Chaco Culture |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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SUMMARY Southwest Region sent three SET teams to Chaco Culture to assist Superintendent Tom Vaughn with an anticipated crowd of 3,000 plus people during the 3 day weekend (August 15-17). Actual crowds were much less than anticipated due to last minute publicity of other sites, notably Sedona, AZ and Mt. Shasta, CA.; and a charge of $35 - $100 per person to participate levied by The Gathering, the group that was permitted to have a Base Camp on BLM land and permitted to coordinate activities within the park. SET teams arrived in the park en Wednesday, Aug. 12. A full day of orientation was conducted on Thursday and the teams started standing shifts Thursday night. Greater than normal visitation began arriving late Thursday and continued through the weekend. The park operated school buses from the B.I.A. as an in-park shuttle system beginning Friday as parking lots became full. Twice daily press meetings were held, throughout the event, with the Regional Publia Affairs Officer and the Superintendent. The Superintendent and the Park Archeologist feel that had the SET teams not been present that significant over crowding problems and cultural resource damage would have occurred. As it was, team assignments included directing traffic, cultural resource protection in 3 main ruins, back country patrols, campground and road patrols, directing parking at three locations, and night security patrols. STATISTICS: Major Incidents: One search that lasted approximately 1 hour for a 60 year - old male (found in good condition); escorted removal of 2 individuals from signed, gated, closed area and citations; Migratory Bird Act violation - handled through Fish & Wildlife Service; and an emergency response at night to assist BLM with drunk and disorderlies at Base Camp. Press: Some 63 NPS Press passes were issued including representatives from all 3 networks, wire services, and PEOPLE Magazine, Crowds: BLM Base Camp - registered campers: cs 1,111 (plus ca 151 non - registered). NPS campground: ca 250. Above plus numerous day users make up an estimated 2,200+ estimated 2,200 plus participants and visitors over the 3 days. NPS Personnel: 24 SET members, 3 US Park Police (2 with communications unit), 3 cooks, 1 rescue vehicle with EMT operator, 1 Public Affairs Officer, 1 associate Regional Director (operations), plus park staff (3 commissioned staff). Contracted personnel: Ambulance and 2 operators, 3 BTA buses and drivers.
Rangers were investigating three campers camped in an illegal area when they discovered a small amount of marijuana and mushrooms in their possession. Further investigation revealed that the three, all from Missouri, had an assortment of artifacts concealed in an ice chest in the rear of their pickup truck. According to the campers, the artifacts had been taken from near the Far View Ruins at Mesa Verde. These artifacts included broken pieces of three large pots (one nearly complete), and a variety of projectile points. The drugs and artifacts were seized and the U.S. Attorneys for the states of New Mexico and Colorado handled the case. The three appeared before the U.S. Magistrate in Durango, Colorado on July 1st and plead guilty to violations of 36 CFR. The U.S. Magistrate has ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and has postponed sentencing until August and the completion of the investigation. Also on the 1st, the three took rangers to the site where they had gotten the artifacts. Rangers are currently evaluating damage to the site and plan to bill the three Missourians for damages.
Around 6 p.m. on the 23rd, L.H., 50, of Santa Monica, California, suffered an apparent heart attack while participating in a ceremony in a kiva with the Kokopelli Society, a "New Age" religious group. Two physicians were in the group - one a cardiologist - and they immediately began first aid efforts. The cardiologist reportedly diagnosed the attack as a stroke rather than a heart attack. At 7:15 p.m., L.H. was put in the park wagon and driven towards Bloomfield. A park staff member drove while the two physicians administered CPR. They met the Bloomfield ambulance at a halfway point, and transferred L.H. to it. L.H. died at the Bloomfield hospital sometime thereafter. The physicians were said to be very critical of the park's equipment, and there is some indication that a claim may result. (Irv Francisco, CR, CHCU, via telefax from RAD/SWRO, 9/24).
