NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
INCIDENTS
Buffalo NR
Intoxicated And Combative Boater Arrested By Rangers
While a lengthy backcountry rescue was just getting started on July 27th, an employee for a canoe outfitting company reported via radio that a law enforcement ranger was needed immediately at Rush Landing in the Lower Buffalo District.
Staffing shortages and the ongoing SAR left one ranger available in that district to respond. Given previous incidents at that location, it was assumed to be related to some sort of violence and that proved to be right. Deputies from the local county were therefore also asked to respond.
Two intoxicated young men had gotten into an altercation while floating together and then separated when one left the other stranded without a paddle or a boat. By default, they ended up reuniting at Rush Landing. One acted aggressively towards the other and also towards the outfitters, threatening at one point to beat up a 14-year-old boy. When the outfitters intervened, he threatened to hit them with a canoe paddle.
District Ranger Jason Flood arrested the combative man and placed him in his patrol vehicle. While handcuffed and restrained in the vehicle, the man kicked and broke the windshield of Flood's patrol vehicle before finally ending up in the county jail, with many federal and county charges filed against him.
[Karen Bradford, Chief Ranger]
Grand Canyon NP
Park Resident Pleads Guilty To Child Endangerment
On the evening of May 11th, dispatch received a report of ongoing physical abuse of a child. Responding rangers located the victim, who reported prolonged physical abuse by a guardian. The victim had numerous marks and bruises in various stages of healing which can be indicative of ongoing physical abuse.
Both the victim and guardian were residents in the park. Responding rangers recognized this as a possible child abuse investigation and immediately requested the assistance of the Investigative Services Branch on-call special agent.
A joint investigation was begun, and the victim was transported via ambulance to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. The guardian was ultimately arrested.
In July, pursuant to a plea agreement, the guardian pled guilty in federal court to two counts of child endangerment.
[Investigative Services Branch]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
Missing Man's Body Recovered From Delaware River
The body of a 20-year-old New Jersey man was recovered from the Delaware River by rangers on the afternoon of August 16th. His body had been spotted by two fishermen near the old railroad bridge abutments just north of the Interstate 80 toll bridge.
Rangers arrived on scene by boat and made the recovery a few hundred yards downstream, concluding a multi-day, multi-agency search.
The man was reported missing on the afternoon of August 13th and was last seen swimming in the Delaware River. He had been picnicking and swimming with friends and family at Worthington State Forest on Old Mine Road, which is within the park's boundaries.
NPS rangers, including boat operators and divers, and New Jersey State Police personnel, including marine and air support units, assisted New Jersey State Park Police in the search and recovery effort.
[Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
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/):
Biscayne NP - On August 15th, Director Jarvis signed an MOU with the United Kingdom regarding care of the wreck of the 18th century British Naval frigate HMS Fowey, located in Biscayne National Park.
Office of Human Resources - The Office of Human Resources will be presenting a webinar today on the extension of benefits to married gay and lesbian federal employees, annuitants and their families.
Fire and Aviation Management - The National Multi Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) has issued a memo entitled "Inspection Of Contract Equipment." The full text is provided.
Andrew Johnson NHS - On August 3rd, Andrew Johnson National Historic Site took part in the annual African-American Emancipation Day celebration on the grounds of George Clem School.
Cape Cod NS - On August 1st, the park's lifeguards defended their title in the "surf" division of the 39th annual Cape Cod Lifesaving Competition as they played host on home turf at Race Point Beach in Provincetown.
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The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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