NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Thursday, December 8, 2005

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INCIDENTS

Yellowstone NP

Sentencing for Aggravated DUI, Reckless Endangerment

A Madison Subdistrict ranger on patrol on the West Entrance Road just after 7 p.m. last July 28th was passed by a vehicle that was doing 82 mph in a 45 mph zone. The ranger was able to eventually catch up with and stop him. The driver was arrested for DUI and driving while suspended, but the US Attorney's Office filed a total of eight charges against him due to the heavy traffic at the time and the serious danger caused to the public. Other charges included reckless endangerment, driving without insurance and providing alcohol to a minor. On October 14th, the defendant was sentenced by the federal magistrate at Yellowstone to 107 days in the custody of the US Bureau of Prisons, fined a total of $1,085 and placed on three years' supervised probation. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]

Mesa Verde NP

Sentencing for ADW, Resisting Federal Officer

Mesa Verde rangers responded to a reported domestic dispute occurring at the Morefield campground on August 26, 2004. The reporting party said that a 40-year old woman had “rammed” her vehicle into her husband's vehicle. The husband also reported that she had a loaded firearm in her possession. The vehicle and driver were subsequently located in the park and a felony vehicle stop was made. The driver refused to comply with the instructions of the ranger who first arrived on scene; she soon became very non-compliant, refusing to follow all instructions. She repeatedly yelled at the ranger to go ahead and shoot her and save her the trouble of doing it. She then got out of her car, continuing to ask the ranger to shoot her because she did not care if she died. Rangers subsequently tackled and subdued her and took her into custody, with no injuries sustained by any of the involved parties. A loaded .22 caliber pistol was found underneath the driver's seat in her car. Further investigation revealed that she had attempted to run over her husband with her vehicle on three occasions. On one of these occasions, she backed her vehicle into her husband's pickup, which was carrying their children, aged four and nine years old. She also told her husband that she was going to kill him, the kids and herself. The woman was taken to Mercy Medical Center for medical and psychiatric evaluation, where she screened positive for methamphetamine use. On December 2nd, she pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of resisting a federal officer. The federal judge sentenced her to 24 months of federal prison (15 months served so far), three years of supervised probation, and placement into an institution of mental health while incarcerated. [Jessie Farias Jr., Chief Ranger]

Olympic NP

Weapons and Property Theft Arrests

On December 5th, a park ranger on routine patrol made a welfare check on a suspicious vehicle on Camp David Jr. Road in the Lake District of Olympic National Park. The ranger saw that one of the two men in the pickup had attempted to hide a marijuana pipe, and the ensuing search of the truck led to the discovery of a loaded Glock 9mm within easy access behind the front passenger seat. Several other weapons, including a loaded shotgun, were found in the bed of the truck, along with a large quantity of other items. An NPS special agent responded and impounded the pickup on suspicion that the items in the vehicle were stolen. Clallam County Sheriff's Office later confirmed that the weapons and other property in the truck had been stolen from a local business owner earlier that morning or the previous evening. One of the men, a convicted felon, was taken into custody on a warrant. A warrant and charges are pending for possession of stolen property, ex-felon in possession of a firearm, and other charges. Clallam County will pursue the state Class A felony for burglary. [Barb Maynes, Public Affairs]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Death Valley NP

J.T. Reynolds Receives Mather Award

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) yesterday bestowed its prestigious Stephen T. Mather Award on Death Valley National Park Superintendent J.T. Reynolds for his leadership and unwavering dedication to the long-term protection of the national parks. At Death Valley and throughout his career with the National Park Service, J.T. Reynolds has demonstrated the strongest possible commitment to park resources, staff, and volunteers.

"Superintendent Reynolds has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the wonders of Death Valley, and confront challenges to park stewardship," said NPCA Senior Vice President Ron Tipton, who presented the award yesterday at the annual meeting of the Association of National Park Rangers with NPCA's Vice President for Government Affairs Craig Obey.

"J.T. always works in the best interest of Death Valley, consistently advocates for greater funding and protection for park resources, and has forged constructive relationships with the park's neighbors," added NPCA California Desert Program Manager Howard Gross. "For nearly 35 years, J.T. has embraced the principles of the National Park Service's founders, and our country is a better place because of his efforts."

In June 2005, NPCA's Center for State of the Parks released a comprehensive assessment of the health of Death Valley and its neighboring parks, Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve. While noting that the California Desert Protection Act in 1994 provided a critical step toward better desert conservation, NPCA said that the parks' water and air quality and cultural heritage are threatened by rapid regional growth, development of surrounding lands, and insufficient annual funding.

At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park outside of Alaska. It is the hottest, driest place in North America with summer temperatures frequently reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A region of unrivaled desert scenery with shimmering salt flats, shifting dunes, and rugged peaks over 11,000 feet, Death Valley protects 38 reptile species, more than 200 species of birds, and 31 mammal species. The park also contains the 200 historic structures.

Named for the first director of the National Park Service, NPCA gives the Stephen T. Mather Award annually to people who have demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness in promoting environmental protection in the national parks, taken significant action where others have hesitated, and exemplified the principles of good park stewardship.

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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