NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, June 23, 2011

INCIDENTS

Lake Mead NRA

Man Convicted For Violent Assault On Girlfriend

Rangers received a report of an assault at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor last September in which a woman had been assaulted with a metal pole and was bleeding profusely. While en route, they learned that it would be necessary to pass the scene of the assault to aid the woman, so a dog team was bought in to help rangers search the yacht for Sion Walsh, the woman's boyfriend and alleged assailant. Walsh was across the marina but heard the dog searching for him and surrendered to rangers. He received Miranda warnings, was interviewed, and signed a consent form allowing rangers to search the vessel. Evidence consistent with an assault was retrieved, including bloody clothing and metal skewers used in the attack. A grand jury subsequently returned two true bills against Walsh, which led to indictments for assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. After plea negotiations failed, a trial date was set. Walsh was found guilty of assault with bodily injury, but the jury couldn't agree on the second count. On June 10th, Walsh was sentenced to a prison term of four years and banned from Lake Mead NRA for five years. [Prashant Lotwala, Supervisory Park Ranger, Mead District]

Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P

Rangers Respond To Multiple Same-Week Incidents

The week of June 12th was a busy one for park staff, with two searches, a downed aircraft and a close encounter with a grizzly bear:

On Monday, June 13th, the park received a call from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center reporting a request for help received via a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPOT_Satellite_GPS_Messenger" SPOT device. Rangers responded via aircraft and found the group on Ophir Creek on the north side of the park. Using a radio drop bag, communications were established and rangers learned that a group backpacking between Horsfeld and Baultoff had become exhausted while hiking in deep snow. Arrangements were made for them to be picked up via air taxi operator. No injuries or illnesses were reported.

On Wednesday, June 15th, rangers received a report of a downed aircraft on the Tana River, a remote tributary of the Chitina River that drains north from the Chugach Mountains. Rangers flew to the location and discovered a Piper Super Cub on its back on an island in the middle of the river. Further investigation revealed that there'd been no injuries and that the pilot had been picked up by another aircraft in the area and flown out. The pilot of the downed plane had attempted an off-airport landing on the short gravel bar but overturned the airplane in high winds. Due to the potential loss of the aircraft to high water, a special use permit was expedited for removal of the airplane by helicopter.

On Thursday, June 16th, rangers were notified of a bear spray deployment by two other rangers on backcountry patrol in the Chitistone region of the park. Evan Olson and Nate Porter were forced to use bear spray to deter a charging mother grizzly bear after two spring cubs wandered too close to the retreating rangers. The charge was repulsed within just a few feet of the rangers.

On Friday, June 17th, Alaska State Troopers reported that a group of Swiss mountaineers had requested rescue from the 13,000 foot elevation of Mount Sanford. Rangers flew to the scene and located three climbers out of a group of four, lost and bogged down in four feet of fresh snow. The whereabouts of the fourth member of the team was unknown. Assistance from Denali mountaineering rangers was requested and they arrived on scene in a Eurocopter A-Star B3 helicopter. All four climbers were located and short-hauled to a location on the mountain where they could be safely evacuated. The unlawfully-guided group became separated and lost in a snowstorm after the guide fell into a crevasse and lost his skis. The three spent a night out in a snow cave and a fourth returned to camp prior to their request for assistance. All four climbers and their gear were reunited at Gulkana Airport within 12 hours of their initial call for help. No illness or injuries were reported.

[Michael J. Thompson, Nabesna District Ranger]

New River Gorge NR

Two Men Busted For Meth Lab In Tailwaters Campground

Two men were pulled over for speeding while driving on US 19 by a Summersville PD officer last Thursday evening. The officer observed a one-bottle meth cook going on inside and called the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force. Officers learned that the men were staying at the Tailwaters Campground in Gauley River NRA and went there to continue the drug investigation. A search of the tents and campsite revealed precursors of meth production. Both men were arrested and arraigned last Friday in state court. A third man supposedly involved has not been identified yet. The investigation continues, as rangers gather case information from drug task force officers. Both suspects had just gotten out of prison and have meth charges in their criminal histories. [Jeff West, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Office of Communications - The National Park Service and the Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Foundation have partnered to feature national parks and hands-on, science-based activities in a new educational series called “Discover the Waters of Our National Parks.”

Office of Communications - Secretary Salazar has designated six new national natural landmarks in four western states.

Appalachian NST - The American Recreation Coalition recently presented its 2011 Legends Awards to seven federal managers. Among them was Rita Hennessy, assistant park manager for the Appalachian Scenic Trail.

* * * *

Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of Communications and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

--- ### ---