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Homestead Reptile Farm Site Of SRT Standoff - March 31, 2011 3:30 PM

KelliH

KelliH

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HOMESTEAD (CBS4) — A Special Response Team from the Miami-Dade Police Department has surrounded a Homestead home following reports of a person who has barricaded himself inside, possibly armed with a gun.
The home is located at 35000 SW 212th Avenue. According to an online search, the home belongs to reptile dealer Tom Crutchfield.

Cages on a Homestead property where there's a police standoff. (CBS4)
In video from Chopper 4, there are numerous cages and sheds lined up side-by-side that match the description on Crutchfield’s website as being reptiles cages and reptile houses.
SRT members could be seen moving closer to the home on an armored vehicle.
Miami-Dade police said rescue personnel had treated one person who had been shot.
The cause of the standoff is unknown.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/03/31/homestead-reptile-farm-site-of-srt-standoff/
 
I just heard from someone that is close to those involved that the shooter is someone that worked with Tom and is actually a longtime Fauna member. I hesitate to say the name until it's confirmed but his initials are B.S.
 
Saw the replies below the story and looks like Tom and his wife are Ok, hopefully no one gets seriously hurt over this.
 
​http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/03/gun_man_barricades_himself_in.php

At Tom Crutchfield's Reptile Farm in Homestead, you can find deadly creatures such as Chinese bamboo vipers, Mojave rattlesnakes, black Pakistan cobras, and, apparently, right now, a man with a gun. Yes, according to reports, a man has barricaded himself inside a building on the property after shooting another man.

Reports are sparse, but the Miami-Dade Police Department's Special Response Team has arrived at 35000 SW 212nd Ave. to deal with the gunman. The site is listed online as the address of the Tom Crutchfield Reptile Farm, and CBSMiami says video shot from a helicopter shows the property is dotted with numerous cages and sheds.

The farm's Facebook page, which lists its address in Homestead, was updated Monday.

WSVN reports the incident was set off after an altercation between two men on the property. One man was lightly grazed by a bullet and is expected to recover. The other guy is now boarded up in a building on the property.
 
here is a transcript from a facebook thread....

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000552680127#!/profile.php?id=100000552680127


Urban Jungles-Radio Brian it doesn't say anyone was shot and killed. Police discovered a dead body.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike

Wes Harvey So is Tom the one found dead or what?
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike

Urban Jungles-Radio No.. Tom sustained a minor injury as he was grazed when shot at. The body is presumed to be that of his business partner Bruce Stephenson who is also presumed to be the gun man who barricaded himself in.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike

Urban Jungles-Radio Apparently, Tom & Bruce had an epic battle this afternoon and this is the result according to my sources. I have a call in to Tom and hopefully he'll tell us all what's up first hand.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike

Urban Jungles-Radio Please keep in mind, I am hearing this from sources close to Tom on site but nothing is confirmed. I'm jsut sharing my knowledge on the situation since we are all big fans of Tom's.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike

Wes Harvey Cool thanks for keeping us all posted.
Click to expand...
 
Wow...... wonder what went down there? If there was a gun fight, it's darn lucky that Tom was able to walk away from it. My understanding is that he is an ex-felon and therefore not legally able to have a firearm himself, so he would have been at a distinct disadvantage in a gun battle, as is indicated in this news.

So did Bruce draw a gun on an unarmed man during an argument?

Some news articles are saying that the property belonged to Tom Crutchfield and others are saying it belonged to Bruce Stephenson. Which one is correct?

Strange stuff......
 
The property belonged to Bruce Stephenson from what I have been told. Tom was renting from Bruce.
 
I'm guessing the Jedi mind tricks weren't working on Tom, so Bruce needed to step up his game....

More seriously, though, it always amazes me how arguments can result in something like this. Glad Tom made it through with minimal damage.
 
garweft said:
Other things have been said as well. We'll all know within a day or 2.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've heard conflicting stories about what happened also. I'm not comfortable talking about them yet. I guess we have to wait until more information is released.
 
I must say the latest developments make me wish that Wilomn was still around. It would be interesting to see his commentary on this.
 
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