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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2012 - 03:07am PT
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Monday, January 02, 2012
INCIDENTS
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Ranger Shot And Killed By Assailant
Ranger Margaret Anderson, 34, was shot and killed on the road to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday morning. As of this time (early on Monday), the assailant is still at large and a manhunt is underway.
The incident began when a car failed to stop at a required tire chain checkpoint. A ranger tried to pull the car over, and, when it failed to stop, Anderson established a road block with her vehicle. The assailant jumped from his car and opened fire with a shotgun, fatally wounding her. He then fled on foot into the woods. Rangers and law enforcement officers from various agencies responded. The Pierce County SWAT team arrived on scene and they, too, were fired upon while rendering aid to Anderson.
Law enforcement officers closed the park road, evacuated park visitors from Longmire, and locked down Paradise, with all visitors in the area taking refuge in the Jackson Visitor Center. There were 125 park visitors and 17 park staff in the visitor center as of late on Sunday. The visitor center has a restaurant to provide food, restrooms and water, and law enforcement officers are on hand to provide protection.
The search for the murderer continued into the night, with fixed wing aircraft using forward looking infrared to scan the ground. There are a more than 100 officers from a variety of agencies assisting with the manhunt for the shooter, including National Park Service, Pierce County Sheriff, FBI, Washington State Patrol, US Forest Service, City of Enumclaw, and Lewis County Sheriff.
Mount Rainier National Park will remain closed today.
Anderson served at Mount Rainier for four years. She is survived by her husband, also a park ranger at Mount Rainier, and by two young children.
Director Jarvis issued this statement early today:
"Yesterday morning, Park Ranger Margaret Anderson was shot and killed while making a traffic stop at Mount Rainier National Park. As I write this late Sunday night, the murderer is still at large in the park, which has been closed. We are working closely with the FBI and local law enforcement to protect visitors and staff and to track down Margaret's killer and bring him to justice.
"This is a heartbreaking, senseless tragedy. Margaret was just 34 years old. She and her husband Eric, who is also a park ranger at Mount Rainier, have two young children. Margaret was killed while doing her job - protecting the visiting public on one of the park's busiest days of the year.
"Last week, we mourned the death of U.S. Park Police Officer Mike Boehm, who suffered a heart attack while responding to a serious incident in Washington, DC. Mike left behind a wife and a son.
"Our hearts go out to both families, and I ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the hard days ahead.
"As updates from Rainier are available we will share them with all employees through InsideNPS. These losses are painful reminders of the risks faced by National Park Service employees every day. Please be careful out there and watch out for each other."
[Submitted by Lee Taylor, Chief of Interpretation and Education]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2012 - 03:08am PT
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Tuesday, January 03, 2012
INCIDENTS
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Suspect In Ranger Killing Found Dead
Ranger Margaret Anderson, 34, was shot and killed on the road to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park on New Year's Day morning. The body of her assailant, Benjamin Barnes, who fled into the backcountry, was found by searchers yesterday afternoon.
The intensive manhunt for Barnes came to an end when searchers in an aircraft spotted a body lying face down and partially submerged in the Paradise River in the vicinity of Narada Falls. Searchers on the ground traversed challenging terrain to reach the spot and confirmed that it was Barnes and that he was dead.
An investigation into the incident is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with park rangers and Pierce County Sheriff's Department officers assisting. The Western Incident Management Team (Denny Ziemann, IC) is en route to the park to assist with planning a memorial service for Anderson and with ongoing park needs. Information on the service will be posted on InsideNPS once it becomes available.
The park will remain closed to the public through today to let staff begin to work through their grief.
On the morning of January 1st, Anderson set up a traffic block to intercept a vehicle that had failed to stop at a chain-up checkpoint. The driver, Benjamin Barnes, opened fire on Anderson, killing her, and then fled on foot into the woods. Anderson had worked at Mount Rainier for three years. She is survived by her husband, Eric, also a ranger in the park, and by two young children.
