SWAT TEAM LIKE RAID BY OHIO AUTHORITIES ON A FARM HOUSE IN LAGANGE

SWAT Team Like Raid by Ohio authorities on a farm house in LaGange

Ohio authorities stormed a farm house in LaGange Monday, December 1, to execute a search warrant, holding the Jacqueline and John Stowers and their son and young grandchildren at gunpoint for nine hours.  During the raid the Ohio Department of Agriculture and police confiscated over ten thousand dollars worth of food, computers and cell phones.  The Stowers' crime?  They run a private, members-only food co-op.

While state authorities were looking for evidence of illegal activities, the family was not informed what crime they were suspected of, they were not read their rights or allowed to make a phone call.  The children, some as young as toddlers, were traumatized by armed officers interrogating the adults with guns drawn.

The Morning Journal, a newspaper serving northern Ohio, reported that the Stowers were believed to be operating without a license.  However, the Stowers claim that the food co-op they run does not engage in any activities that would require state licensing.

Friends of the Stowers openly question why such aggressive tactics were necessary to investigate a licensing complaint. 

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has apparently been chastised by the courts in previous cases for over-reach, including entrapment of an Amish man to sell raw milk, which backfired, when it became known that the man gave milk instead of selling it to a state undercover agent, refusing to take money for what he believed to be a charitable act.  The Amish literally interpret the Gospel of Matthew (5:42) to "give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

The matter has been forwarded to the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office and the Lorain County General Health District according to Lorain County court records.

