NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, February 23, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-75 - Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Suicide

While closing the Cades Cove loop road on the evening of February 21st, ranger
Jeff Carlisle came upon a vehicle with two people inside in the Primitive
Baptist Church parking lot.  As he got closer, he also saw a shotgun in the
back seat.  Carlisle talked to the male passenger, then began to move around
the vehicle to talk with the female driver.  As he did so, the female reached
for the gun, told her companion that she was going to shoot the ranger, then
got out of the car.  From his cover position, Carlisle watched as she instead
shot herself.  The female, who was 15 years old, had been reported as a runaway
a week earlier.  Her 18-year-old male companion is receiving a medical
evaluation.  [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 2/22]

95-76 - Padre Island (Texas) - Illegal Taking of Endangered Species 

On February 19th, an anonymous caller reported that four men were cutting up a
sea turtle at the mile 45 marker on Padre Island.  All sea turtles in the area
are listed as either endangered or threatened species.  Responding rangers
located the vehicle involved in the incident and found a large, dead loggerhead
turtle inside.  A Fish and Wildlife agent has since entered into the case and
is coordinating a follow up investigation, which includes DNA analysis. 
Charges under both the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act are likely.  [T.L.
McDaniel, PAIS, 2/22]

95-77 - Jean Lafitte (Louisiana) - Assist; Felony Pursuit

On February 12th, a ranger attempted to stop a vehicle which had entered the
park at a high rate of speed.  The driver refused to stop, however, and
subsequently lost control of his vehicle and went off the road.  The operator
fled and eluded capture.  A second vehicle accompanying the first which had not
entered the park was stopped and its occupants detained and turned over to
Jefferson Paris deputies.  The abandoned vehicle was found to have been
recently stolen.  [Jim Carson, JELA, 2/22]

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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