NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
INCIDENTS
Hot Springs NP
Man Wanted By Federal Agencies Arrested In Park
On July 30th, agents from the State Department inquired about a man and vehicle that had been checked by park rangers through NCIC via a ranger's vehicle-mounted mobile data terminal several months previously. They told rangers that they suspected that the man had assumed the identity of a deceased person from South Dakota and said that they'd requested assistance from ICE agents because finding the man was a priority.
Rangers were not aware at the time that the person whom they'd checked was being investigated by other federal agencies, so he'd been released.
A thorough review of the video cameras that rangers utilize in their traffic enforcement details revealed that the man had indeed presented fictitious identification in an effort to disguise his identity. The agents were surprised at the quality of the video, which clearly indicated that the man had positively presented fictitious identification to rangers.
State Department and ICE agents, now armed with the video of the man using someone else's identity, were able to move forward with their efforts to formally have him charged while seeking to have him deported.
The man, who was using the assumed name of M.C., was identified as actually being M.V., a Croatian immigrant who was listed as armed and dangerous on an NCIC printout. His previous criminal history revealed that he'd served as the ringleader of a major methamphetamine distribution organization which not only included distribution of methamphetamine but also included violent crimes against others.
Ranger Ryan Howell was on patrol on West Mountain Drive on August 2nd when he spotted the man driving in the park and called for backup. Rangers and officers performed a high risk stop and took M.V. into custody without incident. He was transported by rangers to the local county jail, where a federal detainer was placed on him for an appearance before a federal judge.
[John Hughes, 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/):
Bandelier NM - Alcove House, a popular site in Bandelier National Monument, reopened to visitors yesterday. It had been closed since spring, when the buttress wall on the reconstructed kiva began to show huge cracks in the stonework.
Centennial Office - Many good ideas have been shared with the Centennial Office for celebrating the Service's 100th birthday in 2016. But they want to hear from you, too, in order to have the best possible centennial.
Northeast Region - Parents and family members joined National Park Service staff from Independence National Historical Park for an inspiring presentation on the culmination of “Project Write” students' work on July 26th.
Cowpens NB - The park hosted a Kids Get Outdoors Day on June 27th. Among the more than 100 children who participated were 60 Hispanic children from the local migrant school, a four-week school for children whose parents are working in the area for the summer.
Intermountain Region - The 2013 teacher workshop, entitled "A Window on our World: Bringing Cheyenne and Arapaho Perspectives into the Classroom," was held in the park on Saturday, July 27th.
Daily Almanac - Heat advisories have been posted for the northern Plains and western Great Lakes regions. Severe thunderstorms are possible from eastern Wisconsin to northern West Virginia.
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights - The daily national fire summary is posted around 8 a.m. EDT each day and can be found at either of the links above. Today's edition will feature updates on fires in Yellowstone and Yosemite.
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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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