Indiana Dunes |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2024. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Monday, July 28, 1986 Incident location: 150' out from Kansas Avenue beach Summary: Victim was with 5 others on sail boat +/-450' north of beach. Victim & friend swam toward shore & D.S.K. sank below surface 150' from shore (within park boundary). Boat folks called USCG, who arrived in 10 minutes. Body found on bottom. Unable to resuscitate. No blood alcohol results yet, but drinking suspected.
Location: Beach west of Mt. Baldy Summary: Unidentified, badly decomposed body washed ashore. White male dressed in winter clothing. Body turned over to Porter County coroner. NPS conducting investigation.
Location: Lake Michigan M.P. and J.B. were on a Hobie Cat catamaran three miles out on Lake Michigan on the evening of the 20th when both fell off. At 1 pm on the 29th, a park visitor found J.B. in the water just off the park shoreline and rescued him. J.B. told rangers that M.P. had been with him and was still in the water, and a search was begun. The catamaran was found a mile and a half off-shore, but there's no sign yet of M.P.. Rangers are currently involved in both water and shoreline searches along with the Coast Guard and other agencies.
The partially clothed body of an unidentified 40 to 50-year-old female was found on the Central Avenue Beach on the morning of the 10th. The cause of death is unknown, but there is no evidence of foul play. Toxicological tests were to be conducted yesterday. (J.J. McLaughlin, FAD/MWRO).
On the morning of the 24th, the partially disrobed body of a male in his mid-twenties was discovered near the park's West Beach maintenance area by children walking to a school bus stop. The victim had multiple knife wounds in the back and on his chest and neck; there were no obvious signs of a struggle or defensive marks on the body. It is not known whether the incident occurred in the park of if the victim's body was dropped there. The case is being investigated by the Porter County coroner with the assistance of the park and the Portage Police Department. (Joni Jones, INDD, via John Townsend, RAD/MWRO).
Early on the afternoon of the 28th, J.H., 20, of Plainfield, Illinois, was swimming with friends just west of the lifeguard stand at West Beach and outside of the guarded beach area. J.H. disappeared, and a search for him was begun by his friends. During this search, one of the members of J.H.'s party had difficulty due to a rip current and had to be rescued by a lifeguard. At this time, lifeguards learned of J.H.'s disappearance and initiated their own search. J.H. was soon found and resuscitation efforts were begun on him. J.H. was transported to Gary Methodist Hospital and was dead on arrival. Rip current advisories had been posted since 11 a.m. that morning and lifeguards had advised people on the beach of the rip current conditions. (Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via CompuServe report from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO).
On the morning of June 29th, lifeguards received a report that a child was missing from a group that was located about halfway between the Wells Street Beach lifeguard stand and the West Beach bathhouse. Rangers were notified, and a search was conducted by using a human chain along the beach. The body of D.S., 8, of Sauk Village, Illinois, was found about 45 minutes later, and was transported to Gary Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. D.S. was part of a church group and was attending a day camp on the beach. The group apparently arrived before the guarded beach opened and set up in the unguarded and isolated area. A red flag indicating high wave conditions was posted on the lead lifeguard stand at the time of the incident. (Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via telefax to RAD/MWRO and RAD/WASO).
While securing the Long Lake parking lot at West Beach on March 30th, a park ranger saw a pickup parked by the water. He discovered the body of W.P., 54, of Gary, Indiana, in the truck; he had a single gunshot wound in the temple and a .22 caliber handgun in his right hand. His death appears to have been a suicide. (William Tadych, INDU, via CompuServe message from Capt. J.J. McLaughlin, RAD/MWRO, 2 p.m. EDT, 4/9/90).
Early on the morning of April 28th, rangers were asked to assist in containing a fuel oil spill which had occurred on the Burns Waterway, which runs into Lake Michigan. Coast Guard and state boats could not be on scene for an hour, so the rangers were first to arrive. They deployed containment booms loaned by Midwest Steel Corporation and kept most of the oil in check until the Coast Guard and a private clean-up company could arrive. While same oil did reach the lake, the actions taken by the rangers minimized the impact to near-by beaches and lake waters. (Richard Littlefield, INDU, via CompuServe message from Ben Holmes, RAD/MWRO, 3:30 p.m. EDT, 4/30/90).
Just before midnight on the 18th, a Porter County police officer observed a suspicious person in the Porter Beach parking lot. Upon contacting the man, 19-year-old C.M. of Chesterton, Indiana, the officer discovered that he was intoxicated and had a severe, self-inflicted laceration on his left arm from his elbow to his wrist. The officer requested NPS assistance; once the ranger arrived, the two attempted to subdue C.M.. During the struggle, the officer was cut by a razor which had been hidden in C.M.'s hand. C.M. was arrested, treated and transported to a local jail. The officer was treated for a laceration to his hand and released. The ranger did not sustain any injuries during the incident. (Joni Jones, INDU, via CompuServe message from Capt. J.J. McLaughlin, RAD/MWRO, 10 a.m. EDT, 5/22/90).
On the morning of June 2nd, maintenance employee Mike Thomas heard an explosion while he was in the process of videotaping the West Beach access road construction project. Thomas saw one person leaving the area on a motorcycle, and videotaped him as he rode away. The ranger who was called to investigate the incident discovered a small destructive device which had exploded near one of the bridge supports. ATF agents are working cooperatively with rangers on an investigation of the incident. No workers were on the site at the time of the incident due to a strike by the Ironworkers Union local. No connection to the strike is suspected. [Dick Littlefield, INDU, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 6/25]
J.J.H., 9, of South Bend, Indiana, was standing on a sandbar just off the beach at Mt. Baldy when he was apparently knocked off his feet by a one to twofoot wave. His uncle and other youths who were with him searched for J.J.H. for five to ten minutes before finding him beneath the lake's water. No one in the group knew CPR, but they did attempt external heart massage. The park was notified, and ranger Tim Trainer responded with Coast Guard and local EMS personnel. They relieved two visitors who had begun CPR on J.J.H. in the interim and continued resuscitation efforts while he was transported to a hospital via Coast Guard vessel and ambulance. Despite their efforts, the boy died. Rangers Joni Jones and Joe Wieszczyk are investigating the incident. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 7/8]
On July 2nd, construction work involving the jetting-in of pilings for a $38 million air quality scrubber at the Baily Generating Station adjacent to Cowles Bog, a national natural landmark within the park, apparently caused a 300 by 100 by 20 foot subsidence which swallowed up the scrubber, a crane and a number of vehicles in the area. Movement of the surrounding land as a result of the subsidence also shifted the alignment of the power plant's generators, which caused their bearings to seize. Park resource management and science personnel are monitoring the ground and surface water for chemical impacts and for impacts on the general water regime of Cowles Bog and Lake Michigan. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 7/8]
K.M., 14, of Chicago, Illinois, was playing in Lake Michigan off Porter Beach when he was caught by a rip current and drowned. K.M. was one of nine teen-aged assistants to an adult supervisor of a group of about 40 youths from the Chicago Boys and Girls Club, which was on an outing in an adjacent state park. They had walked from the state park into the national park. All public beaches from Michigan City, Indiana, to Gary, Indiana, were closed at the time due to the rip currents. A member of the group who went to K.M.'s assistance had to push him away when K.M.'s struggling threatened to pull him under. The youth made a second attempt to reach K.M. after he stopped struggling, but also got caught in the rip current and had to be rescued by a visitor. [Joe Wieszczyk, INDU, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 7/23]
On the afternoon of July 28th, J.D.L., 27, of Hammond, Indiana, drowned while swimming in an unguarded area of West Beach which is about 500 yards of the nearest lifeguard stand. According to companions, J.D.L. was trying to reach an inner tube that was drifting out into the lake. When he was about 300 feet offshore, he began experiencing problems for unknown reasons. A friend went to his aid, and, with the help of other visitors and park lifeguards, brought him to shore. The lifeguards administered CPR until local EMS units arrived, but J.D.L. did not survive. J.D.L. and his two companions walked past a sign which said "Limit of guarded beach", but his friends claimed not to have seen the sign. [Telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 7/29]
Four areas containing cultivated marijuana were recently discovered within the park's boundary, but on private land which had not yet been acquired. Local law enforcement agencies were notified, but declined to take any action unless suspects were identified. Rangers eradicated 408 plants with an estimated street value of $236,000 and found evidence of prior harvesting at the sites. The gardens were found along the edges of corn fields. One of the gardens contained sensimilla and was well away from the others. The park would like to hear from any other areas which have had similar reactions from local enforcement authorities. Contact chief ranger Tom Goldbin at 219-926-7361. [Telefax from Tom Goldbin, CR, INDU, 8/22]
Local police officers found the body of an unidentified male on the shoulder of the new entrance road to West Branch just before midnight on August 23rd. The victim had been shot at the site and had wounds to his head, neck, arm and hip. An investigation is underway. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via CompuServe message from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 9/4]
On the morning of June 24th, a bomb exploded near one of the supports of a bridge on the West Beach Access Road, and an investigation into the incident was subsequently begun by rangers and ATF agents. Evidence collected by rangers included a portion of the device, which appeared to be a brown, plastic medicine container. ATF recently advised the park that they were able to obtain a partial name, address, prescription number and the name of the pharmacy from that piece of evidence, and that they are pursuing that lead. [Joni Jones, INDU, via CompuServe message from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 9/25]
B.H. of Gary, Indiana, was shot and killed off the new West Beach Access Road on September 21st. Gary police officers later apprehended J.G., also of that city, while J.G. was driving Hunter's vehicle. J.G. later confessed to the crime and named C.M. as an accomplice. J.G. told police that he and C.M. went to B.H.'s home and asked him to drive them to a road near West Beach. When they arrived on the access road, J.G. told B.H. to stop the vehicle and get out. He then shot B.H. five times, reloaded and shot him five more times. B.H. died of multiple gunshot wounds. The area is under concurrent jurisdiction, and Gary police are handling the prosecution. [Joni Jones, INDU, via telefax from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 9/25]
An unoccupied structure under a use permit was totally destroyed by fire on September 26th. Park firefighters, assisted by units from five towns, extinguished the blaze. The building had been empty for years and did not have active utility lines. An investigation into the cause is underway by ranger Fred Grish, who is also a member of the county arson task force. A strike by independent steel haulers was in progress at the east gate of Bethlehem Steel, about 200 yards from the building, at the time of the fire. No connection between the strike and the fire has yet been made. [Joni Jones, INDU, via CompuServe message from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 9/27]
On November 29th, ranger William Tadych and an Indiana conservation officer responded to a report that two men, later identified as S.C. and T.B., both 19, had pointed a rifle at two fishermen in the park. When the pair saw the officers approaching, they fled on foot and attempted to hide in the woods. While searching for the two men, the conservation officer saw them hiding behind a tree. Each was pointing a scoped .22 caliber rifle at Tadych, who was unaware of their proximity. The conservation officer disarmed them, then arrested them with Tadych's assistance. S.C. and T.B. were booked in the Porter County jail on charges of criminal recklessness and possession of loaded firearms. Their vehicle and rifles were impounded. The U.S. attorney will be consulted on the possibility of filing charges of assault on a federal officer. [Telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 11/29]
S.C. and T.B., who had pointed loaded rifles at ranger Willam Tadych last November, pleaded guilty in state court to criminal recklessness charges and were fined an unspecified amount plus court costs. The court also ordered the destruction of the two .22 caliber rifles, scopes and ammunition which had been seized in the incident. In addition, each man paid a federal citation for possession of a firearm in the park. The U.S. attorney was contacted but declined to prosecute the pair for assault on a federal officer. The men contended that they did not know who Tadych was and were only using the scopes on the rifles to identify him. Because of this, the U.S. attorney did not feel that he could prove intent to harm. [Joni Jones, INDU, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 1/21]
On March 3rd, the Porter County sheriff's department broadcast an alert regarding an armed robbery which had occurred in an area immediately adjacent to the park. Rangers Brunet and Zwick accordingly began a check of abandoned residences and wooded areas in the park near the spot where the robbery had occurred. Ranger Zwick found that one of the abandoned buildings was unsecured and asked Brunet to help in checking the interior of the structure. No one was found within. The search of the surrounding area was resumed, and Brunet soon found a subject lying in a marsh near the residence. Zwick joined Brunet and the two arrested the man. A realistic looking water pistol was located on the suspect and taken from him; he was then turned over to Porter County officers. Although no one was found in the unsecured building, investigators believe that the suspect may have used it for shelter earlier in the day. The arrest occurred about two hours after the robbery. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via telefax from Rich Murphy, LES, RAD/MWRO, 3/5]
The body of B.V., 21, was found in his car in the park by South Shore train workers who were checking a passenger trainman's report of a suspicious vehicle sitting near the tracks. B.V., a former Burns Harbor fireman, was one of four volunteer firemen charged with theft and arson following an incident in which a local greenhouse was entered, items were stolen, and the structure was set on fire. The death has been ruled a suicide. [Telefax from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 4/14]
While on a patrol of park grounds recently, rangers William Tadych and Mark Gorman recently found what has been determined to be the wrappings from numerous kilos of marijuana. Plastic bags with traces of marijuana were discovered along with brown paper sealed with cellophane tape. The inner wrappings were comprised of fabric softener sheets sandwiched between layers of cellophane, possibly to confuse drug dogs. Thirty separate wrappings were discovered. Local law enforcement agencies were notified to be on the lookout for increased drug trafficking in the area. [Telefax from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 4/14]
On June 9th, a group of youths, subsequently identified as members of a gang known as the Disciples, encountered a second group of youths, members of a gang called the People, on West Beach near park lifeguards. A fight broke out when words were exchanged between the two groups, and rangers were called in to intervene. Members of both groups suffered minor injuries, but no weapons were used in the assault. No charges were filed. Members of both groups were contacted and detained while computer checks were run. One person was identified as a juvenile runaway-ward of the court. While interviewing the suspects and victims in the parking lot, other members of the People arrived in vehicles and appeared to be waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Members of the Disciples subsequently left the area promptly. This is the first confirmed confrontation with gang members in the West Beach area, although the state park has made previous arrests of gang members for various incidents. Intelligence information gathered on local groups indicates that West Beach may be the new prime target area for gang activity. Meanwhile, rangers have been seeing an increase in the number of criminal incidents occurring in the park, including narcotics possession, weapons possession, prostitution, and a variety of other infractions. They've made about 15 cases involving both citations and arrests in the last two weeks. [Fax from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 6/15]
Park rangers discovered 298 marijuana plants in the park on May 19th and another 531 more plants in the same area four days later. Many of the plants seemed to be wild, but some had been cultivated. All of the plants were removed for destruction. The value of the marijuana was estimated at $204,000. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, via fax from Rich Murphy, RLES, RAD/WRO, 6/16]
On June 20th and 21st, rangers eradicated approximately 1,000 plants located in a previously cultivated, isolated area of the park. Plants ranged in height from six inches to two and a half feet, and had an estimated value of $150,000. [Joni Jones, CI, INDU, 6/24]
On the evening of June 12th, two rangers in plain clothes were working in the Mt. Baldy area in response to increased drug use and reports of drug sales there when they came upon a group of four juveniles and an 18-year-old making marijuana cigarettes. During the subsequent search, the rangers located about $300 worth of marijuana packaged for sale, $100 in cash, and related paraphernalia. Two of the juveniles were placed in the county youth detention center. The U.S. attorney has declined prosecution because of their status, so the case will be handled through the state juvenile system. The vehicle the drugs were found in was seized and forfeiture is being considered. County juvenile officers are interested in the case because it marks one of the first cases of drug sales by juveniles in the area. [Tom Thompson, RCR, RAD/MWRO, 7/15]
While working in plain clothes in the West Beach parking area on July 26th, rangers observed a number of people near a parked vehicle, approached it, and asked the occupants if they had any marijuana for sale. The occupants said that they didn't have any, but that they had LSD for sale. One of the rangers purchased two hits of LSD for $14. The occupants were arrested, and another 80 tabs of LSD were found in the vehicle. The vehicle was impounded for further investigation. Three subjects were cited on a number of charges, including possession of a controlled substance, sales of illicit narcotics, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Four of the eight subjects were released, and three adults and a juvenile were arrested. [Joni Jones, INDU, 7/27]
A person or persons stole the pipe safe insert from the pipe safe at the Dunewood Campground some time between 7 and 11 p.m. on the evening of May 28th. It's estimated that the safe contained about $450 at the time it was taken. Investigators believe that either bolt cutters were used to cut the padlock holding the insert in place or that the lock holding the insert was not securely snapped closed. The park has implemented procedures to ensure that the lock will be checked to verify that it's fully closed in the future. The investigation is continuing. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, 6/2]
During a 36-hour period on June 7th and 8th, the park received just under six inches of rain. While the park did not suffer any major damage, several community roads within its boundaries were damaged when culverts and road shoulders washed away. The most extensive erosion occurred on Beverly Drive, where about 200 feet of roadway collapsed into Brown Ditch. Since the road is a major access route for both the community and park visitors, the town has requested assistance from the park for repairs, which will likely cost about $600,000. The Little Calumet River, which runs through the park, also flooded; numerous logs have floated downstream on it into marinas along the river and a number of boats and docks have been damaged. No visitor injuries have been reported. [Dick Littlefield, INDU, 6/10]
On the morning of June 23rd, roads and trails supervisor Shotters observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside a vehicle parked at a campsite and contacted law enforcement rangers. Rangers Gorman, Zwick, Wieszczyk and Grish contacted the seven individuals at the site and obtained voluntary consent to search them and their vehicles. Marijuana was found on several people and in two vehicles; a total of over 100 grams was confiscated, and all were issued citations for possession of a controlled substance. That evening, rangers Gorman and Tadych were conducting a plain clothes operation in the Mount Baldy area when they came upon marijuana and paraphernalia in plain view inside a vehicle. When the juvenile operator returned, he was contacted and identification was requested. When he opened his wallet, Gorman saw several tabs of suspected LSD packaged in cellophane and subsequently found a total of 28 tabs in the wallet. The juvenile was arrested and placed in the county juvenile detention facility. He was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. The case will be handled through county juvenile court. [Joni Jones, ACR, INDU, 6/24]
On June 28th, rangers responded to a report of an assault in progress on a 16-year-old woman by a group of ten to twelve members of a Chicago-based gang known as the Latin Kings. Gang members had isolated the girl from her friends and one member began grabbing her in a sexual manner. Other gang members created a general disturbance, including climbing the lifeguard stands, as a distraction. Law enforcement rangers contacted the group; when they refused to cooperate, assistance was requested and received from local police. One juvenile and two adults were arrested by rangers for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Other charges may follow pending further investigation. [Joni Jones, INDU, 6/28]
While on boat patrol on Lake Michigan just after noon on July 5th, rangers Brunet and Wood spotted a small rubber raft roughly a mile out into the lake off Porter Beach. The three occupants - L.G. and his two small children, ages three and seven - appeared to be in distress. L.G. was attempting to paddle back to shore, but was being pushed further out into the lake by strong southwest winds. Upon approaching the raft, rangers observed that there were no life jackets on board. The three occupants and their raft were taken on board and returned to land. [Joni Jones, INDU, 7/7]
A group of approximately 40 members of the Chicago Sun Club, a nudist group, visited the park on July 10th. Members of the group were contacted by rangers and advised that they were in violation of 36 CFR and the state's public indecency law. They became argumentative, and one member, Stephen Waldron of Bloomington, Illinois, refused to put his clothing on until he was issued a violation notice. He was cited for disorderly conduct/obscene display. A court challenge is expected, as this is the first time a citation has been issued for this type of violation. The outcome will serve as a guide for future such incidents. Public nudity has become more common at park beaches in recent years, and the park is attempting to develop an action plan to deal with such activities. [Joni Jones, INDU, 7/12]
On the afternoon of Friday, August 20th, J.G., 39, of Barboo, Wisconsin, who was visiting the park with his wife and two children, was swimming in Lake Michigan off Mt. Baldy when he appeared to experience difficulty and disappeared from sight. A multi-agency search was begun, but had to be called off after two hours due to rough water conditions. On August 21, J.G.'s body was found by a swimmer about ten miles west of the point where he was last seen. Although there's no evidence of drug or alcohol use, a toxicology scan was to be conducted to rule out their involvement. There was a rip current in effect at the time J.G. disappeared, and warning signs were posted; it is not known, however, whether the current caused J.G.'s drowning. [RAD/MWRO, 8/23]
A vacant house which was formerly an occupied reservation-of-use property burned to the ground on the evening of September 18th. The fire was reported by neighbors and was extinguished by two local fire departments. An NPS fire crew provided assistance and prevented adjacent vegetation from becoming involved. The house has been vacant for ten months, so no utilities were connected to it. Lightning has also been ruled out as a cause. Arson is presumed; an investigation is underway. [Joni Jones, INDU, 9/22]
On the afternoon of January 3rd, rangers, local police, and fire and ambulance personnel responded to a report of carbon monoxide poisoning at a reservation of use residence within the park. The body of M.M., 22, was found by family members on the floor of a closed garage. The victim's vehicle was in the garage and the engine was running; high levels of carbon monoxide were found in the garage and attached house. M.M. appeared to have been deceased for several hours. A note was found in the victim's car. An investigation is being conducted by the park's criminal investigator. [Joni Jones, INDU, 1/12]
A fast-moving storm struck the park with heavy lightning on the morning of Friday, April 15th. A power substation serving park headquarters received a direct strike, which caused power surge throughout its lines. The office staff reported numerous instances of sparking, crackling and smoke from wall outlets throughout the headquarters building. The local fire department was asked to respond on a standby basis, but there were no ignitions. All building power lines and outlets were checked and the building was brought back on line by resetting circuit breakers one at a time. A total of 15 surge protectors valued at $400, including wall-mounted outlets, computer console units and power cord multiple outlet units, were burned out, but they were able to save office electronic equipment whose value has been estimated at about $70,000. Not a single piece of equipment was lost. The units had suppression ratings of either 1875 watts or between 250 and 500 volts. All the manufacturers have agreed to replace their equipment at no additional cost to the park. [Bill Supernaugh, Deputy Superintendent, INDU, 4/19]
On Monday, June 20th, about 900 German soccer fans who have been touring the country with Germany's World Cup soccer team visited the park at the invitation of local promoters. A beer garden and picnic was hosted on private land immediately adjacent to the park's West Beach unit. Advance information indicated that about 2,500 fans could be expected, along with a number of uninvited soccer "hooligans". Because of the potential for disruptive incidents and associated public safety concerns, a special event team from Midwest Region and two mounted rangers from Jefferson National Expansion were assigned to the park. The one day event went smoothly, however, and there were no unusual incidents. Most of the attendees, unaccustomed to the area's high heat and humidity, were content to spend there time under the shade of the trees near the park's guarded beach. [INDU, 6/27]
A patrol ranger encountered about 30 naturists on the beach near Mt. Baldy at the eastern end of the park on Saturday, July 9th. They were informed of the Indiana criminal code concerning public nudity, and complied with the ranger's request to attire themselves. No citations were issued, nor were any arrests made. This is the fifteenth year that the park has been visited by members of the Chicago Sun Club, which makes an annual excursion to the park on the first weekend following the Fourth of July, primarily to test the park's policy on public nudity. The park has adopted the state's criminal code on public nudity under the Assimilated Crimes Act, and the U.S. magistrate has approved a fine of $50 for infractions. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU, 7/11]
On the morning of August 10th, rangers responded to a noise complaint in the Dunewood Campground. Upon entering the campsite, they saw a marijuana cigarette in plain view. A consent search of the tents on the site yielded 43 grams of marijuana, 42 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms, and 20 "hits" of LSD. One subject admitted ownership and was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. Distribution charges and additional State charges are being considered by the assigned assistant U.S. attorney. [Joni Jones, INDU, 8/11]
Around 11 a.m. on September 18th, seasonal ranger John Wagner stopped a vehicle for a stop sign violation. The driver, R.S. a local resident, immediately became irate, argumentative and questioned the ranger's authority. While Wagner was completing paperwork in his patrol vehicle, R.S. ran towards the vehicle in an threatening manner. Wagner twice backed up his patrol vehicle to put distance between himself and R.S. while also calling for assistance. The ranger then got out of his car and ordered R.S. to return to his vehicle; R.S. refused to do so, and instead advanced on Wagner. A struggle ensued, during which R.S. swung at the ranger several more times, grabbed his clothes, and pushed and pulled him. R.S. lost his balance and fell to the ground, but continued to struggle and resist being handcuffed. R.S. was finally handcuffed just prior to the arrival of two NPS back up units. Wagner's injuries were limited to a small finger cut. R.S. was jailed and charged with the stop sign violation, failure to obey a lawful order, and a state charge of resisting law enforcement. An 18 USC 111 charge for assault on a federal officer is under review by the U.S. Attorney's Office. [Joni Jones, Protection Branch Chief, INDU, 9/21]
