NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, November 14, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1493, members of Christopher Columbus's second 
expedition to the New World landed on St. Croix Island in the Virgin 
Islands and battled a small group of natives.  Salt River Bay National 
Historical Park and Ecological Preserve includes the landing site, the 
only place under U.S. jurisdiction where Columbus's men are known to 
have set foot.

INCIDENTS

00-693 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Death of Employee's Son

A son born to park employees L.R. and D.R. on August 14th 
passed away from congenital heart problems on October 30th. Services 
have been held in Louisiana. Cards may be sent to L.R. and D.R. 
A charitable donations  account has been established to assist the family
with medical and  funeral expenses. Donations may be sent to D.R., Charitable 
Account, c/o Bank One, PO Box 459, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. [Kimberly 
Smeltzer, Dispatch, GRCA, 11/10]

00-694 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Armed Robbery; Arrest

The Silver State Bank in Boulder City was robbed of $1,000 in cash by 
an armed man at 2:40 p.m. on the afternoon of November 8th. The robber 
escaped in a brown Mazda RS-7 and was last seen heading toward Hoover 
Dam and the park. A description was broadcast to all officers and 
rangers in the area just after 3 p.m. Ranger Robert Moelder reported 
that he'd seen the man about 30 minutes before at the Hacienda Hotel 
and Casino, a private inholding within the park. He relocated the 
Mazda at 3:11 p.m. in the Hacienda's parking lot. Moelder was joined 
by rangers Bill Sherman and Tom Valenta and special agent Mike 
Blandford. They watched the hotel while Boulder City officers walked 
through the building in an effort to flush the robber. At 3:50 p.m., 
Moelder saw the man leave the hotel on the west side, circle around 
the hotel toward the east side, cross Highway 93, and appear to make a 
phone call at a gas station. As he was leaving the gas station, he 
spotted Sherman's unmarked vehicle and began to run from him. Rangers 
and officers responded. The man jumped a fence and ran down an 
embankment directly in the path of Valenta's patrol car. Valenta 
braked but hit the man, who fell, then got up and continued running. 
Valenta got out of his cruiser, drew his weapon, and ordered the man 
to stop. Blandford at the same time pulled his vehicle into the man's 
path. The man stopped and surrendered. District ranger Steve Drolet 
assisted in the capture. Most of the stolen money has been recovered, 
but the gun has not yet been found. The man had evidently called in a 
bomb threat to Boulder City Hall, then robbed the bank when all the 
city's police units were at that location. Boulder City police and FBI 
agents are continuing the investigation. [Dale Antonich, CR, LAME, 
11/9]

00-695 - Independence NHP (PA) - Armed Robbery

Five visitors were robbed at gunpoint while listening to a recorded 
interpretive program at the Liberty Bell Pavilion just after 8 p.m. on 
November 7th. There were five robbers, one of whom brandished a 
handgun. The visitors were told to give up their wallets and cash and 
to walk in the direction of Independence Hall across the street and 
not look back. The robbers then fled on foot. A search of the area was 
conducted by rangers and Philadelphia police officers but no sign of 
them was found. The items stolen included about $500 in cash, credit 
cards and other items. Rangers and city police are investigating. 
[CRO, INDE, 11/13]

00-696 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Armed Robbery Arrest

On Monday, October 30th, S.C., who was wanted by Park Police 
for an armed robbery, turned himself in at USPP headquarters. A 
warrant had been issued for S.C.'s arrest for an armed robbery that 
had occurred in Dupont Circle Park in which he cut the victim's face 
with a razor. Local media coverage and concern by citizens and members 
of S.C.'s family led him to turn himself in. His photo was also 
displayed on the Park Police web site. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 
11/13]

