NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, May 4, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1798, Vice President Thomas Jefferson informed the 
American Philosophical Society, over which he presided, of his 
scientific invention of a new moldboard for a plow, for which a French 
society awarded him a gold medal.  The Thomas Jefferson Memorial in 
Washington, D.C., commemorates this multifaceted genius.

INCIDENTS

00-182 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO) - Armed Robbery

A young couple from Tennessee was robbed at a rest area on the Arch 
grounds just before midnight on April 22nd. They reported that a group 
of eight men had approached and surrounded them. One of them produced 
a small caliber silver automatic, stuck it in the man's chest, and 
demanded his money. The man gave him $19; he was then struck on the 
back of the head and had his cell phone taken from his belt. The group 
fled south to the north leg of the Arch. The man was not injured; his 
companion was not assaulted. The couple reported the incident to 
ranger Charles Burke. Seven men fitting the general description of the 
assailants were apprehended shortly thereafter on the North Grand 
Staircase. They ranged in age from 16 to 20 years old. One had the 
stolen cell phone in his possession. Although several of the suspects 
had cash on them, the $19 sum was not found on any individual. The 
firearm has not been recovered. The victims identified them as members 
of the group that had robbed them. All seven were taken into custody. 
All were cited; three were released to their parents or guardians, two 
were later released, and the remaining two were held under active 
arrest warrants from other jurisdictions. The investigation and the 
search for the firearm continues. Federal charges are pending. [Bruce 
Cunningham, MWRO, 4/25]

00-183 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Probable Drowning

A.H., 55, and his son C.H., 26, both of Citrus Heights, 
California, were eel fishing at the mouth of the Klamath River on 
April 28th when a wave struck them from behind and knocked them into 
the water.  Fellow fishermen were able to pull C.H. onto shore, but 
were not able to reach Alton.  He was swept out into the Pacific 
Ocean.  Coast Guard helicopters and cutters and ground searchers from 
the park, Del Norte County SAR, Klamath VFD, and the California 
Highway Patrol were unable to locate A.H., and he is presumed to 
have drowned.  A.H. is the brother of Redwood NP maintenance 
employee Rodney A.H., who is currently on leave battling cancer.  
Rodney is an approved leave recipient; those who would like to 
contribute leave to him may contact the human resource office at 
Redwood National Park at 707-464-6101 x 5021. [Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 
5/1]

00-184 - Assateague Island NS (VA/MD) - Attempted Suicide

Ranger John Bueg responded to a 911 report of suspicious activity in 
the South Ocean Beach area on the evening of April 20th. He found a 
despondent 45-year-old man sitting in a vehicle; the engine was 
running, and a hose ran from the exhaust pipe to the passenger 
compartment. The vehicle had been stolen from relatives. Bueg detached 
the hose and was able to coax the man out of the car. He proved to be 
highly intoxicated, erratic and combative. At one point, he attempted 
to reenter his vehicle, which was later found to contain a large 
knife. Bueg attempted to take him into custody. The man fled, but was 
captured and arrested after a brief chase with the assistance of a 
state park ranger and a deputy sheriff. He was taken into protective 
custody and placed under psychiatric evaluation. Investigation 
revealed that he had an extensive criminal history. Charges are 
pending. [William Reynolds, DR, Maryland District, ASIS, 4/25]

00-185 - Fort Pulaski NM (GA) - Suspected Suicide

A retired FBI agent found the body of an unidentified man on a park 
bench along the McQueen's Island nature trail on April 21st. He died 
from a single gunshot wound to the head; a handgun was found beside 
him. His rental car was found in the trail's parking lot. Since the 
body was found on a Georgia DOT right-of-way, local police conducted 
the investigation. Suicide is suspected. Ranger Cliff Kevill is 
assisting local law enforcement agencies with the case. [John Breen, 
FOPU, 4/24]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your 
servicing hub coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on 
the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport

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

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