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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Friday, May 19, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Vicksburg NMP Convictions for Kidnappings in Park Two people have been sentenced for their roles in the kidnapping of two Vicksburg teenagers from the park last year. A 39-year-old Texas man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on one count of kidnapping and to 12 years and five months on one count of carjacking (the sentences will be served at the same time). A 42-year-old South Carolina woman received a nine-year sentence on the same two charges. She also was ordered to participate in a drug rehabilitation program and to receive mental health treatment. The kidnappers was also ordered to pay $4,873 in restitution for damages to the victim's car during the kidnapping. The man and woman were reportedly staying in a hotel near the Mississippi River when, on May 1, 2005, they walked to the Louisiana Circle overlook in the park and forced two teenagers - a boy and a girl - to drive away with them. Authorities said that the teenagers were eating breakfast in a car on a Sunday before going to church. They were reported missing by their families later in the day. The girl's Dodge Neon was driven to South Carolina, where it was involved in an accident on I-26 near Laurens. The boy was able to free himself and told a state trooper who had responded to the accident that he and the girl were captives. The kidnappers were arrested at the scene. [The Jackson Clarion-Ledger] Grand Canyon NP Body Found Below Maricopa Point Just before 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 15th, rangers located the body of a 24-year-old Utah man approximately 600 feet below the rim at Maricopa Point along the west rim. They were led to Maricopa Point after visitors turned in a backpack that they had found near the rim earlier in the morning. A hasty search led to the discovery of the body. Maricopa Point is approximately one mile west of the Bright Angel Lodge in the developed area on the South Rim. The area is accessed by shuttle and tour buses as well as pedestrian trails. The body has been taken to the county medical examiner's office in Flagstaff. An investigation is underway. The death is being treated as a suicide. [Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Specialist] Catoctin Mountain Park Successful Search for Missing Father and Son A 34-year-old man and his four-year-old son were reported missing just after 10:00 p.m. on May 16th. The twosome had begun hunting for mushrooms in the park around 5:00 p.m. When their vehicle was found along Managhan Road within the park, a coordinated search was begun with assistance from the Frederick County deputies, Maryland DNR police, and a Maryland State Police helicopter and search dog units. A dog team picked up their scent at a stream near the vehicle and followed the track to the father and son, who were round at 2:50 a.m. They had stopped for the night and started a small fire for warmth. Nighttime temperatures were in the mid-40s. A local community ambulance crew checked father and son and found them to be in good condition. [Holly Rife, Chief Ranger] Delaware Water Gap NRA Pursuit and Felony Arrest Rangers were conducting a speed enforcement operation on River Road on April 7th when a Ford Explorer hit the radar at 57 mph in a 30 mph zone. A computer check revealed that the driver had a collateral warrant out against him for $275 and that the registration on the vehicle had been suspended. The ranger who made the stop was back at his cruiser then the operator of the Explorer took off at a high rate of speed. The ranger radioed for assistance and pursued the vehicle northbound on River Road at speeds up to 80 mph. Three other rangers meanwhile set themselves up to make a felony stop. One of the rangers deployed spike strips on the road just seconds before the Explorer arrived. The spike strips deflated three of the Ford's four tires, forcing the driver to stop. The driver, still refusing to comply with rangers' orders, was taken down at gunpoint and arrested. He was charged with fleeing/eluding, speeding, driving an unregistered vehicle, failing to have insurance, passing in a marked no passing zone, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of open containers of alcohol. [Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger] OTHER NEWS Ralph Tingey retirement notice: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1234" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1234 Hunting season detail opportunity at WEAR: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2389" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2389 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |