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CNN Live Sunday

Standoff Between Police and a Man Facing Weapons and Drug Charges Is Under Way in Michigan

Aired September 02, 2001 - 16:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: A standoff is under way between authorities and a Michigan camp ground owner facing drug and weapons charges. Sheriff's deputies arrived at Tom Crosslin's property in Vandalia on Friday after complaints that he was burning buildings there. About 20 shots were then reportedly fired from within the camp grounds. A news helicopter was struck by one of the bullets as it flew over the complex.

Since other folks are on the site, it's not known who is responsible for the fires and the shooting. Local law enforcement and the FBI are working to establish contact with Crosslin, and Jim McAteer of our affiliate WNDU is in Vandalia, and joins us now with the latest. Jim, what can you tell us?

JIM MCATEER, WNDU CORRESPONDENT: Well, good afternoon. We are still waiting to hear from Tom Crosslin. The police have not talked directly with him. They have been talking to him through a third party.

We are about a mile to the west of the Rainbow Farm campground, just down that road is where Rainbow Farm campground is. Since Friday, police have said he has burned at least four buildings to the ground, as you just mentioned, shot at News Center 16's helicopter, and yesterday police say Crosslin actually fired shots at a Michigan state police airplane. Luckily, no one was injured.

And now today, authorities have brought in a tank, a car loads of FBI agents and a helicopter. Police say they hope that this ends peacefully, but they are certainly preparing for the worst. But again, and here we are in day three, and police have not talked directly with Tom Crosslin. The only talk that has gone on has been through notes passed to and from his attorney and a third person mediator that has talked with him for just several minutes at times yesterday, and then actually his family talked with him on Friday.

So again, we are still waiting for Tom Crosslin to come out or at least talk with police, and we will certainly keep you updated if anything changes later on today.

KELLEY: OK, Jim McAteer from our affiliate WNDU, appreciate the information. Thanks.

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