NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, July 31, 2008

===============================================================================================================

INCIDENTS

Blue Ridge Parkway/Shenandoah NP

Arrest For Theft Of Motor Vehicle

While investigating an assault case that occurred on the parkway on July 22nd, ranger Jeremy Sears discovered a stolen vehicle at the Humpback Rocks trailhead. Investigation into the stolen vehicle yielded a description of a suspect and indications that he might be hiking on the Appalachian Trail (AT). When the description of the suspect was broadcast, it matched that of an AT hiker who Shenandoah rangers had recently contacted. An extensive search of the Appalachian Trail was undertaken by Shenandoah rangers, while others checked Skyline Drive. Rangers Chad Coles and Patrick Seeley contacted a man who matched the description on the driver and found that he had items with him that connected him to the stolen vehicle. The man, identified as J.D.C., was then interviewed by Shenandoah rangers and special agent Tim Alley. He admitted to stealing the car in Virginia Beach and was arrested on outstanding warrants and held for Virginia Beach PD. Effective investigation and close cooperation between Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah rangers made this apprehension possible. [Kurt Speers, Ridge District Ranger]

Gila Cliff Dwellings NM

Random Shots Fired Near Park Facilities, USFS Campground

A visitor camping at the Forest Service's Upper Scorpion campground, located near the park, contacted park staff late on the evening of Friday, July 25th, and reported that shots had been fired in the area. The visitor said that a van had gone past the campground to the parking areas for the cliff dwellings and the West Fork trail into the Gila Wilderness and that a number of gunshots had been heard shortly thereafter. Since no Forest Service LE personnel were on duty that evening, a Grant County deputy was eventually dispatched to investigate. The deputy arrived about 90 minutes later and found no vehicle matching the description there or in nearby campgrounds and trailheads. A check early Saturday morning revealed no damage to any buildings or vehicles parked at the trailhead, but park staff recovered about 15 spent .22 caliber casings scattered around the parking areas. Interviews with other visitors indicated that persons in the vehicle also fired from the vehicle while it was driving in a least two other locations between the park visitor center and the cliff dwellings, though again no damage was observed. [Steve Riley, Superintendent]

OTHER NEWS

Other stories can be read on InsideNPS at one or the other of these two sites:

NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index

Non-NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/

Please note that both publications carry a combined NIFC/NPS fire report. That is generally posted around 8 a.m. Eastern.

Among the stories in today's edition are the following:

DOI - On July 29th, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency joined the governors of California, Oregon and Washington in launching an historic action plan addressing challenging ocean and coastal management issues along the West Coast.

Fire and Aviation Management - In an effort to draw attention to wildland firefighter safety, the National Multi Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) is requesting that all geographic areas take one hour during the operational period of August 1st to emphasize safety practices.

NPS Law Enforcement Training Center - The NPS Ranger Honor Guard is recruiting for up to two positions on the team. Applications are due by August 20th.

* * * * *

Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:

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 support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

--- ### ---