Raid on Hutaree puzzles Adrian

Local critic of feds says group unheard of
George Hunter and Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

Adrian -- This small town in rural southeastern Michigan is known mostly for Adrian College and corn farms, but it's no stranger to controversial anti-government movements.

The raid of an alleged Christian extremist group, Hutaree, has shocked residents of the small community of about 22,500 residents.

"I don't know what they were doing, but they apparently hadn't caused any trouble here that anyone knew of," said Peter Hayes of Hayes Insurance Agency in downtown Adrian.

"Frankly, it seemed like a lot of overkill to me this weekend," Hayes said about the raid. "Cars, trucks, a helicopter -- why, they had more people out there than there was in church Sunday."

Adrian, the Lenawee County seat, is the home base of the Rev. Rick Strawcutter, whose low-power radio station "Radio Free Lenawee" garnered attention for broadcasts stridently denouncing the federal government before it was shut down by the FCC in 2001 because it hadn't obtained the proper broadcast license.

Strawcutter, 59, also produced a widely distributed anti-government video, "America in Peril," which was taped inside his church in 1993.

He said he has never heard of the Lenawee County-based Hutaree militia group, which claims to be gearing for a battle with the Antichrist.

"I've been in Lenawee County for 34 years, and I thought I knew everything that moved here, but I've never heard of them," Strawcutter said. "The whole thing sounds kooky and weird."

He added: "I'm not affiliated with any militia group."

However, the "America in Peril" video features Mark Koernke of Dexter, one of the leading spokesmen of the militia movement.

Strawcutter has said he doesn't believe everything in the video. Still, he has long been a critic of the federal government and continues to spread that message. Last week, he posted a YouTube video in which he lambasted Washington, D.C., politicians.

"These people are so drunk with power," he said. "They're pulling off a dictatorship ... maybe this is the last stop, and there'll be no more elections."

Strawcutter insisted he has never advocated violence. "I'm not sure what my message is; it's the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ," he said.

He continues to preach at his Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Adrian. He also uses the Internet to market his company, "Secrets of Eden," which sells natural health products.

ghunter@detnews.com (313) 222-2134