By John Loeffler Click here for bio and archived articles

Government makes their own rules as they go Posted On: 12/20/08 01:25:04 PM Age 51, OH I live on a farm and I know that a lot of orphaned animal species live and thrive on raw cow or goat milk. a few years ago two ladies, Fagan and Betts, went throught the red tape with the ODA to receive a label to sell these types of milk as "pet food". Now, remember, they were using a label given and approved by the ODA. “Ohio Department of Agriculture [ODA] officials engaged in illegal rulemaking and violated the constitutional rights of two local farmers in order to stop them from legally using raw milk as an ingredient in their pet food products, a Washington County judge ruled last Wednesday in Marietta. Common Pleas Judge Ed Lane’s ruling, wholly against the ODA, ends at least for now a two-year struggle against the ODA by Washington County farmers Linda Fagan and Donna Betts. The ruling orders the State of Ohio to pick up the tab for attorney fees and court costs that were incurred by Fagan and Betts, and leaves the two women free to resume production of their pet food products using raw milk. In February 2006 the ODA issued stop orders against each of the two women for selling pet food products “made from milk, [which] is not recognized as a feed ingredient under the definition of [the] Association of American Feed Control Officials.” There had been no complaints against the pet food products, and Fagan and Betts had both been licensed by the ODA to produce them using raw cow and goat milk, per ODA-approved labels, for nearly five years. Judge Lane found that AAFCO does not prohibit raw milk as an ingredient in pet food products, as the ODA alleged, and that raw milk is not prohibited as a pet food ingredient by AAFCO, the FDA, or Ohio Administrative Code. Raw goat’s milk is actually now an approved pet food ingredient by AAFCO. But even that fact didn’t stop ODA Feed and Seed Chief David Simmons from saying in court he would issue new stop orders and another proposed commercial feed registration revocation against Fagan and Betts if either of the two women resumed producing their pet food products using raw milk. The ODA had previously threatened to revoke their commercial feed registrations, but ultimately withdrew that threat – without notifying one of the women – after both Fagan and Betts had requested a hearing and hired legal counsel. “There is nothing in Ohio law that prohibits the use of raw milk (goat or cow) as an ingredient in a pet food product,” Judge Lane wrote in his ruling. The ODA ultimately gave three different reasons in court for issuing the stop orders against Fagan and Betts, none of which held up in Judge Lane’s ruling. Further, by refusing Fagan or Betts any chance to challenge the stop order in the past two and a half years, as both of the women had attempted to do, the ODA violated their rights under both the equal protection and due process guarantees of the Ohio and United States Constitution, Judge Lane’s ruling states. “In essence…it [took] away their livelihood without a hearing,” Judge Lane wrote. Judge Lane’s ruling rescinds the ODA stop orders, finding them without basis in either fact or law, and orders the ODA to pay $20,000 of attorney fees and court costs incurred by Fagan and Betts for their legal challenge to the ODA. “The whole thing was bogus from day one. All two and a half years of it,” Donna Betts said of her case against the ODA last Wednesday. Betts said she and Fagan had been told upfront that they would not be able to recoup any revenue lost as a result of ODA stop orders, which could not be challenged for more than two years. “In my case, with the goats, I couldn’t start up business again until next spring,” Betts said….” Jackbooted thugs Posted On: 12/15/08 05:07:34 PM Age 50, VA This is exactly why the United States needs a revolution. The current system cannot be saved. The Sword Posted On: 12/11/08 11:38:06 AM Age 57, VA on the surface…it seems as if we have a contradiction in the words of Jesus. of peacemaker (matthew 5:9)…but then in another breath say that, “[he] did not come to bring peace, but a sword”? Jesus had every opportunity to wield the sword…but did not. why would he say that he came to bring a sword…yet never use one? it’s odd. why did Jesus tell his followers to ”never resist an evil person,” and further, to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”? why would he come to bring a sword if he was giving instruction to never resist an evil person…and to love ones enemy? who would he use the sword on? the answer is no one. unless you are talking about Peter…and the time in the garden was Jesus cheering him on? why didn’t the other militant disciples join in? did Jesus tell Peter to keep attacking? no…he said, “put your sword back in its place.” and further, “do you not think that i cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” what is Jesus talking about? a legion was a military term that was used by the Romans to describe a military unit (like 4000 to 5000 troops). Jesus was making a military statement to describe how he could respond militarily (by calling on the 60,000 strong angel militia to kick some Roman booty)….but then says, “but how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must not happen this way?” should not happen what way? by the way of the sword? exactly. the way of Jesus was not the way of the sword…it was the way of the towel (of self-sacrificial love). always loving…always pouring himself out…always giving self-sacrificially…without responding the way the Kingdom of the world responds. even early in Jesus’ ministry he had the opportunity to use the power of the sword. for hundreds of years the jews were anticipating the Messiah, the chosen one in the Davidic line who would restore Israel (once and for all) as God’s chosen people…His holy nation. they were expecting that one would come that would bring peace and justice as a governmental ruler. with all of this expectation surrounding the Messiah, does it seem odd that when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert after fasting for 40 days, he would not accept Satan’s offer to have all the kingdom’s of the world? he could rule with the sword….an iron fist…he could enforce peace through legislation and the law (which we know only changes attitudes…not hearts). this could have been the easiest and fastest way to bring the power of the sword. no…Jesus