NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, March 23, 1994

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

93-839 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Follow-up on Car Clout 

On the morning of November 27, 1993, rangers began a car clouting
surveillance operation and within ten minutes spotted a person breaking into
a visitor's vehicle.  Following a brief chase, two people - K.D. and
C.M. - were arrested.  Rangers also found that there was an
outstanding warrant against C.M..  Both men subsequently pleaded guilty to
the charges filed against them.  On March 15th, they were sentenced in
federal district court.  K.D. was sentenced to three months in prison, a
year's supervised release, commitment to an alcohol and drug treatment
program, and payment of $119 in restitution to the victim; C.M. was
sentenced to three years' probation and an equal amount of restitution.  
The unexpected discovery of an unrestrained 16-month-old child in the back
seat of the vehicle at the time of the original arrests hindered the
investigation by requiring a lengthy protective custody procedure between
the state of Illinois and the park.  Investigators determined that the child
was C.M.'s son, and that C.M. had him on visitation that day.  The state
found no "credible evidence" of child abuse and/or neglect resulting from
the incident and returned him to his maternal parent, who has legal custody. 
[J.L. Weddle, CI, JEFF, 3/22]

94-128 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Rescue

Early on the afternoon of March 20th, S.L., 18, of Beckley, West
Virginia, fell about 90 feet from a cliff in the Central Endless Wall
climbing area.  S.L., a beginning climber, intended to use a figure eight
descending device to rappel from the top of the cliff on a doubled rope. 
The rope was not tied to a tree; instead, a bight was taken around the
anchor and both ends were thrown over the cliff.  In setting up the rappel
device, S.L. inadvertently placed only one of the ropes through the figure
eight, then backed over the edge on rappel.  The end of the rope pulled up
from the bottom and from around the anchor point.  S.L. grabbed the ropes
in his arms in an attempt to check his fall, which helped to slow his
descent somewhat and keep him in an upright position.  A small tree at the
base of the cliff also helped to break his fall.  His climbing companion,
who was at the top of the cliff, climbed down a nearby ladder, assessed
S.L.'s injuries, then ran to the Canyon Rim visitor center to report the
incident.  An interagency rescue/medical team stabilized S.L.'s injuries,
placed him in a litter, and raised him up the cliff face to the top.  The
rescue itself was led by rangers.  S.L. was taken to a hospital and
treated for closed head injuries, a fractured clavicle, severe rope burns to
his arms, fractured ribs, a compression fracture to the spine, and a
severely fractured ankle.  He is in stable condition.  [Rick Brown, CR,
Canyon District, NERI, 3/21]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
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