RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Friday, April 9, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

INCIDENTS

93-171 - Yosemite (California) - Commercial Use Violations

On February 11th, D.C., also known as either H.C. or Y.C.,
was arrested in Los Angeles on a no-bail federal warrant issued by the
park's magistrate for a variety of charges involving commercial use of the
park and other illegal activities.  He had been a fugitive for seven months
at the time of the arrest.  D.C., who claims he is a citizen of Hong Kong,
was first licensed to operate a tour bus in 1984, and for several years made
regular runs to the park with buses and vans loaded with Chinese-speaking
travelers from both San Francisco's Chinatown and Asian countries.  He first
came to the attention of park rangers several years ago when one of his
buses backed into a ranger's private vehicle and caused $1,500 in damage. 
Upon investigation, it was determined that D.C. did not have insurance,
California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) or Interstate Commerce
Commission (ICC) authority, or a permit to operate within the park.  On New
Year's Day in 1989, a bus driven by D.C. slid out of control on an icy road
in the park and collided head on with another vehicle; three people were
injured, one seriously.  D.C. pleaded guilty to unsafe operation of a bus,
failure to possess a license to drive a bus, operating a vehicle that was
mechanically unsafe, and failure to have a log book.  He was placed on
summary probation and fined $400.  As a result of D.C.'s subsequent
unwillingness to desist from operating illegally in the park and without PUC
authority, the California Highway Patrol and NPS initiated a program of
surprise inspections of tour buses in the park.  Arrest warrants were issued
for D.C. and two of his drivers following the issuance of several citations
to them and their subsequent failure to appear in court.  Last May, D.C.
pleaded guilty to a series of violations, was fined $4,000 and was sentenced
to three years' probation.  On July 4, 1992, a D.C.-owned company van
crashed in Nevada, killing two people and injuring 13 other passengers.  The
accident was caused by a tire blow-out at high speeds; the van's tires were
found to be bald and defective.  After the crash, D.C. closed his San
Francisco office and disappeared.  The park subsequently filed a petition
for violation of probation and failure to appear, and a bench warrant was
issued.  D.C. was apprehended when police were called to a domestic dispute
and was later arrested on the federal warrant.  After D.C. paid his fine,
the federal district court withdrew the probation violation petition and
opted to release D.C. into the state's custody for further prosecution.  The
district attorney's office in San Francisco has filed criminal fraud charges
and issued a felony arrest warrant for D.C. for failing to return monies
paid for tours after D.C. closed his office, and California PUC has filed
charges for operating tour buses without a permit.  The ICC has obtained an
injunction against D.C.'s interstate transportation operations and will be
filing charges against D.C. in federal district court in San Francisco for
contempt of court.  It's not yet known whether the state of Nevada will file
charges regarding the bus accident with fatalities.  [LEO/YOSE, 3/31]

93-172 - White Sands (New Mexico) - Search

On April 2nd, K.M. hiked into the dunes around noon to join a
companion.  When she failed to show up and did not return at dusk, the park
was notified and a search was begun.  K.M. was wearing shorts, a tank top
and a cap, but was barefoot.  The search ended just after midnight when a
very sore-footed K.M. walked into Ratscat, a secure military facility on
the White Sands missile range about eight miles north of the point last
seen.  K.M. was detained by military security for extensive debriefings
and was not released to rangers until 2:30 a.m.  K.M. said that she became
disoriented in the dunes and wandered until she saw the lights of the
Ratscat facility.  [Robert Appling, WHSA, 4/8]

93-173 - Roosevelt-Vanderbilt (New York) - Assist; Felony Arrest

Around 9 p.m. on April 3rd, off-duty ranger Anthony Macri was returning to
his residence in the park when he saw a woman in a vehicle pursuing a male
who was running across a park field.  Macri contacted the woman, learned
that the man had just stolen her purse, and pursued and apprehended the
individual.  A state trooper who'd been summoned by the woman joined Macri
in cuffing the man.  The woman's wallet was found on his person, and crack
cocaine was subsequently discovered in her purse.  Both were charged with
possession of a controlled substance, and the man was charged with
possession of stolen property.  Subsequent investigation revealed that the
man had been hitchhiking and that the woman had picked him up.  He had told
her where she could purchase crack in Poughkeepsie; shortly after purchasing
the drugs, the man fled with her purse.  [ROVA, 4/8]

93-174 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Boating Fatality

R.N., 34, and his cousin, T.Y., 28, both of Las Vegas,
were boating on Lake Mohave early on the morning of April 8th when they
decided to head up river.  R.N. was at the helm, so T.Y. decided to
take a nap.  T.Y. awoke to a loud crash and found R.N. bent over
the seat, with his legs wedged under the dash.  The boat had apparently
struck an object; the hull was seriously damaged, and the boat began to
sink.  R.N. was still conscious and complained that he could not feel
his legs.  T.Y., who had received minor injuries, was able to put a life
jacket on R.N., drag him out of the boat, and bring him to the beach. 
Several Willow Beach concession maintenance workers arrived at about that
time and told T.Y. that they would go nine miles up river to get help. 
By the time they returned, R.N. had expired.  No efforts were made to
resuscitate him.  A joint investigation by the park and state wildlife
officials is underway.  [Terri Greene, LAME, 4/8]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Henry at LAC training conference
(4/3-4/9); Berkowitz at ARPA conference (4/4-4/10).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Clark at meeting with Rocky Mountain NP staff
(4/7-4/9), Broyles at annual safety managers' meeting (4/4-4/6).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation