RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Thursday, February 20, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-43 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Drug Arrests

An undercover operation conducted by rangers from Katherine Landing between
February 4th and 10th culminated in the arrest of M.W., a
suspected methamphetamine dealer living in and operating from the trailer
village at that location.  An undercover ranger moved into the trailer
adjacent to M.W.'s, made his acquaintance, then purchased methamphetamine
from him on three separate occasions.  The final purchase was for an eighth
of an ounce of the drug.  M.W., S.E. and four others were
subsequently arrested on felony charges.  Two of the charges against M.W.
and S.E. carry sentences of from 25 years to life in prison.  [Dispatch,
LAME, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/19]

92-44 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Drug Arrest

On February 14th, an informant notified ranger Mark Gorman that K.B.,
a park concession employee, was going to be purchasing drugs that day in
Visalia, California, and that the drugs were going to be transported to the
park and distributed there.  The informant also described K.B. and his two
accomplices and the vehicle which they would be using.  A search warrant was
subsequently obtained for the three people, K.B.'s vehicle, and one of their
rooms.  Rangers Gorman and James Ireland stopped the vehicle at about 9:00
p.m. that evening, executed the warrant, seized a quarter pound of
marijuana, and arrested K.B. for possession of controlled substances and
driving under the influence.  Searches of the room and the other two
suspects produced no useful evidence, but K.B. gave a voluntary statement
in which he admitted purchasing the drugs with the intent to sell about half
to his fellow concession employees.  [Mark Gorman, SEKI, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/18]

92-45 - Delaware Water Gap (Pennsylvania/New Jersey) - Suicide

On the morning of February 13th, fee collector Joel Schwartz advised ranger
Rex Vanderford that a vehicle at the Resort Point Overlook had been parked
at the same location for two days.  During the preliminary investigation,
Vanderford learned that the vehicle was registered to a local business and
that it had been signed out to W.S., 63, who had been reported
missing about three weeks earlier.  W.S. was being investigated by the
Pennsylvania state police for business fraud and embezzlement, and
authorities said that he might be armed with a small caliber handgun. 
Vanderford and ranger Scott Stevens began a search and found W.S.'s body in
a nearby wooded area.  Evidence at the scene and other information led
investigators to the conclusion that W.S. committed suicide.  The cause of
death was determined to have been a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the
head.  [CompuServe message from Bob Wilson, LES, DEWA, 2/18]


92-46 - Fort Necessity (Pennsylvania) - EMS Incident

On the afternoon of the 10th, ranger Seifert was asked to check for an
injured or ill cross-country skier who a visitor had seen lying in the snow,
bleeding from his head and mouth.  Seifert responded and found H.L.
lying on the ground about 30 feet from the visitor center.  Seifert called
for assistance, and began CPR on H.L., who had stopped breathing.  Rangers
Strickfaden, Smith, Harriett, Brown and Schmidt assisted in the rescue
effort.  A local rescue squad arrived on the scene and transported H.L. to
Uniontown Hospital.  H.L. was pronounced dead of a cardiac arrest shortly
after his arrival at the hospital.  [CompuServe message from Ron DeAngelo,
RAD/MARO, 2/11]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Among recent calls received by Sharon Taylor, the wildlife veterinarian in
WASO's Division of Wildlife and Vegetation, was one regarding a condition
called "capture myopathy", which usually occurs in conjunction with the
pursuit, capture, immobilization and/or restraint of wildlife.  The
condition is characterized by abnormally high body temperature, kidney
failure, shock, muscle damage and death.  If you'd like more information on
this or any other wildlife disease, you can contact Sharon at 202-343-8116.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Lee at National Dive Control
Board workshop, Denver, CO (2/17-2/22); Marriott at law enforcement
conservation conference, Prescott, AZ (2/18-2/21); Sisto at damage
assessment regulations meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2/18-2/21).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Broyles at NWCG quarterly meeting, Savannah, GA
(2/18-2/23); Clark and Bristol at Incinet steering committee meeting,
Atlanta, GA (2/19-2/21). 

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573

Telefax:    Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977

CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO

SEAdog:     Branch of R&VP - 1/650
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655