02-625
Pea Ridge National Military Park (AR)
Pursuit; Assault on Ranger
Ranger Robert Still was closing up the park on the evening of
December 6 when he was notified by Benton County deputies that a pursuit
that had begun six miles southwest of Pea Ridge was heading into the
park. Deputies had attempted to stop E.T., who was driving his
1993 Ford Probe erratically. E.T. accelerated away from them into
oncoming traffic, passing vehicles on both shoulders of the road.
Deputies attempted a rolling roadblock, but E.T. rammed two cruisers,
nearly struck other motorists head-on and kept on going. A spike strip
was put on the road near the park's south unit along Little Sugar Creek;
E.T. ran into it, but continued on even though his tires had been
shredded. Still closed the westbound lane of Highway 62 within the park
with his patrol vehicle and diverted about 20 westbound motorists to the
road's shoulder just as the pursuit topped a blind rise near
headquarters. E.T. was in the wrong lane as he came over the rise.
Deputies finally forced E.T. from the road into woods within the park
just 25 yards from Still's location. Still provided cover for deputies
as E.T. attempted to get out of his car. E.T. forcefully resisted
officer commands and attempts to place him under arrest. He continued to
swing at and kick the county officers and Still as they attempted to
subdue him. E.T. continued to curse and resist the five officers
successfully for several minutes until he was finally handcuffed and
placed under arrest. Still was kicked in the lower leg, but not
seriously injured; the other four deputies sustained minor injuries,
cuts, and abrasions. One deputy had two fingers of his hand broken.
E.T. was in possession of chemicals known to be used in the manufacture
of methamphetamine and was a wanted felon in Missouri. Multiple felony
state charges are pending, as is a charge of assault on a federal
officer. The Benton County Sheriff's Office and Arkansas State Police
are leading the investigation. It's suspected that E.T. may have been
under the influence at the time the pursuit occurred, which may have
contributed to his erratic and sustained resistance. Damage to park
resources was minimal.
[Submitted by Robert Still, Park
Ranger]
02-626
Kings Mountain National Military Park (SC)
Significant Ice Damage
The park was hit by a major ice storm on the evening of Wednesday,
December 4. As much as a half inch of ice formed on trees, causing
significant tree damage throughout the park and outlying area. Park
staff spent Thursday and Friday clearing the main park drive and
secondary roads of downed trees and debris. The park was without power
from Wednesday evening until mid-morning on Sunday, December 8. As of
Monday, December 9, the park was still without telephone service and
email. Efforts are underway to complete a full damage assessment and
coordinate clean-up efforts.
[Submitted by Chris Revels,
Chief Ranger]
02-267
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Four Convictions for Antler Poaching
On July 9, plea agreements for two Montana men were accepted in
federal court and they were found guilty of disturbing elk antlers from
their natural state. T.C.M., 21, and J.D.G., 27,
both residents of Simms, Montana, were arrested after they were observed
caching (moving and hiding) elk antlers within the park on April 10.
Both have been placed on unsupervised probation for a period of two
years. As a condition of probation, both are banned from entering the
park for a period of two years and were required to forfeit much of the
equipment they were carrying when they were arrested. T.C.M.'s
assessments, fines and restitution totaled $710; J.D.G.'s
assessments, fines and restitution totaled $510. On November 26, the
court accepted plea agreements from T.F.W., 66, and C.E.W.,
64, both of Cody, Wyoming, for possessing elk antlers. The
W.s were arrested as they were loading a cache of elk antlers into a
pickup truck on August 5. Both have been placed on unsupervised
probation for a period of two years. As a condition of probation, both
are banned from entering the park for a period of two years. The
W.'s assessments, fines and restitution totaled $ 2,252.
[Submitted by Dan Kirschner, Special Agent]
02-628
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Accident with Serious Injury
N.H., 26 of Sevierville, Tennessee, was traveling south on
the Foothills Parkway Spur around 1:30 a.m. on December 4 when he
entered a right-hand curve at a high rate of speed, lost control of his
vehicle, went off the road and hit three large trees, coming to a stop
just prior to entering the Little Pigeon River. The vehicle suffered
major damage upon impacting the trees, requiring an extensive
extrication operation to remove N.H. from the wreckage. N.H. was
transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by air
ambulance and was admitted into the intensive care unit in guarded
condition. He is presently listed in critical condition with a subdural
hematoma, lacerated liver, fractured knee, and other internal injuries.
The investigation indicates that alcohol may have been a major factor in
the accident.
[Submitted by Rick Brown, District Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
GS-1102-11/12 Supervisory Contracting Specialist
The park is seeking to fill a GS-1102-11/12 supervisory contracting
specialist position. The person hired will serve as chief of the Branch
of Contracting and Property, which includes contracting, purchasing,
property management, warehouse operations, fleet management, and
accounts payable. She/he is the manager of the Ash Mountain Supply
Center, which supports substantial routine and emergency operations
typically found in a large, complex park. He/she maintains a Level III
or IV contract warrant and directly supervises a GS-11 contracting
specialist and four additional administrative staff. The position is
located at Ash Mountain Headquarters, 15 minutes beyond Three Rivers,
California. See www.usajobs.opm.gov for
more details.
[Submitted by Emily Edgar]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.