On the afternoon of April 15th, two park visitors saw a young man hook a tow chain from his vehicle to the campground fee collection box and attempt to pull it out. Upon receiving the report of the attempted theft, Chief Ranger Harold Timmons and Ranger Erick Beckert began a search of the park and located the individual through the vehicle's license number, which the visitors had provided. The vehicle was registered to a rancher who lives about two miles south of the park and was being operated by his visiting nephew. He was apprehended and identified by the witnesses, then taken to the San Juan county jail. Although he was unsuccessful in his efforts to remove the fee box, he did inflict several hundred dollars worth of damage to the box and the sign at the campground entrance. A hearing is to be held on Thursday. [Telefax from Phil Young, RAD/SWRO, 4/29]
A young female jogger was threatened with a knife and raped one mile east of Gallo campground around 7:30 p.m. on the evening of July 20th. She immediately left the park with a girlfriend; the girlfriend notified park rangers of the incident on the 21st. Rangers in turn contacted officers in the San Juan County sheriff's department, who contacted the victim by phone. The victim declined medical treatment and refused to meet with rangers or officers from the sheriff's department. The incident may be linked to a series of rapes and murders occurring in the area around Farmington, New Mexico. The victim's identity remains unknown. [Harold Timmons, CHCU, via CompuServe message from Bonnie Winslow, RAD/SWRO, 7/22]
Backcountry ranger Eric Beckert came upon S.A.M. and S.R.C. in a closed area of the park's backcountry on the morning of April 7th. Beckert was searching the area for visitors after finding an unattended vehicle nearby. After questioning the pair, Beckert received permission to go through one woman's day pack and discovered two large pottery sherds which apparently were taken from the park. At that point, the other woman volunteered that she had the remainder of the pot wrapped in her sweatshirt. Park archeologist Dabney Ford and chief ranger Herschel Schulz were called in to assist in the investigation. Both women were cited for entering a closed area and walking on a cultural site. Felony ARPA charges may be lodged pending further investigation. [CompuServe message from Bonnie Winslow, RAD/SWRO, 4/9]
C.A., 51, of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, was struck by lightning and killed while walking on the Wijiji Trail in the park's backcountry on the afternoon of May 21st. C.A. was accompanied by her husband, who was not injured. After the lightning strike, he hiked to the parking lot for his vehicle, drove back and picked her up, then transported her to the park residence area and contacted rangers. This initial contact with rangers took place about a half hour after the strike, and C.A. had died by that time. [Larry Belli, SUPT, CHCU, via phone report from Jim Radney, RLES, RAD/SWRO, 5/21]
Sometime between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on July 12th, a thief or thieves broke into two vehicles at the trailhead to Penasco Blanco and stole two wallets and a shoulder pack containing a wallet with credit cards and cash. Other valuable items were left behind. Entry was made through the front passenger doors by unknown means. The cars were relocked after they were entered. A dark green or black van occupied by three white males and a white female, all between the ages of 20 and 30, may have been involved in or have additional information on the thefts. [Herschel Schulz, CR, CHCU, 7/13]
Federal grand jury indictments were filed against S.A.M. on April 5th for ARPA violations and theft of government property. On April 7, 1992, S.A.M. excavated and removed a Gallup black-on-white pot from the park's backcountry. S.A.M. and her companion, a former level II enforcement officer with the Forest Service, took the pot from an area closed to the public due to its sensitive archeological resources. Ranger Eric Beckert, who was searching the area for visitors after finding an unattended vehicle nearby, stopped and questioned the pair and retrieved the artifact. S.A.M. admitted taking the pot with the intention of removing it from the park. The case was referred to the U.S. attorney in 1992, and S.A.M. and her companion began a court-approved pre-trial diversion program whereby they each paid $1,000 in restitution in installments. S.A.M.'s companion completed the program, but S.A.M. failed to make any payments after last December. The indictments were accordingly sought and secured. [Phil Young, SWRO, 4/7]
On February 3rd, S.A.M. of Colorado Springs pled guilty to a misdemeanor ARPA violation (16 USC 470) in federal district court. S.A.M. was arrested for removing a ceramic artifact from the park's backcountry on April 7, 1992. A pre-trial diversion was granted whereby S.A.M. was to pay $1,000 in restitution. After making just over $300 in payments, she dropped out of the program and was subsequently indicted by a grand jury. S.A.M. paid off the balance of her restitution on February 3rd. Sentencing is scheduled for March. [CR, CHCU, 2/15]