Mount Rainier National Park closed during the hunt for the gunman, with the park evacuating park visitors to get them out of potential danger. There were 125 visitors in lockdown at the Paradise Visitor Center from Sunday noon until 3:30 a.m. on Monday. They were escorted out of the park in small groups of five vehicles, accompanied by law enforcement officers. There were also 25 visitors at the National Park Inn at Longmire who were evacuated out of the park. Visitors had been held at these locations for their own safety.
Approximately 200 personnel were involved in search operations on Monday, January 2nd. Agencies participating in the search effort included the National Park Service, Pierce County Sheriff's Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tacoma Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Customs & Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Forest Service, Pierce County Fire Districts, Lewis County Sheriff's Department, Enumclaw PD, Portland PD, Seattle PD, Snohomish PD, and law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions as well. Resources included K-9 units, armored vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
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Rock Eagle
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Jan 12, 2012 - 10:27pm PT
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I wonder what they will do for their first anniversary?
WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Newly Engaged Couple Found By Interagency Searchers
On the afternoon of Monday, January 9th, the park learned that two visitors who had been hiking within the dunes since noon were lost and unable to find their way out. Russell Vandameer and Karen Renshaw, both of Oklahoma, left to go hiking with their three dogs, Stitch, Suzy, and Griswald. After finding a suitably beautiful spot within the dunes, Vandemeer proposed to Renshaw. The newly engaged couple than attempted to hike back to their car, but were unable to find their way back. Rather than continue to wander becoming more lost, they contacted a cousin via cell phone and requested that help be sent. An interagency effort was begun that involved the NPS, the Alamo West Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Army. While two Army Rescue Blackhawk helicopters were en route from Fort Bliss, approximately an hour away, Holloman Air Force base diverted an F-22 Raptor from a training mission to the search effort. The pilot of the Raptor was able to positively identify the couple with their three dogs. Two Air Force drones were also tasked, which were able to relay specific coordinates and monitor the lost hiker’s location and movement from the air while the Army helicopters were en route. The hikers and their dogs were transported by the Army Blackhawks out of the dunes to the command post, where they were examined by NPS and Alamo West EMS for exposure to the below freezing nighttime temperatures. Renshaw accepted Vandemeer’s marriage proposal. The newly engaged couple invited the Blackhawk crew to the wedding. The search effort was greatly aided by the assistance of the military aircraft, which utilized night vision and infrared equipment to safely locate the hikers after nightfall. Ranger Kelly Roche acted as IC.
Contact Information
Name: Becky Wiles, Acting Superintendent
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2012 - 11:39pm PT
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Get lost in Area 51? :)
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Jan 13, 2012 - 11:48pm PT
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Per the just prior: Lost couple in White Sands!
Ain't it great to see where our taxes go?
A military over-reaction to overdue Okie hikers.
I'm sure all the armed-forces involved will raise their budget requests for 2012, based on their rescue.
I'm not bitching about the military.
I'm bitching about the system.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2012 - 04:45pm PT
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A bunch of new rescues, including another at White Sands...
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Missing Snowshoer Found By Searchers
A massive search for a snowshoer missing in the park since last Saturday culminated in a successful rescue on Monday night. A team of three searchers led by ranger Jordan Mammel located missing snowshoer Yong Chun Kim at approximately 2 p.m. on Monday afternoon in the Stevens Creek drainage just east of the Paradise area. It took until 11 p.m. to safely evacuate Kim by sled and Snowcat. Despite his ordeal, he was in relatively good health and was able to return home with his family. Kim, 66, was leading a snowshoe walk for a hiking group from Tacoma on Saturday afternoon when he slipped down a steep slope. He was unable to ascend back to the group and told them he would go around and meet them. His hiking companions returned to Paradise; when Kim failed to return by mid-afternoon, the National Park Service began a search that continued through Sunday and into Monday, ultimately involving more than 100 people. Kim is an experienced snowshoer who has done many day trips at Mount Rainier. He was well equipped for day travel but did not have overnight gear or experience. The search took place in mountainous terrain at elevations of from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. The weather was wintry, with fresh snow each day, low temperatures in the teens, and high winds. Organizations that participated in the search include National Park Service staff from Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks; Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol; German Shepherd Search Dogs; Volcanoes Rescue Team; and Mountain Rescue Units from Tacoma, Everett, Seattle, Olympic, Portland, and Central Washington. The IC was Stefan Lofgren.
