped a court date related to drug
and weapons charges.

Federal officials suspect that he shot and hit a news helicopter and fired
at a state police airplane and a small private plane over the weekend. A
federal warrant was issued Monday for Crosslin.

On Monday police tried to coax Crosslin from his farmhouse. He came out
about 5:45 p.m. EDT and was shot by an FBI agent.

Family Independence Agency officials had taken Rohm's 13-year-old son from
him in May and put him in foster care. Rohm and Crosslin, who lived
together on the farm, were said to be outraged.

Cass County Probate Court Judge Susan Dobrich would not release the
juvenile court records of Rohm's son Tuesday, citing confidentiality.
However, a neglect-and-abuse petition was on file in court.

Underwood said the boy was taken from the home after investigators
discovered marijuana was being grown inside.

He said the violent ending seemed to be a combination of the custody battle
and other court matters. Rohm and Crosslin both were facing charges of
manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house and felony firearms, the
result of a two-year undercover investigation, which included alleged
details of their parties.

In a court affidavit filed to stop the festivals, State Police Lt. Michael
Brown of the Southwest Enforcement Team said informants and undercover
officers saw minors consuming drugs and witnessing drug use.