On the morning of November 8th, a visitor reported that two people were apparently hunting from the road inside the park. Ranger Gary Henson responded. A pickup truck was found parked about 20 yards off the road, and two men - G.P. and M.G. - were seen standing in the field about 100 yards off the road. The two men were beginning to field dress the deer. M.G. said that he didn't know who killed the deer because they had both shot it. Although four empty casings were discovered on the pavement, they denied having shot the deer from the road; they also said that they were unaware they were in a national park and that hunting was illegal. While Henson was talking with the two men, a third man - Alfredo Jaquez - was seen walking in the same field. He was carrying a loaded .243 caliber rifle. Both G.P. and M.G.'s unloaded rifles were discovered in the pickup. All three weapons were confiscated and the three were cited for taking of wildlife and possession of weapons. The deer was left at the scene to be utilized by local fauna. [CRO, CHCU, 11/23]
Charles Lanell, a masonry specialist with the Western Archeological Conservation Center in Tucson, died of a stroke at his home on December 29th. A memorial service was held on January 3rd in Kirtland, New Mexico, and a military funeral was held on January 5th at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. As a preservation crew member, he worked at Fort Union, Wupatki, Chaco, and Aztec under the direction of archaeologist George Chambers. Charles began his 21 years in the preservation program at Chaco as a masonry worker. During this time as a preservation specialist, he became proficient with a variety of mortar additives, developed specialized treatment techniques for different types of architecture, and worked at a number of sites throughout the Southwest Region for the Bureau of Land Management and the Navajo nation. In 1995, he became acting masonry foreman and supervised the entire preservation staff; he assumed permanent responsibility as foreman the following year. Charles was one of the most skilled masons to work at Chaco and contributed numerous ideas on how to improve the Service's preservation program. During his career, he received several awards for his outstanding preservation work at both NPS and BLM sites. Charles believed very strongly that the preservation work at Chaco required a team approach and that crew members were most effective when they worked as a team. As a supervisor, he brought with him a strong belief that people work best when they share duties and responsibilities. He stressed to his staff that everyone must learn to do everything. It was important to Charles that the crew be viewed by the park visitor as both hard working and as skilled caretakers of the resources. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family care of Chaco Culture NHP, P.O. Box 220, Nageezi, NM, 505-786-7061. [Staff, CHCU, via "Morning Line," SWSO Public Affairs Newsletter, 1/6]
M.B.D., wife of long-time park employee G.B.C., died at her residence in the park from an apparent overdose of prescription medications on January 29th. She evidently left the apartment during the night and went to a nearby storage room, where she was found by her husband the next morning. A letter was found in which she stated that she did not want to be resuscitated and that her remains were to be donated to science. The county medical examiner is investigating. [Rory Gauthier, CR, CHCU, 2/3]
On July 9th, J.M., 19, of Maitland, Florida, attempted to climb a sandstone cliff near the park's campground. J.M., who is not an experienced climber, used neither ropes nor a belay. As he neared the summit of the cliff, the weak sandstone broke from beneath him and he fell about 65 feet. J.M.'s friends notified the park; rangers and EMTs responded. They were surprised to find him in relatively good shape. He was stabilized, then flown to a hospital in Farmington, where he was treated for several severe lacerations to his legs and feet, a broken bone in his wrist, and a bruised kidney. J.M. said that he slid down the cliff face feet first, narrowly missing several large jagged rocks at the base. Climbing is prohibited throughout the park because the rock is friable. No citations were issued - just a $3,000 bill for the cost of the helicopter. [CHCU, 7/11]