[Submitted by Lee Taylor, Chief of Interpretation and Education]
White Sands National Monument (NM)
Autistic Teenager Found After Overnight Search
An autistic teenager was found by the crew of an Air Force Blackhawk helicopter on Monday morning after a 15-hour search. The search was begun for the 15-year-old boy around dusk on Sunday after he wandered away from his family during a visit to the park. Over 100 searchers were involved in the all-night operation, which was managed under a unified command and involved the NPS, Air Force, Army, Border Patrol, New Mexico Search and Rescue, New Mexico State Police, and Alamo West Volunteer Fire and Rescue. The incident began when members of an extended family group from El Paso who had spent the afternoon sledding and picnicking in the park realized that the teen was not with them. They searched for him for about an hour before contacting rangers, who conducted an unsuccessful hasty search of the area. The search was quickly expanded and given high priority due to the teen's autism, impending darkness, and weather. Canine units, ATV searchers, aircraft, and ground personnel were deployed during the night. At first light, additional resources were utilized to expand the operation, including three helicopters (two from the Border Patrol and a Blackhawk helicopter from Kirtland AFB) and several canine units (teams from Holloman AFB, New Mexico Search and Rescue, and the Border Patrol). Ground searchers, all-terrain vehicles, and equestrian teams from all previously listed agencies also supported this complex search and rescue operation. At 10:15 am, personnel in the Blackhawk spotted the teenager walking in the dunes about six miles from the point where he'd last been seen. He was found to be in good health and spirits. The boy was flown to the command post and reunited with his family. The missing teen was excited to have a helicopter ride and asked one of the Blackhawk crewmen for his patch. The crewman ripped the patch off his shoulder and handed it to the rescued teen. The teen's family was extremely grateful and thanked everyone who was involved with bringing their son home.
[Submitted by Becky Wiles, Acting Superintendent]
Glacier National Park
Cross-Country Skiers Rescued From Park
Glacier National Park, Flathead County Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team and Kalispell Regional Medical Center's A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance responded to and rescued two cross-country skiers who were lost and stranded overnight in the North Fork area of the park. The married couple from Kalispell sent a 911 message using a spot messenger device, reporting that they were lost and stranded in the park. Flathead County dispatch received the message at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and determined that the message originated from a remote location approximately a mile north of the Akokala Creek Trail in the North Fork area of park, approximately six miles north of Polebridge. Park rangers were immediately notified and an incident team was organized. Due to bad weather, downed trees, difficult trail conditions, darkness and overall unsafe conditions for ground or aerial searches, it was determined that a response would need to take place early Sunday morning. Operations resumed that day with rangers and members of the county's rescue team snowshoeing and cross-country skiing toward their location. A helicopter joined them when weather conditions improved. The crew spotted tracks on the ground, landed briefly, and dropped off two crew members, who hiked a half mile to the couple's location. They were treated at the scene and flown out. Rangers met them and transported them to the Polebridge Ranger Station. The couple then returned home.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2012 - 04:48pm PT
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I like this monument, it's really remote...anybody been there?
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (NM)
Park Reopens Following Road And VC Repairs
The park reopened on January 10th following a closure of two-and-a-half months due to reconstruction of a highway bridge on the road to the cliff dwellings. The multi-agency Gila Visitor Center has also reopened. It was closed due to ceiling repairs required due to asbestos removal and water damage.
[Submitted by Steve Riley, Superintendent]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2012 - 01:57am PT
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Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Major Search Underway For Two Missing Parties
Search efforts are underway for two parties overdue from a weekend trips on Mount Rainier. A party of two planning to winter camp on the Muir Snowfield over the weekend was due out on Sunday, January 15th; a second party of two climbers on a summit attempt via the Disappointment Cleaver route was due back on Monday, January 16th. Western Washington was hit by a storm over the weekend, followed by a severe winter storm through mid-week, forcing a delay in the field search. Both parties were outfitted for winter weather with the exception of snowshoes or skis. Due to the weather conditions, it is expected that they are waiting out the storms before attempting to descend to Paradise. Visitors to the upper mountain are advised to stop moving, dig in and wait for better weather during severe weather and whiteout conditions. On Tuesday, a search team of two skied the route above Paradise to Panorama Point to assess conditions in the area and to look for signs of the two overdue parties. Travel was extremely difficult, with team members sinking two to three feet into the snow. Visibility was limited, winds were gusting up to 100 mph, and their tracks filled in behind them as they negotiated the deep snow. Yesterday, a team of ten searched from Paradise up the Muir Snowfield to Camp Muir without locating either of the parties. Eight of the team members skied back down to Paradise, searching along the way. There may be a short weather window this morning for the two searchers remaining at Camp Muir to search under better conditions before the next storm arrives midday. A helicopter is on standby at Joint Base Lewis-McChord awaiting favorable flight conditions, although freezing rain precluded flight operations on Thursday. The weather is the greatest challenge to search efforts at this time. Both a winter storm watch and a moderate level avalanche warning were issued for the area. The search team is made up of highly skilled mountaineers who are familiar with the route and in mitigating associated avalanche exposure. The team is composed of Mount Rainier climbing rangers and park staff and members of Everett Mountain Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, International Mountain Guides and Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated. Kelly Bush from North Cascades NP is IC. Although both parties are equipped for winter camping, concern for their wellbeing grows each day. The Western Incident Management Team is en route to assist with the incident. For information on weather conditions visit the park Weather webpage at http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/weather.htm. For a look at current conditions at Paradise visit the webcam webpage
http://www.nps.gov/mora/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm (note that the Camp Muir webcam is not maintained in winter).
[Submitted by Patti Wold, PIO]
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Body Of Falling Victim Identified
A body found near Yaki Point has been identified as that of 41-year-old Peter Reichner of Glenside, Pennsylvania. Reichner's body was found on Thursday, January 12th, next to the South Kaibab Trail about a third of a mile from the trailhead, which is located near Yaki Point on the South Rim. It has been determined that Reichner died of injuries sustained in a fall. An investigation into the incident is ongoing and is being conducted by the National Park Service in cooperation with the Coconino County medical examiner.
[Submitted by Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 23, 2012 - 12:40pm PT
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First death in Yosemite this year...
Monday, January 23, 2012
INCIDENTS
Yosemite National Park (CA)
DNC Employee/Past Seasonal Ranger Killed By Falling Tree
Ryan Hiller, an employee of Delaware North Companies and a former seasonal protection ranger for the park, died last Saturday when a tree landed on his tent cabin in the stables housing area during a storm. The park has released the following statement: "With intense sadness, we share with our employees and partners the news regarding the death of Ryan Hiller during Saturday's winter storm event. Ryan was employed by DNC and worked this past summer for the Yosemite Protection Division at Little Yosemite Valley, where he was involved in many Half Dome emergency responses. Although the investigation is ongoing, initial information is that Saturday's storm and associated thunderstorm with winds resulted in a tree failing in North Pines Campground adjacent to the stables. The tree landed on the tent cabin in the stable complex occupied by Ryan causing traumatic injuries. He was to work at Badger Pass Ski Area this winter. Coworkers describe Ryan as a strong, soft spoken, stoic ranger. His focus was that of public service and he had the character and qualities to pursue that dream. Emblematic of this was an encounter during the summer of 2011 intervening to save a life. Ryan hiked four miles from Little Yosemite Valley to the sub-dome and then ascended the cables to the summit of Half Dome at dusk. There he and a fellow ranger met an individual who rangers had identified as suicidal but willing to seek assistance. He then was a participant in the descent and escort team during nightfall to safely bring the person out of the backcountry without further incident. Ryan attended the seasonal ranger training center in Silva, North Carolina, in the fall of 2010. He had completed two seasons at the Devils Postpile and one season at the Grand Canyon as a trail crew worker. Ryan brought a diverse background of outdoor experiences, including working as a deckhand for a summer on a fishing boat in Alaska, hiking 1,200 miles of the Appalachian trail, and working as a veterinary assistant, a farm manager, horse caretaker, just to name a few. Ryan had a love of wild places and had determined to dedicate himself to protecting them. Ryan was planning on returning to work in Yosemite National Park as a backcountry ranger in Little Yosemite Valley and was excited to attend Yosemite's Mounted Horse Patrol School. We extend our condolences to the Hiller family, friends, and co-workers here in Yosemite and in his home town. Ryan is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and would have turned 28 this month. We also extend our appreciation to the staff who responded to this tragic incident."
[Submitted by Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Search Continues For Overdue Parties On Mount Rainier
The search for four people in two parties continues on Mount Rainier. On Sunday, a small improvement in the week's severe weather allowed ground teams to conduct visual searches of terrain previously obscured by weather. A US Army Reserve Chinook attempted to join the effort but had to turn back due to limited visibility. The helicopter remains on standby at Joint Base Lewis McChord. No sign of the missing parties has been detected to date. Over the last week, ground teams have encountered 30 to 60+ mph winds, whiteout conditions, ice crusted snow, and snow depths from 10 to 15 feet with drifts up to 50 feet. The two teams were due back on January 15th and 16th. The search effort will continue today, depending on weather and avalanche conditions. In the event a weather window materializes, the Chinook and a Washington State Patrol airplane are prepared to respond. The weather forecast calls for snow, 5 to 10 degree temperatures, and winds up to 65 mph through today. The Western Incident Management Team (Denny Ziemann IC) is managing to the incident. Mount Rainier and Denali climbing rangers, personnel from Pacific West, Intermountain and Alaska Regions, guides from Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated and International Mountain Guides, and Olympic, Tacoma, Everett and Seattle Mountain Rescue are contributing to search operations.
[Submitted by Patti Wold, PIO, Western IMT]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 23, 2012 - 12:47pm PT
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The number of deaths so far this year is
Mount Rainier 1
Grand Canyon 1
Yosemite 1
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2012 - 10:38pm PT
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Independence National Historical Park (PA)
Man Fatally Assaulted In Park
A contract security guard in front of Independence Hall reported hearing a female screaming on Chestnut Street around 2:30 a.m. on January 14th. Responding rangers found a man in his early 20s lying on the sidewalk in front of the Second Bank of the United States, evidently the victim of an assault. He had no pulse and was unresponsive; the rangers immediately began CPR and called for EMS and police assistance. An AED was employed, but indicated that a shock was not advised. The man was taken to Jefferson Hospital, where he remained on life support until members of his family could arrive. He was removed from life support that evening and succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses said that the man and two women with him were attempting to hale a taxi after leaving a local bar, and that the man, who was reportedly intoxicated, became agitated at a taxi driver who declined to stop for them and began shouting obscenities at the driver. A car right behind the taxi then pulled up next to him and four men jumped out and assaulted the man. They then fled down Chestnut Street. None of the assailants were known to the two women who were accompanying the victim. The suspects have not yet been identified, but footage from park surveillance cameras is being reviewed. Investigators are hopeful that the suspects will be identified after the footage is released to local media outlets. The National Park Service is assisting Philadelphia PD with the investigation. The victim has been identified as Kevin Kless, 23, a resident of Philadelphia.
[Submitted by Patrick Suddath, Chief Ranger]
Grand Teton National Park (WY)
Worker Dies From Injuries Sustained In Construction Accident
Rangers and EMS providers responded late on the morning of January 9th to a report of a worksite injury that had just occurred at a construction project in the park. Bryon Peck, a 33-year-old resident of eastern Colorado, had fallen approximately 15 feet and sustained serious injuries while working on a new housing unit near the park's headquarters complex. Peck was treated at the scene and then taken by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. From there, he was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where he died two days later. Peck, the plant manager for a housing assembly company out of Fort Morgan, Colorado, fell while installing a second floor door on one of the new units being constructed in the employee housing area at Moose. An investigation into his death is underway.
[Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Driver Killed In Head-on Collision
On the evening of January 19th, a three car accident occurred on Picture Rocks Road, a two-lane roadway within the park boundary, near the Contzen Pass area. One person was killed and a second injured. An initial investigation revealed that the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe was driving westbound and drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with two other vehicles, causing extensive damage to the passenger compartment. The female driver and lone occupant of the Tahoe died at the scene. One of the drivers from another vehicle was taken to a hospital for minor injuries and released. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is conducting the investigation.
[Submitted by Paul Austin, Acting Chief Ranger]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2012 - 10:39pm PT
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
INCIDENTS
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Search For Four Missing People Scaled Back
On Monday, the seventh day of the search for four people in two missing parties on Mountain Rainier, the mountain came out of the clouds for the first time, providing perfect weather for extensive air and ground operations. In spite of a major search effort, the parties were not located. With the return of winter weather and the odds of a favorable outcome declining daily, operations are being scaled back and will transition back to the park today. Investigators will continue to work on an in-depth investigation, and operations are shifting to an extended limited continuous search. Family liaisons worked with four separate families throughout the week. The consulate provided translators to assist in overcoming language barriers with family from Korea. Ninety-one people were assigned to the search over the course of the incident, which was managed by the Western Incident Management Team (Denny Ziemann IC). The team took over management of the search on January 21st, providing assistance to a park staff depleted by the impacts of the tragic shooting of Ranger Margaret Anderson.
[Submitted by Patti Wold, Incident Information Officer]
Haleakala National Park (HI)
Search For Missing Hiker Successful
A search was begun for a lost day hiker late last Sunday when he failed to meet a family member at Keonehe'ehe'e trailhead as planned. The day hiker arranged to be dropped off by a family member at the Halemau'u trailhead (elevation 7,990 feet) around midday on Sunday. He apparently planned to descend Halemau'u Trail into the crater and then ascend via the Keonehe'ehe'e (Sliding Sands) Trail five hours later - a distance exceeding 11 miles and 4,000 feet total elevation change. He was poorly prepared and did not possess a trail map. After the family member reporting the missing hiker, Maui Fire Department conducted a hasty search of the Halemau'u trailhead, but suspended the search when it became too dark. Search and rescue operations resumed at first light on Monday. Despite inadequate preparation, water, and clothing, he'd found his own way out of the crater overnight through Kaupo Gap and apparently hitchhiked back to Kahului. He was found to be in relatively good condition.
[Submitted by Navnit Singh, Public Affairs Officer]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 27, 2012 - 10:36pm PT
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Friday, January 27, 2012
INCIDENTS
Petrified Forest National Park (AZ)
Twelve Arrested Or Cited For Drug And Resource Violations
Ranger Lindsey Pruett responded to a visitor report of other visitors collecting pieces of petrified wood at Crystal Forest on the afternoon of January 9th. She contacted one occupant of a converted school bus who turned over several small pieces of petrified wood. When asked if there was any more on the bus or anything else Pruett needed to know about, he told her that there was also a quantity of marijuana on the bus. Ranger Marc Schlauch then arrived and assisted Pruett. A county sheriff's office canine unit came out and positively alerted on the bus, indicating the presence of a controlled substance. The bus and all twelve occupants were searched. Approximately twelve pounds of petrified wood, two pounds of rocks, three pounds of marijuana, nine pounds of food with THC content, and a small quantity of bath salts and hashish were recovered from the bus along with numerous smoking pipes and $2,941 in cash found with the hashish and marijuana. No one admitted to any knowledge of the drugs on the bus. Two occupants were arrested and brought the next morning to the federal magistrate in Flagstaff; the rest were issued violation notices to appear in court later that week. Seven of the ten individuals showed up for court and were found guilty of class B misdemeanors for the resource and drug violations. The two people who were arrested were each fined a total of $1,025 for the petrified wood and the drugs, placed on a year's unsupervised probation, and banned from all national parks in Arizona for one year. The other seven paid fines of $610 each and were sentenced to the same period of probation and exclusion from Arizona parks. Of the three remaining cited individuals, one was a juvenile and had her tickets dismissed. The remaining two were arrested days later on failure to appear warrants from this case.