A park jogger discovered the body of D.S., 44, of Chicago, near the Inland Marsh trail on the morning of December 22nd. Evidence indicates that D.S. shot himself the previous evening. The suicide is being investigated by rangers and Portage police. [Guy Whitmer, INDU, 12/22]
On Sunday, January 15th, L.E., 84, suffered a stroke while walking a path near the Goodfellow Camp and fell down a steep embankment into heavy brush. Two dogs belonging to Tom Lipinski, who resides in the park under a reservation of use, began barking, alerting him to the possibility that something had happened. Lipinski and one his dogs, a labrador named Shadow, searched the wooded area adjacent to his residence and found L.E., who was paralyzed and unable to call for help. Rangers, who had just moments before received a missing person's report from L.E.'s daughter and son-in-law, were summoned, and L.E. was evacuated to a local hospital, where he remains in guarded condition. Temperatures were in the mid-30s, and it is unlikely that L.E. would have survived if Shadow had not found him. [Dick Littlefield, CRO, INDU, 1/18]
An 11-year-old girl was reported missing in the surf in the park's Porter Beach unit on the afternoon of July 1st. An extensive search was conducted by park lifeguards with assistance from several local and state agencies and the Coast Guard. She was found two hours later about a mile and a half from where she'd last been seen. Doctors at Porter Memorial Hospital pronounced her dead upon arrival. Park and state swimming beaches had been closed and posted earlier in the day due to strong north winds which caused rip currents to develop along a 25 mile stretch of Lake Michigan's south shore. At the time of the report, a search was also underway for a seven-year-old who was reported missing from a breakwater just outside the park. While the first search was underway, park lifeguards saved another swimmer near the Wells Street beach. Because of the length of the Fourth of July weekend and the excellent weather, the park experienced visitation that was among its heaviest in recent years. Most park facilities were filled to capacity by Saturday morning, and traffic was backed up more than 20 miles from the state line to the south suburbs of Chicago. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 7/3]
The body of a 15-year-old girl was found in an isolated area of the park within the city of Gary on the evening of August 8th. The girl was reported missing from her nearby home by her mother on the previous evening. Initial indications are that she was beaten to death, and that the homicide occurred in the park. There are no suspects. The park is working with Gary police on the investigation; the FBI has been notified. [J. Jones, Protection Branch Chief, INDU]
R.N., 22, and D.T., 14, both from the Chicago area, were reported missing within ten minutes of each other just before sunset on August 20th. They had been swimming off Porter Beach, an unguarded area. Despite an extensive, multi-agency search, neither was found that evening. R.N.'s body was found the next morning about a mile-and-a-half west of the beach; D.T.'s was found in the same location a day later. Just before the reports were received on the two missing swimmers, a 35-year-old man nearly drowned at the unguarded Mount Baldy beach. A 20-year-old woman drowned at an unguarded beach adjacent to the park on the same day. Strong north winds and resulting high waves and rip currents are believed to have been factors in all of these incidents. Signs warning visitors of the dangerous swimming conditions were in place in the park. The recent Midwest heat wave has resulted in heavier than normal visitation to park beaches, as visitors from the Chicago area seek relief. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU]
On September 6th, G.B. of Villa Park, Illinois, was swimming off the Beverly Shores beach when he nearly drowned. He was taken from the lake in a semi-conscious state and transported to a hospital. G.B. first claimed that he'd experienced difficulties because of rip currents, but investigators determined that the lake had been very calm that day. He then stated that some type of electrical occurrence had caused his mishap, but investigators also ruled out that possibility. The park then received calls from the news media concerning claims by G.B.'s wife that the park was not making any efforts to make the beach safe from the creature that had attacked her husband, allegedly a sturgeon. One news channel discovered and reported that a sturgeon weighing several hundred pounds had in fact been caught in the area in the 1930s. The park contacted the emergency room physician who had treated G.B.; he said that G.B.'s injuries were not of a type consistent with an attack by a sturgeon, but were more probably caused by rope burn. All indications are that the alleged fish attack was a hoax. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU]
Ranger Mark Gorman recently received a tip that a man was living in a tent in the park, poaching wildlife and possibly cultivating marijuana. The man was identified as A.N., who was on the area's "ten most wanted" list for felony theft and resisting law enforcement officers. Two likely campsites were identified and surveillance was begun on them. A third site was located in early September; indications were that it had been used recently. Papers found at the site indicated that A.N. had left the state, traveled to Arizona, and had just recently returned. Other documents indicated that he'd been arrested for shoplifting while in Arizona. Investigators determined that A.N. was fraudulently using credit cards to purchase camping and hunting supplies, then arranging for the packages to be air delivered overnight to a local business, where he'd pick them up. A.N. was arrested on September 22nd when he attempted to pick up a package at a train office located in the park. During the search incident to arrest, A.N. was found to be in possession of 69 different credit cards along with associated information on their owners. Rangers and local officers searched the woods and found A.N.'s current campsite. They seized more than $1,000 in fraudulently purchased camping gear, including a crossbow and nearly two dozen leg traps and snares. Rangers expanded their search the following day and subsequently found five set snares, one of which had trapped a deer that was so injured it had to be destroyed. A.N. is being charged locally on multiple counts, including felony theft; park charges are pending. Rangers will be working with the Secret Service to investigate the fraudulent use of the credit cards. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU]
On December 20th, county police sent out an advisory to be on the lookout for a vehicle which had fled the scene of an injury accident by driving through a fence onto an interstate highway. About 25 minutes later, ranger Rich Eshenaur spotted a vehicle matching the description which was traveling about 30 miles above the speed limit on the state highway which passes through the park. Eshenaur pursued the vehicle for eight miles at speeds between 45 and 65 mph, during which time the car crossed the centerline several times and almost crashed into parked vehicles. Units from several local agencies assisted and finally stopped the vehicle by blocking it in. The driver, G.C., was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, DWI, fleeing arrest, and the stop sign violation which caused the accident. A check showed that G.C. had recently escaped from federal custody in Indianapolis and that he had a history of escapes from federal custody. He was taken by U.S. marshals to a maximum security facility in Kansas. Eshenaur was commended by local officers for spotting the vehicle, even though the broadcast description was sketchy. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU]
