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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Monday, July 31, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Whiskeytown NRA Major Marijuana Eradication Operation On July 5th, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter crew on a routine flight discovered a large marijuana cultivation complex within the park above the Whiskey Creek arm of Whiskeytown Lake. From July 25th to July 27th, Pacific West Region special agents, PWR's SETT 3 (US Park Police), rangers from Whiskeytown and Redwood, and personnel from several other federal, state and local law enforcement organizations conducted reconnaissance and raids on the adjoining complexes and provided for public safety in the area. Officers seized 26,214 plants (47,233 with male plants included) with an estimated street value of over $500 million, based on ONDCP figures. About 40% of the plants contained buds and were removed by helicopter, filling a ten yard dump truck. The remaining plants had not yet budded and were destroyed in the field. Two suspects were located in the complexes and pursued by helicopter and three field teams but were not captured. Investigations and directed patrols by Whiskeytown rangers, SETT 3 and NPS special agents are ongoing (as of July 28th) in an effort to capture the suspects. The three encampments found in the complexes contained large quantities of fertilizer and pesticides, car batteries, food, garbage, personal belongings and .380 caliber pistol ammunition. Nearly 10% of the park, including two main roads and a park office, were closed for three days for public and employee safety due to their close proximity to the cultivation sites. Also participating in this operation were personnel from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office marijuana eradication and SWAT teams, CHP's patrol aviation unit, CALMMET (a northern California drug task force), the California National Guard's counter-drug unit (Team Wolf), the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting). CAMP and SWAT personnel entered the area by helicopter short-haul while NPS and Team Wolf personnel hiked over five miles each day in rugged terrain into the sites to conduct security and eradication tasks. One officer in the operation sustained a minor knee injury while hiking, and two others were treated for early onset heat exhaustion due to high temperatures that reached 114 degrees. This is the largest seizure of cultivated marijuana this year on NPS lands. [Andy Zavanelli, Chief Ranger] Ozark NSR Attempted Assault On Ranger On July 15th, protection rangers responded to a report of a knife fight at the Blue Spring campground, located on the Jacks Fork River in Shannon County, Missouri. An investigation into the matter revealed that J.L.W. of Montier, Missouri, had exhibited a knife and threatened another man at his campsite. J.L.W. was apprehended and arrested for alleged public intoxication, disorderly conduct and attempted assault with a deadly weapon. While in custody, J.L.W. attempted to assault a ranger and a Missouri state water patrolman who was assisting in the arrest. J.L.W. was transferred to the United States Marshals in Cape Girardeau, where he is currently being held without bond. On July 20th,a grand jury indicted J.L.W. on four felony counts - exhibiting a weapon in an angry and threatening manner, threatening to assault a ranger while engaged in his/her official duties, attempting to forcibly assault a ranger while engaged in his/her official duties, and attempting to assault a state water patrolman while he was assisting a ranger engaged in his/her official duties. A pre-motion hearing has been scheduled for August 10th. [Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger] Blue Ridge Parkway Vehicle Stop Culminates With Drug Arrest A field training ranger, his trainee ranger, and a lead field training ranger (during a mid-phase evaluation) stopped an illegal commercial vehicle near mile post 10 on the Blue Ridge Parkway on July 27th. The driver was found to have a suspended operators permit. During a consent search of the vehicle, the rangers found what appeared to be a small amount of illegal drugs. The passenger then fled on foot, throwing an object from inside the front of his pants into the woods. He was quickly caught by the pursuing rangers. The item he had thrown was found to be a container of more controlled substances. He was arrested and it was later found that he had six previous felony convictions for drug distribution and was currently on parole from state prison. He was convicted of possession of controlled substances in federal court and sentenced to four months in jail. He will then be turned over to the state to answer for the violation of his parole. [Bruce Bytnar, Ridge District Ranger] Lake Roosevelt NRA Suicide At Marcus Island Campground A visitor walking her dog came upon a body along the Marcus Island campground road just before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25th. Rangers, county deputies and EMS personnel responded. Evidence gathered at the scene indicated that the 42-year-old victim died from an overdose of alcohol and medications. A suicide note was found in his car at a nearby campsite. An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death. [Gig LeBret, Kettle Falls District Ranger] OTHER NEWS Other news of interest from today's edition of InsideNPS, which can be found at this address if your inside the NPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/) and at this address if you're outside the NPS ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://www.nps.gov/applications/digest/). Note that not all articles that appear in the former make it into the latter: NIFC - The national fire preparedness level has gone up to PL5, the highest possible level. NPS - Article on NPS representation at AirVenture 2006, the annual general aviation exposition in Oshkosh. Gateway - Report on the annual East Coast competition among female lifeguards, held in the park. Gulf Islands - Announcement issued for GS-13 chief ranger. * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |