Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (CA)
Arrest of Escaped Felon
On January 15th, ranger Robert Heagy was notified that a convicted
felon had escaped from a county detention facility located less than a
mile from Backbone Trail. Based on a citizen's report of a sighting,
seven rangers and several Los Angeles County detention officers set up
containment of the area in which he was believed to be located near the
Malibu Country Club. A search conducted by probation employees
failed to locate the escapee and the operation was terminated. About
thirty minutes after leaving the area, rangers received a report of a
recent sighting of the escapee near the original location. They teamed
up with the members of the arriving Los Angeles County Probation Task
Force, orienting them to the area, helping to obtain a search dog, and
securing the search area. One ranger positioned at an observation point
saw the escapee hiding adjacent to an abandoned dirt road and directed
rangers and task force members to his location. Ranger Patti Briggs
pursued the escapee into the dense brush and took him into custody at
gunpoint. The man was injured, having cut himself both on ribbon wire
during the escape and on the dense brush during the chase. He was
originally in custody for felony weapon violations, but will now be
spending additional time in custody.
[Submitted by Jim Richardson,
District Ranger]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Drug Arrest
Ranger Ben Hansel came upon a truck parked in the roadway exit of the
Chestoa view overlook with its lights off on the evening of January
23rd. He stopped to check it and found that it was occupied by a naked
man covered with baby oil who had a pair of women's underwear at his
feet. Hansel asked for identification, then noticed what he believed to
be a crack pipe in the driver's side handle compartment. When Hansel
reached for the pipe, the driver, M.B., grabbed and crushed
it, cutting his hand on the broken glass. M.B. then attempted to
start the truck and drive off, but Hansel pulled the keys from the
ignition. A struggle ensued. Hansel ordered M.B. to keep his hands
on the steering wheel, but M.B. refused to comply and kept reaching
under the seat. Hansel used OC spray on M.B., then handcuffed him.
Hansel searched the vehicle and turned up pornography, drug
paraphernalia, and several suspected narcotics, including crack cocaine,
several different unidentified pills in plastic bags, and sugar tablets
in small tin boxes that may be LSD. M.B. was treated for lacerations
and the effects of the OC spray. Ranger Brian Stackowicz assisted with
transporting the prisoner to a local jail, where charges were filed.
Hansel was not injured in the incident.
[Submitted by Chief Ranger's
Office]
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Drug Seizure and Arrest
Rangers, agents from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and Del Rio PD officers participated in a joint drug
investigation on January 15th the led to the arrest of one man and the
seizure of about 138 pounds of processed marijuana and a vehicle. The
vehicle had been stopped and checked by a drug dog that alerted on it.
Evidence indicates that the marijuana came into the country through the
park.
[Submitted by Bruce Malloy, Chief Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Pacific West Region
New Reorganization Goes Into Effect
On Monday, February 2nd, Pacific West Regional Office marked the beginning of the implementation of its reorganization.
This reorganization has been a year in the planning. The effort anticipates an organization better positioned to meet challenges. The directorate has been reduced by two positions, three support offices have been retired, and a layer of management (ARDs) has been eliminated.
All employees had an opportunity to participate in the strategic planning which hopes for better integration of line and program activities and an emphasis on parks collaborating through networks.
For additional details, click on "More Information" below.
[Submitted by Holly Bundock, Public Affairs Officer] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Colorado National Monument
Greg Gnesios to Retire
Longtime National Park Service employee and current BLM employee Greg Gnesios will be retiring on March 1, 2004 after 33 years of federal service, 27 of them with NPS. Greg started his career in 1971 as a seasonal park naturalist at Pinnacles National Monument. Early tours of duty included Canyonlands National Park, Pt. Reyes National Seashore, and the Southern Arizona Group. He served as Chief of Interpretation & Cultural Resources at Whiskeytown NRA and at Petroglyph NM. He served as team leader for the Western Regional Interpretive Skills Team from 1988 until 1992.
Greg moved to the Bureau of Land Management in 1999 to become the manager of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada. For the past three years he has been the manager for the new Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area outside of Grand Junction, Colorado. He and his family plan to remain in the Grand Junction area where they can continue to enjoy the wonders of the Colorado Plateau country.
[Submitted by Palma Wilson, Palma_Wilson@nps.gov, 970-858-3617]
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.