|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Thursday, June 28, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Klondike Gold Rush NHP Commercial Operator Arrested For Assault On Rangers On June 21st, rangers Jacqueline Ashwell and Dave Keltner interviewed Canadian/German citizen P.M.M.K., a guide for a Canadian-based tour company suspected of operating in the park without a permit. When it became clear to P.M.M.K. that he would be issued a violation notice for not having a permit, he became increasingly agitated and refused to follow several orders to sit down at a picnic table. P.M.M.K. told Ashwell that she was ruining his life and he would lose his job. When Keltner went to retrieve the tour company vehicle's identification number, P.M.M.K. approached him, again ignoring orders to remain seated at the picnic table. In response to P.M.M.K.'s combative demeanor, Keltner drew his OC spray and continued to order P.M.M.K. to sit down. When P.M.M.K. continued to approach the ranger, he was sprayed with OC at a distance of about 10 feet. P.M.M.K. continued to resist, refusing to comply with orders, and the rangers forced him to the ground. While they were attempting to handcuff P.M.M.K., he struck Aswhell in the eye with his elbow, causing a black eye and minor concussion. Keltner sustained a hyper-extended left shoulder as a result of Klopefer's combative behavior. The rangers were ultimately able to use pressure points to gain compliance and secure P.M.M.K. without further injury. Skagway City Police Department officers provided backup and arrested P.M.M.K. for assault. The decision to initially charge/arrest P.M.M.K. under Alaska state law was due to the logistical challenge of transporting him to Juneau, which is the closest federal holding facility. The next day, P.M.M.K. plead no contest to state charges for assaulting the two rangers and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, 60 suspended, and fined $1,000, suspended, with one year's probation upon release. Additional federal charges may be forthcoming. [Tim Steidel, Chief Ranger] Kenai Fjords NP Boaters Rescued From Cove In Resurrection Bay The crew of the MV Serac came to the assistance of a disabled vessel near Thumb Cove on Friday, June 22nd, while en route to Aialik Bay to resupply the ranger station there. The disabled vessel, a 24-foot Bayliner, was without power and against the rocks just north of the entrance to Thumb Cove in Resurrection Bay. The crew of the Serac deployed their Zodiac, and deckhand Elsie Dillewaard successfully pulled the Bayliner away from the rocks and alongside the Serac. Captain Fred Wells proceeded to the middle of Resurrection Bay with the vessel under tow, eventually turning it over to the United States Coast Guard for towing back to Seward. [Jim Pfeiffenberger, Education Coordinator] Rocky Mountain NP Injured Man Rescued From Near Longs Peak Summit On Sunday, June 24th, J.B., 22, slid 30 feet on ice and snow in the “Homestretch” area of Longs Peak, sustaining a severe leg injury. The Homestretch is the final scramble to the summit of 14,259-foot Longs Peak. J.B. ended up about 200 feet below the summit. A ranger was flown to the area to assess his injuries. Two rangers started hiking to his location from the trailhead, while a team comprised of another six rangers was flown to the peak to conduct a technical rescue. J.B. was lifted to the mountaintop, picked up by an air ambulance, and flown to the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. Longs Peak is still considered a technical climb, and hikers are encouraged to use crampons and ice axes. The good weather made it possible to employ a helicopter, which is often not the case. [Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer] Point Reyes NS Body Of Drowning Victim Recovered V.A., 28, of Sunnyvale, California, was swimming with friends in Bass Lake on Saturday, June 16th, when he disappeared. Bass Lake is small lake which is a very popular swimming hole. Rangers immediately responded to search the area. The Marin County dive team was notified and headed to the lake. Despite significant search efforts, V.A.'s body was not recovered until Friday, June 22nd, when it resurfaced and was recovered. The lake has many submerged trees which complicated the diving efforts. V.A.'s body was removed by rangers and turned over to the county coroner's office. Bruce Dombrowski and Dan Habig were the incident commanders for this operation, which was a cooperative investigation between rangers and the Marin County Coroner's Office. [Colin Smith, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites appear below: Everglades NP - On June 25th, the World Heritage Committee decided unanimously to remove Everglades National Park from the “World Heritage in Danger” list in recognition of the progress the United States has made in addressing key issues that led to the listing of the park in 1993. Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. To see the above articles, go to InsideNPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/) or NPS Digest ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). For NPS incident reporting standards, go to HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363 * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-426-2430). --- ### --- |