RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                       MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date: Tuesday, October 2, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-344 - Wupatki/Sunset Crater (Arizona) - Arrest of Ranger

Early in September, a park neighbor advised the park that she had witnessed
suspicious fee collection activities at the Sunset Crater entrance station
since Memorial Day. Acting on this tip, a team of rangers conducted an
audit of the station's records; they discovered serious irregularities
during fee collection shifts which had been worked by S.I., 56, a
seasonal ranger who had previously worked at Sequoia/Kings Canyon and at
Scotty's Castle in Death Valley. During one half-hour compliance check on
September 24th, the team found that 10 of 28 vehicles had paid their
entrance fees but had not been issued receipts. Capt. Jim Radney, Southwest
Region's law enforcement specialist, and Butch Abell and Phil Young, the
region's "Project SafeCheck" team, travelled to the park prior to S.I.'s
next scheduled shift on September 27th. On that date, the three separately
posed as visitors and entered the park through the station S.I. was
working. Each gave S.I. three marked one dollar bills; each received a
park brochure and map, but no receipt. All three noted that the cash
register drawer remained open before, during and after their respective
transactions. At the same time, ranger Janice Pauley observed S.I. with a
spotting scope. She saw the cash register drawer closed only once during
the morning, and also saw S.I. take permits from exiting visitors, place
them in a book, then resell them to incoming visitors. At noon, Young and
district ranger Dennis Vasquez arrested S.I. for misappropriation of
government funds while S.I. was at lunch in his quarters. He was booked
into Coconino County jail later that afternoon after a brief interview by
the magistrate. During the subsequent execution of a search warrant, the
regional team found evidence that S.I. had made a number of substantial
financial investments well in excess of his salary over the course of the
summer. It was also determined that S.I. had no other source of income.
None of the marked bills was found, but the search uncovered an unsigned
Golden Age Passport. The name of the passport was found to be fictitious.
A second warrant will be obtained to seize the passport to support the
additional charges of theft of government property and giving false
information. The U.S. Attorney is pursuing the possibility of freezing
S.I.'s assets while he is prosecuted, and the IRS will be contacted to
determine its interest in becoming involved in the case. SWRO extends its
thanks to the rangers - including Kim Watson, Steve Schoner, Janice Pauley
and Dennis Vasquez - at Wupatki/Sunset Crater for their good work in
investigating this case. (CompuServe messages from Phil Young, RAD/SWRO,
10/1).

90-345 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Probable Drowning

Late in September, B.G., 60, of Loveland, Colorado, and W.T.
were rafting on the Snake River when they hit a snag and B.G.
was dumped into the river. The raft eventually became unsnagged and drifted
away. B.G. hung onto the snag for a while, then lost her grip, floated
down river and disappeared. Rangers were notified soon after and
immediately began a search of the river. B.G.'s body has not yet been
found. (Telephone report from Sherry Williams, RAD/RMRO, 10/1).

90-346 - Pictured Rocks (Michigan) - Successful Search

On September 15th, E.A., 62, went walking in the park to help
strengthen a knee which had been operated on; when she failed to return,
rangers were notified and began a search. The weather was in the lower 50's
with a light drizzle. Although the description of the vehicle given to
rangers did not fit any in the parking lot at Sand Point, they conducted a
hasty search of the area since it is a popular spot for walking. The woman
was located by two hikers who then contacted the rangers. E.A. was found to
be suffering from early signs of hypothermia and was transferred to Munising
Hospital by ambulance. She had tripped over her cane while walking and
reinjured her knee. Unable to stand up, she had pulled herself
approximately 600 feet down the trail during the five hours since her fall.
(Telefax from RAD/MWRO, 9/28).

90-347 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Assault on Ranger

Late on the night of September 25th, ranger Dan Madrid arrested ARA Leisure
Services employee J.D. for disorderly conduct and violation of
patrol at his trailer home in Wahweap. While escorting J.D. through the
doorway of the trailer, J.D., who was handcuffed, struck Madrid in the
chest with a martial arts kick. Madrid fell backwards several feet, but was
uninjured because the kick struck him directly over the metal trauma plate
in his bullet proof vest. J.D., who had a history of violence and had
been drinking, is being held in jail by the Arizona State Probation
Department. Federal assault charges are pending. This is the third assault
on a ranger at Glen Canyon this year. Indictments have been returned in the
first two incidents, and trials have been scheduled. (CompuServe report
from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1).

90-348 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Fatality

On the afternoon of September 29th, a resident of Wilsonia Village, an
inholding within the park near Grant Grove, discovered the body of a male in
his early 30's located face down in a small creek. An investigation into
his identity and the probable cause of his death is being conducted by
rangers and FBI agents with the assistance of the Tulare County sheriff's
crime scene unit. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/1).

90-349 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boating Accidents; Minor Fuel Spill

A privately-owned, 52-foot houseboat sheared off the end of the gas dock at
Bullfrog on the evening of September 22nd. One gas pump was knocked off its
pedestal, but the automatic shut-off valve functioned properly and only
eight to ten gallons of gas were spilled into Lake Powell. A quick and
efficient response by ARA Leisure Services concession employees confined the
spill, and it was cleaned up in short order. While Chevron employees were
repairing the damaged pump the following day, however, another houseboat hit
the end of the same dock and stuck another pump. That pump broke loose, but
the plumbing remained intact and no fuel escaped. Alcohol was not involved
in either accident, and no citations were issued. A similar incident which
occurred at Wahweap Marina on August 24th resulted in a fire and the arrest
of M.W. of Los Angeles for reckless boat operation. (CompuServe
report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1).

90-350 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Structural Fire

On September 30th, rangers at Grant Grove responded to a structural fire in
a small cabin in Wilsonia Village, an inholding area in the park. When they
arrived, the cabin was fully engulfed in flames and was threatening several
other structures. Additional help was requested from Tulare County and from
the California Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). CDF units
were released from a wildfire just outside of the park and were on-scene in
30 minutes. The cabin was a total loss, but no other structures burned and
there was no significant wildland fire. An occupant of the cabin received
third-degree burns to his feet in an attempt to retrieve belongings and put
the fire out. The cause is under investigation. (Doug Morris, CR, SEKE,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/1).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No reports today.

FIRE ACTIVITY

No report today.

STAFF STATUS

- Division Chief: No travel scheduled.

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: No travel scheduled.

- Branch of Fire: No travel scheduled.


Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650