On the afternoon of January 25th, rangers monitoring their scanners heard a report of a motor vehicle accident at the entrance to Indiana Dunes State Park. The driver, E.H., 36, had gotten out of his car and pointed a handgun at state employees who had stopped to render assistance. Rangers Mark Gorman and Mimi Brunet were the first to arrive on scene. E.H. displayed a loaded AK-47 rifle and demanded that the two rangers shoot him. Rangers Gordon Zwick and Bill Tadych soon arrived, along with local and state officers. The area was secured, and negotiations with E.H. were begun. At one point he laid down the rifle and appeared to be surrendering, but then pulled a 9mm semi- automatic pistol from a waist holster and pointed it at the rangers and officers. E.H. continued to demand that they shoot and kill him. He was subdued by state DNR officers about 30 minutes later after being distracted and lured away from his car. A search of his vehicle and person led to the discovery and seizure of a half-empty bottle of vodka, numerous unknown pills, the AK-47, the 9mm pistol, a .380 semi-automatic pistol and a shotgun. Investigators found that E.H. had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and that he'd traveled to the park to take his life. The case was turned over to local agencies for further investigation. Indiana Dunes has concurrent jurisdiction with the state of Indiana within the state park. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU]
The person who started a six-acre fire in the park last December appeared before a federal magistrate on February 16th. He was fined $200 and ordered to pay $849 in restitution. The latter included the park's costs for fire suppression, a resource assessment by the park botanist, and the investigation by park rangers. The funds will go into the account that was used to fund these activities. [Bill Gabbert, FMO, INDU]
On June 4th, a park maintenance employee found two small red biohazard bags in a parking lot trash can. Information on a patient treated at a local hospital was found within the bags. The hospital was contacted by a park investigator and cooperated fully, identifying a home care nurse who subsequently admitted to the dumping. The hospital imposed a three-day suspension and placed the employee on probation with the understanding that another incident would result in termination. They also took the waste and disposed of it properly. Criminal charges were suspended due to the cooperation and administrative action taken by the hospital. [Joe Wieszczyk, Acting CR, INDU]
On April 8th, R.D., 29, was burning paper trash in a barrel behind his home, which is adjacent to the park. R.D. thought the fire was out and went inside. He came out 45 minutes later and found the nearby woods on fire. The fire burned into the park, consuming just over 16 acres. An investigation was conducted which confirmed that the fire had begun at R.D.'s trash burning barrel. R.D. was charted with damaging park resources. Under a plea agreement, he agreed to plead guilty and pay restitution to the park for fire suppression costs of $1,384.22. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU]
Cora Krajcir, a long-time employee of the park, passed away on Wednesday, August 8th. She had been battling lung cancer since last November. Full recovery was expected, but it was discovered that the cancer had spread to her liver. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, a maintenance employee at the park, and by two daughters, Sherry and Jennifer, and two grandchildren. Both daughters have worked seasonally for the park. Cora was a life-long employee of the park, having begun work there as a mail and file clerk in September, 1982. She was promoted to purchasing agent in August, 1994. Services were held yesterday in Portage, Indiana. Condolences should be sent to Jerry Krajcir, 301-B Sable Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383. [Christopher Light, INDU]
Ranger Kevin Grossheim was injured in a patrol vehicle accident shortly after midnight on November 16th. Grossheim was responding to back up rangers involved in a decoy operation when his 1992 Crown Victoria patrol vehicle slid off the roadway and struck a power pole broadside on the car's passenger side. While the force of the accident was enough to snap the power pole, the car's air bag did not deploy. The vehicle's automatic breaking system may have been a factor in the accident, but this has not yet been determined. Grossheim was admitted to a local hospital for observation and was released later that day. The accident is still under investigation. The incident Grossheim was responding to resulted in the apprehension of two suspects and the filing of numerous CFR charges against one of them, including possession of a controlled substance. [Dick Littlefield, CR, INDU]
On December 29th, a number of items were stolen from park dispatcher D.S.'s vehicle while it was parked in a lot in nearby Portage, Indiana. Among the items taken was a government leased pager valued at $230. A message was subsequently sent out over the pager system offering a reward for its return. Several pages were also sent from a phone with caller identification capability. On January 5th, one of the pages was returned, resulting in the phone number and a name being displayed on caller ID. The number was in Portage. This information was given to a detective in the town's police department. His investigation and interviews lead to a suspect who produced the pager and several of D.S.'s personal items. Local charges are pending against one suspect; several other suspects have been identified, and an investigation is underway into their involvement in the theft. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 1/30]
On November 16, 1996, D.R., 20, was arrested after he fired several shots at a deer decoy being operated by rangers. He was charged with using a weapon, illegal taking of wildlife, spotlighting wildlife, and possession of marijuana, which was found in a search of his vehicle. D.R. attempted to dispose of his .22 rifle by throwing it out the window of his vehicle before being stopped by rangers. D.R. subsequently pled guilty to all charges except for spotlighting of wildlife in a plea agreement with the U.S. attorney. He will pay a total of $1,000 in fines, and also agreed to forfeit his rifle. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 3/18]
A series of intrusion alarms was received from the park's visitor center just past 3 a.m. on July 2nd. No patrol rangers were on duty, so a request to check the building was made to a local agency. An officer arrived on scene 18 minutes after the first alarm; the building looked secure, so he left the area. Ranger Steve Chorba arrived from home at 3:30 a.m. and found a door ajar. Nobody was found inside, but a safe used by ENP&MA was found partly pried open - but not enough to get to the $2,300 in cash inside. The safe, however, was a total loss. About $150 was taken from a donation box. A modest effort was made to enter a government safe from which $850 had been removed the previous day, but the safe was not damaged. Two alarm keypads were ripped from walls, possibly in an effort to silence the alarm. Two BMX bicycles were found on a paved trail about 50 yards from the building. The point of entry was a 16 by 20 inch window which had been disassembled. Some fingerprints have been recovered, but may belong to park staff. All information indicates that juveniles were involved. Attempts to trace the bikes have so far been unsuccessful. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 7/8]
J.P., 19, was returning to her car from Central Beach on July 22nd when she was grabbed from behind by an unidentified male. A short struggle ensued, during which J.P. was stuck in the buttocks with an 18 gauge, inch- and-a-half long surgical needle. J.P. then struck the man in the head with the camera she was carrying, causing him to release her. The man never said a word during the assault. J.P. reported the attack to local officers, who notified the park. J.P. had seen the man on the beach prior to the attack, and he was seen by two witnesses who were behind J.P. as she returned to the parking lot. J.P. worked with a forensic illustrator from the state police to produce a sketch of her attacker, and also received appropriate medical treatment. This appears to be an isolated incident, as local law enforcement agencies were alerted to the attack and have not yet reported any similar cases. Several leads were pursued, but have not produced any information on the assailant. It's hoped that public dissemination of the sketch of the suspect will produce further leads. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 8/6]