[Submitted by Greg Caffey, Chief Ranger]
My comment: In Petrified Forest NP there is a noticeable decrease in the number of petrified wood pieces within 100 feet of the road. This is especially true of pieces ranging in size from 2 inches to a foot. The NPS has actually considered moving the roads to allow areas to recover naturally through erosion. I learned this when I volunteered there for a few months about 10 years ago.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 31, 2012 - 12:53pm PT
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Friday, March 30, 2012
INCIDENTS
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (NM)
Search In Progress For Missing Marathon Runner
A search was begun on Wednesday for a missing marathon runner who failed to return home Tuesday evening after a run in the rugged Gila Wilderness surrounding the park. As of yesterday morning, no sign of him had been found even with infrared radar searches overnight and daytime aerial flights on Wednesday. NPS staff at the Gila Visitor Center, the operations center, have been providing logistical support to the effort since Grant County Search and Rescue mobilized on Wednesday afternoon. The search area now covers over 300 square miles of deep canyons and heavily timbered forest.
[Submitted by Steve Riley, Superintendent]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Two Convicted Of Galax Poaching
While investigating a report of a suicidal person on March 24th, a ranger observed a driver operating a vehicle in a very suspicious manner in an area known for galax poaching. The ranger turned on the vehicle, and, as he approached, saw two men exit from it and flee into the adjacent woods, carrying duffle bags. The ranger conducted a traffic stop and subsequently arrested the driver, identified as Oscar Rincon Reyes, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, for illegally harvesting galax. Other rangers responded and a search of the adjacent woods yielded three duffle bags containing 15,000 galax leaves. During the investigation, one of the other subjects was identified and an arrest warrant was obtained. On March 27th, rangers and Mitchell County Sheriff's Office deputies executed the warrant and arrested Francisco Rincon Felipe, also of Spruce Pine. Both Reyes and Felipe appeared before the U.S. magistrate, pled guilty to conspiracy to harvest galax, and were sentenced to 30 days in jail. Investigation is continuing to identify and prosecute the third conspirator. Currently, local market value for galax leaves, used in floral arrangements, is two to six cents per leaf. Galax leaves are being sold for more than a dollar a leaf in the international flora trade and is estimated that galax harvesting is a $40 million a year industry in western North Carolina.
[Submitted by Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 2, 2012 - 01:16pm PT
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Monday, April 02, 2012
INCIDENTS
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (NM)
Body Of Missing Runner Found
The body of Micah True, an internationally renowned distance runner and subject of the book Born to Run, was recovered by Grant County Search and Rescue and US Forest Service personnel on Sunday, April 1st.
True had been missing since last Tuesday morning, when he departed from the nearby small town of Gila Hot Springs, where he had been staying with friends, for a 12 mile run. He was found by friends some two miles off-trail and two miles south of the park's Cliff Dwellings Unit on Saturday afternoon.
At the peak of the search on Saturday, some 75 searchers on foot and another dozen on horseback were in the field. New Mexico State Police, Army National Guard and Civil Air Patrol furnished helicopters and fixed wing aircraft for the search and to provide for radio coverage in the rugged terrain of the Gila Wilderness. The five day search and recovery effort was based out of the multi-agency Gila Visitor Center, where NPS staff provided logistical support.