said that he was going to do it God’s way. not by force…not by violence…not by redemptive violence…BUT BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS. the one act that stops the vicious cycle of violence…and is validated by the resurrection (not death and violence winning…but life through sacrificial love)! love always wins and triumphs over evil…but not with the sword. and the way of the sword was not the way of Jesus. so what was Jesus getting at with his odd statement about not bringing peace, but a sword? with so much evidence to suggest that Jesus did NOT come with a sword to conquer and rule…how can we understand what he is saying. if a sword is what Jesus came to bring…but we do not have any evidence that Jesus ever used a sword violently…then it is possible that it may be symbolic. are there other instances in the new testament where the word “sword” is used? yes. In his right hand he held 7 stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp double-edged sword. (revelation 1:17) The word of God is active and alive, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (hebrews 4:12) Working out our own salvation Posted On: 12/11/08 07:02:46 AM Age 56, LA I'm caught between "buy a sword," and "put that sword away. If you live by the sword, you die by the sword." Also what comes to mind, is that Jesus was led "like a sheep to the slaughter." Aren't we, his followers, supposed to "bear the reproach outside the camp," like He did? Fascism is well on its way Posted On: 12/09/08 10:01:43 PM Age 34, OR ... That's so scary, and horrible. Those Manna people are probably the most sustainable living folks around, and that's what those redneck bullies hate. They HATE people to be better off than them, they HATE people who love peace and believe in sharing, community, and love. And that's really what it was, this raid: Bullies with their tactical gear getting to do what they've always wanted to do - upset the 'hippies'. It's mob mentality at its worst, with lethal precision in its execution. For them, it's not about enforcing any laws or protecting others from law breakers - it's the 'Big boy rules' and power given to the stupidest, least educated, least self-disciplined people, who only can exist through a militant group where everyone has the same haircut and no facial hair. They HATE people who garden, who tend to animals with care and compassion. They HATE food coops, veganism, and peaceful gatherings of diversity. All these things SCARE THEM. In years to come, the police may very well view the populace as the ENEMY, to be protected from themselves. Military jargon is full of nonsense feedback loops "it is because it is" kind of mentality. Liberal losers who are dumbed down by news, TV, and piles of vitamins are always going to just go along with the status quo. They are just as dangerous as the Paramilitary idiots. I am so tired of this FEAR of having guns in the house when they are so enthralled with the TV, which is full of shows that continually feature guns. And if they get away with it, they will continue to be terrorists and hide behind their badges and abuse their power. This is clear evidence that we are turning into a true fascist society. Mrs. Posted On: 12/09/08 01:14:43 PM Age 44, IN I can't imagine the horror those children, let alone parents, had to endure while strangers are ransacking their home over a paperwork issue. When did our country revert to communism? The government needs to fire each individual that ordered such an act against this family due to their inability to understand how their system works in paper form. Sub-standard work on the government's part identifies as unemployed in my book. I am hoping the family has acquired a high profile lawyer to encourage the government to right their wrong. Go Figure Posted On: 12/09/08 12:20:42 PM Age 45, AK One in six people on this planet are dying of starvation. I guess it won't be enough until it reaches four out of six (2/3). It seems the powers that be are working hard to achieve that statistic. Here's a hint: Grow Your Own Food! And Give and Share and be Charitible. Even if they seem to win out, you will have cared for your own and done the right thing as pertains to others. Citizens are criminals in a police state. Posted On: 12/09/08 08:17:24 AM Age 43, OH We are the enemy, we are the criminals. The government generously allows us to keep some of the money we earn, which of course belongs to Federal Reserve (and thus, we belong to the FR) and we repay this privilege by naively assuming we are free people with basic human rights. We forget that the Constitution and Bill of Rights are merely suggestions which can be disregarded by the powers that be. And often demonstrably are. The existence of the Federal Reserve, for instance. Next time you are stopped for a traffic violation, notice how you're asked to present your papers, how you are investigated thoroughly before granted the privilege of contributing to the government coffers and allowed your 'freedom'. Police state. restoretherepublic dot com Godless Constitution Posted On: 12/09/08 06:55:19 AM Age 48, WY I agree. Two yrs. ago I wouldn't have, but the facts speak for themselves, we are an ungodly country with a godless constitution. We are reaping what we have sowed. We, as God's people must repent from OUR sins and seek again God's face, return to his law, and pray for forgiveness and grace. We have been told a lie, by the government schools and the apostate churches that worship the state. This site, which I used to frequent, will not show you the way to God's law, Mr. David Barton is in error. Here is a far better site: http://www.america-betrayed-1787.com/index.html Grow some of your own food Posted On: 12/08/08 08:11:36 PM Age 60, AR I am not stunned by the actions taken against honest good people. There is a Monsanto plant in Ohio and thus there may be paid individuals who are encouraged to destroy all organic (God's natural Plants that sustain us) The Bush administration's outrageous attempts to steal the rights of the many and give them to the few has practically eradicated the EPA and denied the obvious scientific evidence of the dangers of global warming, pesticides and GMO's. Be aware armed thugs hiding behind the legal protection of military or police uniforms may part of a deliberate attempt to use food as a power to control the masses. Any one strips a family of their constitutional rights is a thug, in my opinion.