On August 3rd, seasonal ranger Michelle Gilbert was alerted to three males in a car in the West Beach parking lot who were acting suspiciously. Gilbert concealed herself behind a tree, and, using binoculars, observed one of the males walk around the area looking into cars. A second male appeared to be acting as a lookout, while the third remained behind the wheel of their vehicle. Gilbert saw one of the men reach into the back of an open Geo Tracker and remove items. The man ran back to the suspect vehicle, which left the area before Gilbert could get back to her car. She caught up with the vehicle near the West Beach entrance, but the driver refused to yield to lights and siren. A short pursuit ensued before the driver was forced to pull over. Inside the vehicle were stereo speakers and 55 CDs later found to have been stolen from the Tracker and another vehicle. The total value of all the stolen items was placed at $2,000. E.M., 18, W.F., 18, and a 16-year-old juvenile, all residents of Hammond, Indiana, were arrested on theft charges (18 USC 661). The two adults will be prosecuted in federal court. The case against the juvenile was referred to the local juvenile authority. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 8/6]
On the afternoon of September 9th, C.M., 33, reported being shot during an altercation in a park-owned house that is occupied under a reservation of use. C.M. was a guest at the house, which is rented by his ex-wife. He reported that he met his assailant and a female companion on a gambling boat in nearby Michigan City earlier that day, and that the trio had gone to the house to make a phone call. C.M. said that the man subsequently shot him, striking him in the buttocks, then shot at him twice more as he fled the building. C.M. called 911 from a nearby house, then went to a hospital. Rangers and local police responded, but the assailant and his companion had fled in a vehicle by the time they arrived. During the crime scene investigation, the remains of a marijuana cigarette and rolling papers were found in plain site. A drug dog was utilized and turned up over 30 grams of marijuana and suspected psilocybin mushrooms. C.M., who left the hospital after being treated despite doctor's advice, returned to the house at this time and was arrested by county officers on felony drug charges and an outstanding felony DUI warrant. The only evidence of the shooting recovered by investigators was a live .380 round, which matched the type of handgun C.M. described and was consistent with the wound he had suffered. C.M. has since given several accounts of the incident, and investigation indicates that he was not on the gambling boat on the 9th. C.M. is an admitted gambler and a convicted armed robber. Information indicates a former prison mate may have been involved in the incident and that the shooting may be related to armed robberies in local communities. C.M. remains in jail. The case is being investigated by a park investigator and county detective. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 9/17]
The body of A.H., 50, of Gary, Indiana, was found near a park road on the morning of September 22nd. She had been reported as a victim of a carjacking from the garage of her home earlier that day. Investigators determined that she'd been killed at the site by blows to the head from a piece of concrete which was recovered at the scene. The homicide was investigated by Gary police with the assistance of an interagency task force which has been formed to combat violent crimes in that city. On September 25th, officers arrested the victim's husband, J.H., 52, A.H.'s girlfriend, S.J., 42, and A.G., 28, for the killing, which was determined to have been the product of a murder-for-hire scheme. A.G. killed A.H. after receiving $300 and a promise of another $2,500 after insurance money on the victim was received. A.G. recently served five years in prison for manslaughter. S.J. reportedly introduced A.G. to J.H. Although the road where the victim was found is within the park's boundary, it is not owned by the NPS. The U.S. attorney attempted to show federal jurisdiction, but the decision was made to prosecute the trio in state court because the jurisdiction issue was unclear. Efforts will be made to clarify this for the future. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 9/29]
On the evening of September 21st, supervisory ranger Mark Gorman observed T.W., 26, walking between parked cars at the Lakeview facility. Several car clouts had recently occurred at that location, and rangers had received information from local police indicating that a woman might be involved and that she might have a young child with her to reduce suspicion. T.W. had her four-year-old daughter with her. Gorman concealed himself and watched T.W. as she tried the locked doors on two vehicles. She then entered an unlocked van and searched the inside, but took nothing. T.W. next entered a second unlocked vehicle and took a purse. She was confronted by rangers; the purse was found in her waistband, and $74 from the purse was in her pocket. T.W. was arrested and charged with the theft. The child was turned over to her father. T.W. has a criminal record for theft and is currently on probation from a forgery conviction. Information has linked T.W. to at least one other theft at Lakeview. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 9/23]
On October 7th, rangers arrested V.G. of Beverly Shores, Indiana, on two outstanding federal warrants for failure to appear in court on violation notices issued to him during the summer for allowing his dog to run loose on park property. V.G. pled guilty to all charges; he was fined $500 and placed on probation for six months. V.G. had been warned or issued violation notices four times for the same offense over the past three years. When arrested, he said he'd forgotten about the previous charges and didn't think it was that serious a matter. Rangers handle the majority of such problems with a warning, but issue violation notices when repeated problems occur. Dogs running loose in parks often create significant problems, as they frequently harass both animals and visitors and damage park resources. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 10/7]
A park visitor walking his dog in the dunes near the Well Street/West Beach unit of the park on the afternoon of October 16th discovered the bodies of C.G., 20, and E.J., 26. Both appeared to have been shot in the head at close range. C.G. and E.J. were reported missing following their departure from the home of a friend in Portage, Indiana, late on the evening of October 12th. C.G.'s vehicle was found on a city road adjacent to the park. An unsuccessful effort had been made to burn it. It's not known of the attempted torching was directly related to the homicides. Under the terms of a letter of agreement with the city of Portage, Portage police have taken the lead in investigating the murders, with assistance from the park's law enforcement staff. The FBI and state crime lab are also participating in the investigation. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 10/17]