From two to three inches of rain fell in the park within a two-hour period on July 26th, causing major damage to cultural resources and the campground, housing area and roads. An initial damage assessment identified losses such as an intact, thousand-year-old room in the Chetro Ketl site, where flooding damaged the original ceiling and a wall mural painted with turquoise and hematite. Nearly all of the campground sites were damaged by flood waters; fire hearths and tent pads were swept away or buried under mud. Visitors and employees were stranded for up to four hours on both the north and south entrance roads, waiting for water to recede. Rangers, assisted by members of the Crownpoint fire department, rescued many visitors who became stuck in Chaco's infamous mud. No visitors or staff were injured. [Rory Gauthier, CHCU, 7/28]
On August 27th, the park conducted a search for a missing hiker. M.M., 57, of New Orleans, Louisiana, started out on a hike to Penasco Blanco trail with a female companion at 7:30 a.m. that morning. At some point, his companion decided to wait for M.M. while he continued his hike. When M.M. failed to return to a prearranged location after several hours, his friend hiked out and reported him missing to visitor center staff at 5:30 p.m. She also reported that M.M. had an existing medical condition, that he had not taken his prescriptions with him, and that he had only 16 ounces of water with him. A hasty search led to discovery of the location where M.M. had left the trail. Three search teams consisting of park employees, local SAR volunteers, trackers and New Mexico State Police officers tracked M.M. over difficult terrain until just before daylight. Three search dog teams were inserted at 8 a.m.; Air Care 1, a medical services helicopter, arrived an hour later. Around 10 a.m., chief ranger Gordon Ellison spotted M.M. from the helicopter. He was several miles from any established trail. M.M. had tried to descend from the mesa top and was located on a rock terrace 100 feet below the rim. After several attempts, the helicopter was able to safely land and pick him up. M.M. was in good condition. This was the first "large scale" search for most of the park staff and proved to be a learning experience. The chief ranger served as incident commander. [Russ Bodner, Acting Superintendent, CHCU, 8/31]
On November 9th, 25-year-old A.R. of Clarksdale, Arizona, drove around the closed exit gate to the park's loop road. A.R. and his companion, 20-year-old April Kearney, evaded rangers for approximately 40 minutes before they were stopped. During that time, A.R. drove about a quarter mile off road and over several archeological sites at two locations, including one with burials. His off-road excursion also caused significant natural resource damage. A.R. was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A criminal complaint was filed charging him with damaging archeological sites (16 USC 1b 470ee(a)) and with numerous 36 CFR violations, including entering closed areas, destruction of natural resources and driving off roadways. Archeological and resource damage assessments are underway. Most of the damage was within an area that the park archeologist describes as the heart of Chaco Canyon. John Osgood is the investigating ranger. [Gordon Ellison, CHCU, 11/9]
On May 18th, rangers responded to a volunteer's report that gunshots had been heard from a point where two pickup trucks had been seen near the park's entrance. The trucks were stopped and rangers found four loaded weapons - two rifles and two handguns - inside. The weapons were retained pending a court decision. The 24-year-old male driver of one of the pickups was charged with possession and other weapons-related violations. Investigation revealed that the state of Arizona had an active warrant out against his father. [John Bueg, Protection Ranger]
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Chaco Culture NHP — Seventeen of the 49 sites at Gallo Campground have been closed indefinitely due to the danger of possible rockfalls. The park has been aware of the threat, but recently became concerned that it may have worsened. Park staff are studying the best way to deal with the situation over the long term. Source: Mike Easterling, Farmington Daily Times.
On June 11, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland was expected to arrive to the park to celebrate the recent ban on oil and gas drilling within a 20-mile radius of the park to protect culturally significant sites. Protesters, a group of Navajo landowners, blocked the road and prevented the delegation from arriving. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said the celebration was disappointing and disrespectful because allotment owners did not support the ban and fear their parcels are now landlocked. Secretary Haaland said, "To see any road into any of our national parks or our public lands blocked was heartbreaking because our public lands belong to all Americans." Source: Navajo-Hopi Observer
On July 21 and 28, several rockfall events took place at Gallo Campground. After the July 28 events, the park closed five campsites. Geologists believe there is potential for further rockfall, and the campsites are closed indefinitely as the park considers options. No one was injured in the rockfall events. Source: Farmington Daily Times | |