00-697 - Statue of Liberty NM (NY) - Illegal Demonstration; Arrests

On November 5th, Park Police officers saw a man traversing the 
exterior of the statue's crown with climbing gear. They found that a 
group of six people had entered the crown, broken one of the windows, 
and blocked access to the area. They were chanting, distributing 
leaflets and providing physical support to the climber. The six inside 
the crown were immediately arrested, and a dialogue was begun with the 
man hanging outside the crown. The island was meanwhile closed. The 
man hung flags from Puerto Rico and Vieques from the crown as part of 
a protest of the Navy's use of the latter island for training. Another 
five protestors were located while the island was being closed; they 
were detained for investigation but later released. The man on the 
crown surrendered to officers after three hours. The six inside the 
crown were charged with disobeying a lawful order, illegal 
demonstration, and distribution of printed matter, then released. The 
man who traversed the statue was charged with criminal trespass and 
reckless endangerment and released on a $50,000 bond. The U.S. 
attorney is considering additional charges. [Lt. John Marigliano, 
GATE, 11/9]

00-698 - Gateway NRA (NJ/NY) - Attempted Assault on Officer

USPP officer Jakim Eaddy saw a 1988 Chevrolet being driven recklessly 
in Riis Park at 2:20 a.m. on November 5th and attempted to stop it. A 
pursuit ensued that ended up at a dead end in Breezy Point. As Eaddy 
was getting out of his cruiser, the driver of the other vehicle - D.P., 
43 - put her car in reverse and attempted to hit him. Eaddy 
was able to evade her, and the pursuit resumed. D.P. narrowly missed 
hitting an NYPD cruiser head-on. She bailed out of her vehicle about 
five blocks away and fled into a residential area. Despite an 
extensive search by Park Police and NYPD officers, assisted by a 
helicopter, D.P. could not be found. A search of the vehicle led to 
the recovery of small amounts of cocaine and marijuana. Investigators 
determined that D.P. was on probation. Detectives contacted D.P. 
and her attorney and arranged for her to surrender on November 9th. 
She was charged with numerous counts by the Queens County DA, 
including reckless endangerment and burglary. [Lt. John Marigliano, 
GATE, 11/9]

00-699 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Accidental Shooting

G.S., 35, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, was injured by shotgun 
pellets on the morning of November 11th while hunting in the park on 
the opening day of pheasant season in New Jersey. He was hit on the 
top of his right hand, in the corner of his right eye, and in his 
right temple. G.S.'s father took him to a local hospital for 
treatment. Although the wounds were deep, G.S. suffered no serious 
injuries. G.S. and his father were hunting in standing corn 
(permissible in New Jersey) at the time of the incident. Two other 
hunters were also in the area. A bird went up and one of the other 
hunters shot at it from about 30 or 40 yards away, hitting G.S.. The 
hunters were close enough to see each other. G.S.'s father yelled to 
them that his son had been injured, but neither of the other two 
hunters came to their aid. The investigation continues. [Brad Clawson, 
Acting DR, New Jersey District, DEWA, 11/13]

00-700 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Rescue

USPP officers were notified of an injured person on the jetty at 
Breezy Point just after 8 p.m. on November 8th. G.L., 39, had been 
fishing from the jetty when he slipped and fell, breaking his left 
leg. Officer Daniel McFadden was first on scene at the jetty, which 
was extremely slippery and being struck by waves. Due to the 
conditions, G.L. was airlifted from the jetty by an NYPD helicopter and 
taken to a nearby beach, where he was transferred to a waiting 
ambulance. McFadden suffered a minor injury to his foot during the 
rescue. [Lt. John Marigliano, GATE, 11/9]

00-701 - Zion NP (UT) - Concessioner Drug Arrests; Firings

On October 31st, ranger Brad Miederhoff attempted to contact several 
people in a concession dorm room about drug use. At least two were 
able to escape before he gained access to the room, but evidence found 
there aroused his suspicions about drug activity and distribution. 
District ranger Brent McGinn and a canine officer followed up the next 
day, interviewing suspects and utilizing the dog to find evidence. 
Marijuana, LSD and methamphetamine were recovered along with 
paraphernalia and distribution materials. Two people were arrested on 
felony drug distribution charges and two more for possession. 
Information obtained revealed a serious methamphetamine problem among 
concession staff. On November 2nd, rangers conducted drug testing for 
16 employees at the request of AMFAC management. Fifteen were fired 
after failing or refusing the tests. Rangers will meet with concession 
management to outline a plan for recruitment, hiring and testing of 
employees to prevent similar situations in the future. [Brent McGinn, 
DR, ZION, 11/6]

