NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, March 27, 2002

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, March 27, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-072 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Theft of Resources, Government Property

On March 14th, park law enforcement staff received intelligence regarding
an alleged multi-year conspiracy to collect naturally-shed deer antlers
from within the park. The people involved in these thefts were also named
as suspects in the theft of many other items from the park (including
antique bottles) and the theft of surveillance equipment from the nearby
George Washington NF. A joint investigation was begun by the park, Forest
Service and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. On the
afternoon of Friday, March 22nd, T.S. of Harrisonburg, Virginia,
and M.L. of Shenandoah, Virginia, were apprehended after leaving
the park with five antlers in their possession. M.L. subsequently admitted
to frequent past trips to the park to collect antlers. Four federal search
warrants were also executed that day. Two vehicles were seized which
investigators believe were used to transport antlers from within the park;
significant drug paraphernalia and other antlers taken during the past year
were also recovered. Multiple federal charges will be filed, including
violations of the Lacey Act, illegal taking of wildlife parts, theft, and
drug possession. State grand larceny charges are also probable. It's
estimated that T.S. and M.L. took between 75 and 100 antlers from the
park over the past two years alone. [Ginny Rousseau, CR, SHEN, 3/26]

02-073 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - Rape Arrest

Ranger Matthew Ehmann discovered an illegal campsite near the Navy Memorial
on March 20th. An unoccupied tent at the campsite was open in the front and
a marijuana pipe and other miscellaneous items were in plain view. A search
of the tent turned up five cellular telephones and a plastic handgun that
had been painted black so that it would appear more realistic. Park Police
sergeant Tom Hart responded and determined that the occupant might have
been involved in numerous car clouts that had occurred in the area. Ehmann
secured the evidence, then again checked the area later in the day. When he
returned to the campsite, he saw that it was occupied by an adult male and
a female juvenile.  USPP lieutenant Connie Leonard and officer Tony Kang
provided back up and assistance in interviewing the pair. The man said that
he was homeless, that he had been camping in the area for some time, and
that he had found the cell phones while walking in the park.  He said that
the toy gun was for protection and that he used it to fool people into
believing that he was armed. Subsequent investigation revealed that he'd
been sexually involved with the 16-year-old girl. Park Police detective
Anthony DePalma determined that the man had also been a witness to the
assault and robbery of a park visitor a month earlier. He was arrested and
has been charged by the San Francisco DA with four counts of statutory
rape. Ehmann and USPP identification technician John Schnieder processed
the campsite and collected additional evidence, including materials linking
the male to the statutory rape charges. The investigation is continuing;
additional charges may be filed. [Richard Danielsen, Operations Supervisor,
GOGA, 3/25]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 1 - No large fire activity nationally.  Most geographic
areas have low to moderate fire danger.  Little or no commitment of
national resources.

Initial attack activity was light across the nation on Monday. Three new
large fires were reported in the South and one in the Rockies. One large
fire was contained in the South, one in the Southwest, one in southern
California, and one in the Rocky Mountains. Prescribed burning projects
continued in the Northwest, Rocky Mountains, East and South.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, New Mexico and
Virginia.

Park Fires

Bent's Old Fort NHS (CO) - The Bent's Old Fort/Old Trail Fire is burning
five miles east of La Junta. The 500-acre fire spread quickly in light
fuels but is now fully contained. A total of 60 firefighters and overhead
were committed.

National Resource Status

Date              3/25

Crews               32
Engines             67
Helicopters           9
Air Tankers           0
Overhead          190

[NICC Incident Summary Report, 3/25]

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

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