PRO-POT ACTIVIST KILLED IN STANDOFF

Man Faced Charges Of Firing Gun At Aircraft

VANDALIA -- A campground owner facing felony drug and weapons charges was
fatally shot by authorities Monday night after a four-day standoff, police
said.

Grover (Tom) Crosslin, 47, was killed with one shot from an FBI agent's
rifle after pointing a firearm at the agent, according to a news release
issued by the FBI, Michigan State Police and Cass County Sheriff's Office
late Monday.

The perimeter of Crosslin's Rainbow Farm and marijuana advocacy campground
in southwest Michigan had become a kind of modern American tableau over the
holiday weekend, where politics, celebrity, crime and mass media converged.

It began Friday when Crosslin skipped a court date related to drugs and
weapons charges, allegedly set fire to some of Rainbow Farm's buildings and
began a standoff with police.

Federal officials suspect that Crosslin then shot and hit a news helicopter
and fired at a State Police airplane and a small private plane.

Shots were heard again Saturday, said police.

A federal warrant was issued Monday for the former truck driver and flagpole
installer alleging the attempted destruction of an aircraft.

On Monday while police tried to coax Crosslin from his 34-acre farm, his
supporters set up tents and a canopy with tables, a couch, a generator and a
television on a dirt lot about two miles away on M-60.

Many held signs. "Free Tom Now." "Stop Murder Now." "War on Peace." "Honk 4
Freedom."

Prior to Crosslin's death, authorities said they were prepared to wait him
out.

"This could go on for days, weeks, even months," said Cass County Sheriff
Joe Underwood. County deputies and State Police officers had surrounded the
farm and camp the past four days. The FBI arrived Sunday. "It's a very, very
slow process. We have only had indirect contact with him through a friend."

Underwood said he and his deputies were called Friday when neighbors saw the
flames and heard Crosslin say, "All hell was going to break loose."
Underwood said Crosslin may have set the fires in an attempt to ambush
authorities.

Crosslin's friends said they think he set the fires because he didn't want
to give his farm to the state. They also said he was angry that the Michigan
Family Independence Agency in May had removed from his home a child he had
helped raise, which Underwood confirmed.

The boy was said to be the genetic son of Crosslin's roommate Rolland Rohm,
28. Rohm also helped run the campground.

"They are trying to take his home and his family like it was nothing," said
Crosslin's sister Shirley Deweese, as she stood with Crosslin's supporters
on the highway leading up to the campground hours prior to the shooting.
"It's not just about the weed, it's about American people and the taking
away of American rights."

Crosslin's father, Grover Crosslin, foreshadowed the tragic ending with
comments he made hours before his son was killed: "When he believes in
something, he is going to take it all the way to the end. I don't have the
slightest idea what's going to happen here, but to me it doesn't look
promising because I don't see my son backing down."

Authorities said that shortly before 5 p.m. Monday, law enforcement officers
began negotiating with Crosslin via phone. Negotiations deteriorated,
however, when officials refused Crosslin's demand for a third-party
negotiator. Crosslin became enraged, and made threatening remarks and
gestures concerning law enforcement officials.

Crosslin left a campground building carrying an M-14 rifle, accompanied by a
second man, Brandon Peoples. The two men walked the perimeter of the
residence, and approached an area where an FBI agent was stationed.

When Crosslin aimed his weapon at the agent, the agent fired one round,
fatally wounding Crosslin. Peoples suffered minor injuries.

Police said they were negotiating for Rohm's surrender late Monday night.

After the shooting, Rainbow Farms supporters in the area became enraged, but
no further violence was reported.

Grover Crosslin described his son as just another kid who was slightly
mischievous but never got into serious trouble. He said he dropped out of
high school and found work in manual labor.

"He's always been good with his hands," he said.

Last year, Tom Crosslin bought a large, red brick house near the farm that
once was part of the Underground Railroad, which helped transport slaves to
freedom in the North. Grover Crosslin said it was built in 1807 and that his
son was restoring it and planned to turn it into a bed and breakfast.

At the house Monday were a few friends and a sign that read: "Those who deny
a peaceful revolution demand a violent one."

Back over on M-60, the makeshift support camp grew larger through the day.
"I'm just praying that this is going to end peacefully," said Shirley
Deweese, Tom Crosslin's sister.

Even neighbors said they never expected this.

Rose Jackson, who lives close to the farm, said she's never had any problems
with the campground even though people in the area knew it promoted
marijuana. Indeed, Rainbow Farm claimed on its Web site that High Times
magazine had dubbed it one of the best "stoner spots in the world."

Crosslin bought the farm and campground about 15 years ago and used it to
promote the "medical, spiritual and responsible recreational use of
marijuana for a more sane and compassionate America," according to the Web
site. He hosted two annual hemp festivals -- Hemp Aid and RoachRoast.

He also ran concerts -- Merle Haggard played the farm in June -- and a
coffee bar at the camp called the Joint, along with the General and Hemp
Gift Store.

The whole enterprise began falling apart for Crosslin in May. He was
arrested on suspicion of manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house
and felony firearms charges. The state began forfeiture proceedings on his
property. He was released on bond but told not to hold any more festivals.

Cass County Circuit Court issued an injunction that forced him to abandon
this year's Hemp Aid festival in May.

Crosslin eventually held a festival in mid-August. The prosecutor wanted his
bond revoked and a court date was set for Friday. When Crosslin and Rohm
failed to show up, the standoff began.