NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, September 5, 2013
INCIDENTS
Cape Hatteras NS
Rangers Assaulted In Beach Confrontation
Rangers Jeff Goad and Mark Krebs were at Cape Point Beach south of Beach Access Ramp 44 on the afternoon of August 31st, dealing with a visitor complaint, when Krebs saw a Chevrolet Suburban with four little girls sitting on the rear passenger door window sills driving down the beach. Krebs stopped it for unsafe operation.
Krebs contacted the driver, B.L. of Nags Head, North Carolina, informed him of the reason for the stop, and obtained B.L.'s driver's license. When Krebs returned to his patrol vehicle to write a violation notice and run the driver information through NCIC, B.L. got out of the Suburban and advanced on him. Krebs told him to get back in his car and B.L. complied.
When Goad completed the previous contact, he joined Krebs to see if assistance was needed. As he walked toward the two vehicles, B.L. again got out of the Suburban and came aggressively at him. Goad ordered B.L. to stop and get back into his vehicle, but B.L. refused and began yelling and moved rapidly toward him. Goad drew his electronic control device.
Krebs saw B.L.'s actions and got out of his vehicle to assist. B.L. then turned his attention to Krebs, rushing at him. Krebs drew his electronic control device and fired as B.L. continued towards him, but B.L. pulled out the probes and tackled Krebs.
During the attempt to physically control B.L., touch applications of the electronic control device were also ineffective. Prior to being physically controlled, B.L. repeatedly punched and kicked both rangers, causing minor abrasions and lacerations to both of them. B.L. was transported to Outer Banks Hospital, where all three men were provided medical evaluation and treatment for their injuries before B.L. was booked into the Dare County Detention Center pending an initial court appearance.
During the incident Dare County Sheriff's Office deputies and North Carolina Highway Patrol officers responded to assist but were unable to drive their sedans the two miles over the sand to reach the incident scene. They eventually got to the scene by asking a park visitor for a ride in a four wheel drive vehicle.
[Jon Anglin, Operations Chief]
Rocky Mountain NP
Ailing Visitor Rescued From Backcountry
Rangers received a cell phone call on the morning of August 30th reporting that a 53-year-old man was suffering distress at a backcountry campsite near the North Inlet Trail.
Due to a poor cell phone connection the initial information was unclear. A member of the man's hiking group hiked out seven miles to the North Inlet Trailhead, located on the west side of the park, to get help. A hasty team of two rangers, including a park medic, reached the man a little after 2:00 p.m. Litter teams left the trailhead at 1:15 p.m.
The man, who was visiting from Louisville, Kentucky, was found to be suffering from severe HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_altitude_sickness" high altitude sickness. A support helicopter flew additional medical supplies and personnel, including another park medic, to the scene.
Seventeen people, including rangers and Grand County Search and Rescue personnel, brought the man a mile down the trail through rough terrain to a suitable landing zone, where Lifeguard 1 from St. Anthony Hospital picked the man up and flew him to the Medical Center of the Rockies.
[Kyle Patterson, 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/):
Yosemite NP - The Rim Fire, which has so far burned about 237,000 acres all told and 67,000 acres in the park, is now the largest wildfire in the park's history and the fourth largest in the history of California. It has generated headlines around the world.
Lake Mead NRA - A five-year study of park fatalities showed that the number one cause of death was drowning. This lead to a study of lifejacket use in the park and in turn to the establishment of lifejacket loaner stations.
Special Park Uses - On August 22nd, the Department of the Interior published final regulations on commercial filming, still photography and audio recording for the NPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management in the Federal Register.
Grand Teton NP - Astronomy Day at Grand Teton, held on Sunday, August 11th, marked the finalé of several weeks of ‘galactic' activities. An estimated 700 visitors participated in the daylong events.
Fire and Aviation Management - A new section on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on InsideNPS provides relevant policy guidance, including memos and briefing papers. It has been established to clarify what is and is not allowed within national parks.
Southeast Region - On August 23rd, Gordon Wissinger, chief of staff and deputy regional director for Southeast Region, received a Meritorious Service Award from Director Jarvis, capping a 41-year career in the NPS.
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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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