NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Friday, October 10, 2014

INCIDENTS

Crater Lake NP

Rangers Investigate Assault Allegations

On July 15th, rangers and park EMS responded to the Rim Village area to a report of a woman with a possible diabetic emergency. The reporting party said that she was screaming and that there was a combative man with her yelling at people to leave her alone and “let her die.”

Responders found the woman unconscious and began providing advanced life support. The woman was with her ex-husband, their two juvenile children, and a friend of the ex-husband. The ex-husband continued to be uncooperative and was threatened with arrest before he allowed EMS personnel to care for the woman.

The woman was taken by park ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls. En route, she regained consciousness and said that she had been assaulted by the ex-husband. Later during the transport and at the hospital she recanted her statement, claiming she had been picked up by two strangers while she was walking who injected her with methamphetamine and then sexually assaulted her.

The woman had injuries consistent with a sexual assault and her other symptoms were consistent with methamphetamine use as well as an overdose of insulin. Follow-up attempts to interview both the woman and the ex-husband at the hospital produced no significant information. Rangers were assisted in the investigation by the Klamath County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police detectives.

The woman refused to cooperate with a sexual assault investigation and was released from the hospital the following day. Rangers reported the incident to the Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services Division, due to concerns for the safety of the juvenile children.

Three days later, the woman contacted her local police in northern Oregon to report the sexual assault. She told DHS and police investigators there yet another account of what happened in the park, describing being abducted by contractors in a van and being assaulted with pillows. Oregon State Police again assisted in the case, going to her residence to interview her and her husband. Once again she refused to cooperate further with the investigation. To date, no charges have been filed.

[Curt Dimmick, Chief Ranger]

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):

Redwood N&SP - On Saturday, September 27th, the park and the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a rededication event for the 65th anniversary of the National Tribute Grove - 5,000 acres of old-growth coast redwoods set aside in 1949 in honor of veterans of World War II,

Fire and Aviation Management - The NPS Structural Fire Program uses an A123 audit process to gauge how well we are protecting our employees, visitors, park partners, and cultural resources from the effects of fire.

Office of Risk Management - A series of Webex sessions will be held in which employees' input will be sought on a draft framework for improving the safety, occupational health and wellness of the NPS workforce. Today's posting adds some dates missing from yesterday's story.

Richmond NBP - In late September, the park commemorated the 150th anniversary of the battles of Fort Harrison and New Market Heights, including sites where United States Colored Troops were recognized for their valor, skill, and courage under fire.

Lake Mead NRA - Ranger Marc Burt has been named the 2014 Nevada Department of Wildlife Boating State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, marking the first time an NPS ranger has received this award in Nevada.

Operational Leadership - Six National Park Service employees have received special recognition for their contributions to the Servicewide Operational Leadership program in 2014.

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).

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