NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, November 16, 1994

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-640 - Fire Island (New York) - Arson Arrest

Maintenance employees and a ranger observed smoke from a brush fire within the
historic zone at the William Floyd Estate on the afternoon of November 8th. 
Fire danger at the time was very high due to extremely dry conditions and winds
of up to 40 mph.  The investigating ranger came upon a man standing next to the
fire, watching it spread; several beer cans were in the area around him.  The
suspect, subsequently identified as R.G., fled on foot into a
section of dense woods.  The ranger ordered him to stop, but he ignored them
and ran into an area of heavier brush.  Suffolk County police officers were
summoned and set up a perimeter around the area.  A canine team subsequently
found R.G. and he was taken into custody.  During processing, it was
determined that R.G. had a history of mental illness and alcoholism.  He was
charged with setting timber afire (18 USC 1855), a felony.  The U.S. magistrate
found R.G. mentally incapable and had him interred in federal prison for
psychiatric evaluation prior to a hearing on the charges.  [CRO, FIIS, 11/10]

94-641 - Joshua Tree (California) - Poaching Investigation

On November 12th, a ten-month-long wildlife poaching case culminated in the
filing of charges against two people for poaching in the park.  The
investigation, which was conducted jointly by rangers from Joshua Tree and
Channel Islands and BLM, state and county officers, centered on an individual
who was leasing a parcel of land within the park.  Last February, members of
the park's staff discovered that the lease holder had constructed a hunting
blind and a cement watering basin on the property in violation of the lease and
that he was actively hunting in the area.  Informants told investigators that
the lease holder had killed numerous animals, including deer, bobcats and owls. 
Surveillance was begun, and officers were able to photograph two individuals
hunting from the blind over a salt lick next to the watering hole.  On November
12th, search warrants were obtained and executed for three houses.  Numerous
items of evidence were seized from two of them, which led to the filing of
state charges against two individuals and administrative action against the
lease holder for violation of his lease agreement.  Names are being withheld
until charges are filed.  [Todd Swain, CI, JOTR, 11/14]

94-642 - Zion (Utah) - Pursuit and Arrest

On the morning of November 12th, Zion dispatch was given a vehicle and driver
description regarding a recent "gas skip" in a neighboring community.  Ranger
Karen Frauson identified the driver as he entered the park, notified patrol,
and requested the standard entrance fee.  The driver refused to pay the fee,
stating that he did not recognize federal authority, and drove on.  Patrol
ranger John Patmore stopped the vehicle a short time later.  The driver, R.C.B.
of Nevada, refused to identify himself, insisting that the federal
government had no right to stop him and had no authority on Utah lands.  R.C.B.
drove off just as back-up ranger Ed Dunlavey arrived.  The two patrol units
began a pursuit of R.C.B., who now refused to stop.  R.C.B. continued for a dozen
miles to the park's east entrance, where road spikes were utilized in an
attempt to stop him.  R.C.B. was able to drive around the spikes, narrowly
missing a Utah Highway Patrol officer in the process.  He continued out of the
park until stopped by sheriff's deputies at a roadblock about 21 miles from the
point of the initial stop.  R.C.B. was cited for numerous state and federal
charges, including fleeing, interference with agency functions and failure to
pay required fees.  R.C.B. is a member of a local constitutionalist/"wise use"
extremist group which has threatened land management rangers and policies in
the past. [David Buccello, DR, Frontcountry District, ZION, 11/13]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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