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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Wednesday, April 26, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Blue Ridge Parkway Body of Homicide Victim Recovered, Arrest Made An apparent homicide occurred in Shelby, North Carolina, on the afternoon of Friday, April 21st, and a BOLO (“be on the lookout” message) was issued around midnight for a 48-year-old resident of that town and his vehicle. Earlier that Friday and prior to the issuance of the BOLO, a ranger noted a vehicle parked along the parkway that appeared to be out of place. The ranger checked the status of the vehicle through state and national computer systems at that time, but nothing unusual was found in the records and no one was around the vehicle. Once the BOLO was issued, an off-line check showed that the ranger had come across the vehicle, a white Ford Festiva. When the ranger was contacted by state and local investigators, he was able to take them to the Festiva's location. Drag marks were found in the woods leading away from the parkway. The area was secured, including a four-mile section of the parkway, in order to preserve the crime scene, and a multi-agency investigation was begun. The search for potential signs of a homicide, conducted with tracking dogs, led to the discovery of a partially buried body. It was after dark by this time, so the area was secured by rangers until the following morning, when North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland County and FBI agents processed the crime scene. The suspect was arrested by tribal police in Cherokee, North Carolina, on Sunday evening. The victim, who had been shot in the face with a shotgun, has been identified as a 59-year-old man who was a neighbor of his assailant. A search of the suspect's home led to the discovery of firearms, bomb materials and hand grenades. [Steve Stinnett, Assistant Chief Ranger] Delaware Water Gap NRA Pursuit and Arrest of Car Clouters Rangers received an urgent radio call for assistance and backup from a New Jersey State Park Police officer in Worthington State Forest just after 3 p.m. on Friday, April 21st. The officer had been involved in a brief motor vehicle pursuit and was now chasing both occupants of the vehicle on foot. The driver was apprehended after a brief scuffle with the officer, but the passenger fled into nearby woods despite the officer's commands to stop. A unified incident command was established among the National Park Service, New Jersey State Park Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and New Jersey State Police for the fleeing suspect. Through the use of canine units and helicopter, foot, and vehicle patrols, the passenger was found and arrested by New Jersey State Police troopers about four hours later. Evidence obtained at the scene included burglary tools and stolen property from a car clout which had occurred just prior to the incident. The driver was charged with multiple felonies and motor vehicle code violations. The passenger, also charged with multiple felonies, had outstanding warrants from New York and New Jersey against him. The driver is being held on $50,000 bail and the passenger is being held without bail pending extradition to New York. [Mike Fernalld, Park Ranger] Lake Mead NRA Drug and Theft Arrest On April 19th, a park special agent made a traffic stop on a Dodge truck towing a Wells Cargo trailer in the Boulder Beach District after the truck failed to yield the right of way at an intersection. The 39-year-old driver, who could not produce a driver's license or registration, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The agent spotted what appeared to be a semi-automatic Glock pistol on the floorboard, later determined to be a plastic pistol with the orange color carved off the barrel. The driver was frisked and a crack pipe was found in his pants pocket. When advised that he was under arrest, he fled on foot toward Boulder Beach Campground, where he was arrested after a short chase by the agent and a ranger. The man's backpack was found to contain a significant amount of methamphetamine and marijuana. Investigation revealed that the truck had been embezzled from Enterprise Rent-a-Car and that the trailer was also reported as stolen. The truck and trailer contained numerous stolen and suspected stolen items, including a stolen Suzuki motorcycle, two portable generators, a personal watercraft, autographed collectable baseballs, and about $10,000 worth of hand and power tools. Further investigation by park special agents led to the discovery that the man had been living in a stolen fifth-wheel RV at Lakeshore Trailer Village, which has also been recovered. Found inside the trailer were several stolen license plates and numerous other items believed to have been stolen, including stereo equipment, a television, wristwatches and narcotics paraphernalia. [Mike Blandford, Special Agent] OTHER NEWS Links to stories for those of you who are within the NPS… Today's combined NPS/NIFC fire report: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewfirenpsnewsarticle&type=FireManagement&id=585" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewfirenpsnewsarticle&type=FireManagement&id=585 Jeff Bradybaugh named super of Grand Canyon Parashant NM: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1207" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1207 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |