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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Tuesday, February 25, 2014 INCIDENTS United States Park Police Crew Of Eagle 2 Rescues Hypothermic Man From Lake On the afternoon of Sunday, February 23rd, the United States Park Police Aviation Section received a mutual aid request from the Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department, which sought assistance from a Park Police helicopter with an ice rescue at Lake Manassas in Gainesville, Virginia. US Park Police Eagle 2 responded with a crew of four - Sgt. Kevin Chittick, pilot; Officer Ryan Evasick, co-pilot; and Sgt. David Tolson and Officer Michael Abate, rescue technicians. Eagle 2 arrived on the scene at about 3:45 pm and was asked to assist by hoisting an elderly man who had been stranded on Lake Manassas after his canoe became flooded with ice cold water. Prince William County Fire personnel had entered the water in ice rescue suits to attempt the rescue, but their efforts were hampered by unstable ice and dangerous conditions. Chittick positioned Eagle 2 for the hoist and Tolson was lowered about 20 feet to the man, who was attached to a rescue strap and then hoisted aboard the helicopter. Chittick then flew it to the nearby shoreline, where the man was lowered to the ground. Paramedics transferred the man to a waiting ambulance and began basic and advanced life support treatment for severe hypothermia. Eagle 2 then returned to the scene. Evasick was lowered to the canoe, where he located two dogs. He was able to rescue both animals and subsequently bring them to shore. [Lt. Simeon Klebaner, Commander, USPP Aviation] Buffalo NR Sex Offender Sentenced In Federal Court On July 21, 2013, rangers received a report of the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl at Ozark Campground during the Memorial Day weekend. An NPS special agent was notified and an investigation was begun. The investigation revealed that the victim, accompanied by her father, younger sister, older brother, a male friend of the older brother and the suspect, R.T., traveled to the park for a weekend camping and float trip. During the course of the trip, R.T. forcibly fondled the victim three times inside a tent over a two day period. The girl had begun contacting R.T. via Facebook and text messages, confronting him with the incidents. Ranger Melody Morrison coordinated with state police and the Child Advocacy Center during interviews with the girl and her sister and followed up with interviews and investigation along with the agent. On August 13, 2013, R.T. was arrested by rangers, an agent, and federal marshals from the US Marshal's Office. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault of a minor. During an interview with NPS investigators, R.T. confessed to the acts. On February 18th, R.T. was sentenced to 30 months in prison and five years supervised release, ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution to the victim, and registered as a sex offender. The National Park Service was assisted by the Newton County Sheriff's Office, Bentonville Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Child Advocacy Center of Benton County Arkansas, and the United States Attorney's Office, Fort Smith. ISB conducted the forensics electronic analysis and AUSA Kyra Jenner prosecuted R.T. for the offenses. [Investigative Services Branch] OTHER NEWS The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers): National Mall - The ongoing project to rehabilitate the National Mall in Washington so that it can better accommodate the millions of visitors who walk its lawns and pathways each year has received national attention and commendation. Fire and Aviation Management - A revised version of Reference Manual 18: Wildland Fire Management has been approved and released. A link is provided to the full document. A webinar will be held next month to explain the changes. Intermountain Region - Mitzi Frank has been named superintendent for El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments in western New Mexico. Frank will assume her new responsibilities on March 9th. To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites: NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/ 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). --- ### --- |