[Submitted by Steve Riley, Superintendent]
Pacific West Region
Additional Convictions Made In Operation Antiquity
On March 19th, Michael Malter and Malter Galleries were each sentenced for felony Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) violations in US District Court in Los Angeles. The sentencings stemmed from a five-year-long investigation called "Operation Antiquity" that focused on looting, importation, sale and tax fraud violations related to cultural items from the U.S. and other countries.
Participating along with the NPS in this investigative effort are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division.
Looted Native American and pre-Columbian artifacts were consigned to Malter and Malter Galleries in June 2004 by an undercover NPS agent. Malter and the auction company knew that the domestic artifacts were illegally taken from public lands and that the pre-Columbian artifacts had been smuggled into the US from Central America. Despite this knowledge, these antiquities were sold by Malter at an auction in October 2004 for $3,000.
In January 2005, a second lot of smuggled pre-Columbian artifacts were consigned to Malter and Malter Galleries. Having been provided information about the smuggled nature of the artifacts both verbally and in writing, these antiquities were sold for $1,500 by Malter at an auction in February 2005. In both instances, the illicit artifacts were purchased back by NPS rangers and agents posing as buyers. In January 2008, a search warrant was served at Malter Galleries in Encino, California, by agents with the NPS and ICE. Malter and gallery employees were also interviewed at this time.
At the sentencing hearing on March 19th, Malter was sentenced to a year of home detention, two years of probation and 150 hours of community service. Malter Galleries and Malter were jointly ordered to pay about $24,000 in fines, restitution and community service. Additional cases against other entities are pending. More information about this ongoing investigation may be found at the link below.
[Submitted by Todd Swain]
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 2, 2012 - 10:06pm PT
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"A five year investigation results in a $24k fine?
Good grief."
Unfortunately, it seems only people without a good lawyer are getting any significant jailtime under ARPA.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sagebrusher, you overlooked the real import of this case in that it provided
quasi-gainful employment for otherwise unworthy people for five years. The
whole point of the current legal/law enforcement system is job and pension security.
On a related note yesterday Arellano Felix, he of the Tijuana Cartel, was
sentenced to 25 years in a plea bargain. What a joke! It took the
government lawyers 7 years to come to a pathetic plea bargain deal?
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aguacaliente
climber
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Apr 11, 2012 - 02:11am PT
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012
INCIDENTS
Blue Ridge Parkway
Two Suffer Hallucinogenic Mushroom Overdoses
On the evening of March 31st, rangers were dispatched to the Craggy Gardens picnic area in response to a 911 call concerning a probable drug overdose. Upon arrival, they found a man and woman parked in a vehicle, both exhibiting an altered mental status. They said that they'd ingested psilocybin mushrooms, with the woman adding that she was dead and had no pulse. Rangers and EMS personnel began an assessment and noted that the woman was suffering from periodic convulsive events. At one point, she jumped from the stretcher, climbed into the rear seat of a patrol car, exited again, dropped to the ground, and experienced another convulsion. She was eventually placed in an ambulance, where she was transported to a hospital for treatment and evaluation. During the transport, she continually asked if she was alive or dead and if what was happening was real. Rangers remained at the hospital until she returned to a coherent state. Both the man and woman were issued violation notices for using a controlled substance. The driver was released to the custody of his father. The 911 call actually originated from the couple, who were concerned that they were already dead.
(Submitted by Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger)
I don't know whether this falls in the category of frivolous calls to 911/SAR or not. I mean, if you're dead, that probably is a legitimate reason for calling.
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Sagebrusher
Sport climber
Iowa
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 23, 2012 - 02:40pm PT
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I don't know whether this falls in the category of frivolous calls to 911/SAR or not. I mean, if you're dead, that probably is a legitimate reason for calling.
LOL!
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