00-702 - Death Valley NP (CA) - MVA with Multiple Injuries

Rangers responded to a two-vehicle, head-on collision on November 9th. 
Six people were critically injured in the accident - two were trapped 
in their vehicle. The nearest non-NPS medical and fire units were 90 
miles away. The four victims who were not trapped were treated and 
prepared for evacuation by rangers. The remaining two victims were 
extracted with the help of a "Jaws of Life" and flown to Las Vegas, 
150 miles from the accident site. The other four were transported 
half-way to Las Vegas by park ambulances, then passed off to other 
ambulances. The park's Engine I was able to respond within two minutes 
rather than the usual 20 to 40 minutes because of an experimental 
arrangement in which a subject-to-furlough rangers is stationed at the 
firehouse to maintain equipment, conduct fire safety inspections, and 
respond quickly to fires during his regular hours. [CR, DEVA, 11/8]

00-703 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - MVA with Fatality

On the morning of November 8th, the park was notified of a serious 
accident in Cottonwood Canyon about two miles south of the Cottonwood 
VC. Interpretive ranger David Smith advised park dispatch and 
responded. When he arrived, Smith found the vehicle fully engulfed in 
flames. He was unable to reach the unresponsive driver due to the 
intensity of the fire. Rangers, CHP officers, and CDF structural 
firefighters arrived soon after. The vehicle was completely destroyed 
and had to be identified by VIN markings on the frame. The driver has 
not yet been identified, nor has the cause of the accident been 
determined. CHP officers and rangers are investigating jointly. Ranger 
John Evans is the case ranger for the park. [Patrick Suddath, DR, 
JOTR, 11/13]

00-704 - Santa Monica Mountains NRA (CA) - Suicide

Park dispatch advised ranger Ho Truong that Malibu SAR had found a 
body on or near NPS property on the afternoon of November 1st. State 
rangers and county deputies were already on scene; Truong and ranger 
James Richardson joined them. The body was found in an isolated 
location near an electrical tower west of the Corral Canyon parking 
lot and north of Backbone Trail. A silver Buick Regal had been parked 
in the lot for several days. Earlier that day, a missing persons 
report was filed on the car's owner. The report said that the owner 
had left his home five days before and that family and friends had not 
seen him since. He was reportedly under a lot of personal stress, had 
some minor family problems, and was not working. The SAR team was 
called in and found the body. Suicide has been confirmed. The 
investigation is continuing. [Jon Dick, SAMO, 11/1]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

Park Fires

Shenandoah NP (VA) - The Shenandoah Complex (24,197 acres) was 95% 
contained as of Sunday evening. A total of 227 firefighters and 
overhead were still reported as committed to the fire. Higher 
humidity, cooler temperatures, and rain were in the forecast.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Whale Stranding

On the morning of November 5th, an approximately 20-foot-long male 
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) was found stranded in the surf at 
Langdon Beach.  Several biologists and veterinarians in the marine 
mammal stranding network were notified. The whale was kept upright in 
the surf and wetted down by volunteers from the network, members of 
the public, and park employees. Efforts were directed at keeping the 
whale in the deepest water possible at that small section of the 
beach, where the water is only two to three feet deep. The tide was 
also on the way out, making this a difficult task. The Coast Guard 
arrived later in the afternoon and kept a 40-foot vessel and a sling 
on standby for a possible removal effort. Because of the low tide, a 
rescue would have entailed crossing a 30-foot-wide sandbar covered by 
only a foot of water. Veterinarians, park biologist and National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff determined that the animal's 
poor health precluded such an operation. NMFS personnel believed that 
the whale might have been the same one that they'd rescued after 
stranding itself ten days earlier near Clearwater, Florida. The 
decision was accordingly made to euthanize the animal. Veterinarian 
administered the necessary drugs and the whale died. The head will be 
examined by researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. A 
necropsy was performed the following day on the body, but no immediate 
cause for the whale's poor health could be found. [Mark Nicholas, 
Biologist, GUIS]

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Submissions pending.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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