The bodies of C.G., 19, and E.J., 24, were found on park property on October 16th. Both had been shot to death. A joint investigation was conducted by the park, Portage city police, and the FBI. A reward for $9,000 was offered. On October 22nd, information was received that a vehicle had been seen in the area of the murders on the day the victims were believed to have been in the park. A description of the driver was also given. Investigation determined the person who reported finding the bodies, D.S., 20, had a vehicle which matched the suspect vehicle and that D.S. resembled the driver. Investigators already had doubts about several aspects of D.S.'s account of the discovery of bodies and his activities. D.S. agreed to a polygraph exam, which he took and failed on October 24th. D.S. was interviewed at length; he denied any involvement, but could not explain the inconsistencies in his story. A subpoena had already been obtained to photograph, fingerprint and collect hair and blood samples from him. While D.S. was being interviewed, FBI agents served a search warrant at his home and took several items of clothing and ammunition of the type used in the murders. D.S.'s vehicle was also seized. Because probable cause had not been established to arrest him, he was released about 9:30 p.m. on October 24th after he said he wanted to leave the interview. D.S. said he might want to call investigators later. Two hours later, he called a Portage detective, admitted to the murders, and revealed that the murder weapon was in his car. D.S. then said he had a gun to his head. The detective tried to talk D.S. into putting the gun down or allowing him to come to his location. D.S. then got his girl friend on the phone; during the subsequent three-way conversation, the detective and girl friend tried to reason with D.S. About four minutes into the call, D.S. shot himself. Local police and investigators responded. D.S. was taken to a local hospital, but never regained consciousness and died about 12 hours later. A pistol was recovered from D.S.'s vehicle which is believed to be the murder weapon. D.S. had no criminal record, but had been arrested during the summer in connection with a shooting in which a gun he owned was used by another person. He was never charged in that crime and cooperated with investigators. No motive for the murders has been established and there appears to be no connection between D.S. and the two victims. There are also many unanswered questions as to how the crime was committed. Media interest has been high. The two witnesses who supplied the information about D.S.'s vehicle will likely split the $9,000 reward. The park investigator was fully involved in the case, including two interviews with D.S. prior to the October 24th interview. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 10/27]
Facilities management specialist Keith Weiser, 50, died unexpectedly on October 31st. He is survived by his wife, M., son, B., and Daughter, J. Visitation will be tomorrow at the Hamilton Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, with cremation to follow. No additional details are yet available. [Debbie Hall, INDU, 11/3]
The park was notified of a spill of about 30 gallons of diesel fuel at a state highway department facility on December 22nd. The fuel entered a nearby ditch, then flowed into a stream which passes through the park and an adjacent state park before entering Lake Michigan. A multi-agency response was initiated. Booms, skimmers and sand dams were employed to contain and clean up the fuel. The cleanup effort continued for several days. Further investigation revealed a more extensive problem involving four points of discharge from businesses, including a combination junk yard and recycling plant and a truck repair facility. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is the lead agency in the investigation and is working on regulatory solutions. [Bob Daum, CRM, INDU, 1/9]
Additional reports on the effects of recent severe storms on parks have been received: Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - The park was struck by a major snow storm on Monday, March 9th. Heavy snow and high winds caused power and phone outages, the latter necessitating use of emergency generators for power at headquarters and the Bailly ranger station. A state of emergency was declared for the area late that morning, and the park put its emergency operations plan into effect. One reservation-of-use structure fell into Lake Michigan, as the sea wall failed due to high winds; the resident escaped with his pets and his pajamas. A second structure was also reported threatened. The park implemented "Operation Elder Care," a plan in which elderly reservation-of-use occupants are checked to verify their safety and determine if they need assistance. Reports from other parks that have also been significantly affected by these storms would be appreciated. [Jim Miculka, JELA, 3/10; John Townsend, MWRO, 3/10; Joni Jones, INDU, 3/10]
The park, which closed on March 9th when a major winter storm blanketed the south end of Lake Michigan, reopened on Friday, March 13th. The impacts of the storm were considerable. Park headquarters was without power or water for almost 72 hours, and numerous trees and power lines were toppled throughout the park. Snow drifts and high winds trapped most employees at home. Major highways adjacent to the park were shut down for more than 24 hours, and hundreds of motorists were stranded in their vehicles. The Indiana National Guard was called in to assist in unsnarling the resulting traffic gridlock on Interstate 80/94, which was more than 20 miles long. Massive power outages compounded problems by paralyzing the state's public safety communication network. The park's dispatch/communication center remained open with the help of emergency generators. Rangers made welfare checks on many of the park's elderly reservation-of-use occupants, who were cut off from the outside world. Maintenance crews worked overtime to ensure downed trees were removed and park roads were cleared of drifts. Following the storm, overnight temperatures fell to near zero; many of the park's buildings accordingly had to be winterized and secured until power could be restored. Gale force winds caused considerable erosion along the shore of Lake Michigan, and one occupied reservation-of-use home fell into the lake. At least three other reservation-of-use structures are in imminent peril of falling onto the beach. At the Port of Indiana, which is adjacent to the park, a tugboat and barge full scrap iron were sunk by high waves. Salvage crews have placed oil booms at the mouth of the port to contain the resulting fuel spill and prevent it from reaching park beaches. Media interest has been high, with most major networks and local radio and TV stations doing on-site stories at one time or another. It may take several weeks before the park can assess the full extent of the damage caused by downed trees on the trails, buildings and utility systems, but it appears that the park survived the "Blizzard of 98" in remarkably good condition. [Rich Littlefield, INDU, 3/13]
On September 21, 1997, T.W., 25, was arrested after a park ranger saw her enter a visitor's car and remove a purse containing about $74. T.W. had her four-year-old daughter with her at the time. There had been a series of thefts in the area prior to T.W.'s arrest, and investigation revealed that T.W. was cashing checks stolen in one of the other cases. A search warrant was obtained and executed at her residence, which is about a five minute walk from the location of the thefts, but nothing linking her to the other thefts was found. Drug paraphernalia and residue were found, however, and were turned over to the county drug unit, since the house is outside park jurisdiction. T.W. subsequently pled guilty to the original misdemeanor theft charge. She was sentenced to six months in federal prison and a year's supervised probation after release. The judged based his decision on a number of considerations - her prior theft conviction record, that she had her young daughter with her when she committed both this offense and another one, that she was on probation from a local court at the time, and that she was involved in a retail theft during the pre-sentencing investigation period. T.W. was immediately remanded to the custody of U.S. marshals to begin her sentence. Upon release from federal custody, T.W. faces a probation revocation in local court of a suspended four-year state prison sentence. The assistant U.S. attorney who worked on the case noted that it was unusual for the presiding magistrate judge to immediately begin an incarceration in a case like this. The magistrate twice remarked on the fact that T.W. had her daughter with her while committing crimes. Rangers and an investigator worked closely with four local police agencies, child welfare, and local and federal probation officers on the case. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 3/31]
Ranger Steve Chorba came upon a vehicle stuck in sand in the West Beach area of the park on April 20th. Chorba asked the driver, J.B., 20, and his female passenger to get out of the vehicle. The woman complied, but J.B. locked the doors, refused to get out, and began to rip apart the car's interior. The woman told Chorba that J.B. had been injecting drugs and talking about killing himself; he had also told her that he believed there were listening devices in the car and that she was wearing one. She was unsure if there were any weapons in the vehicle. Chorba called for backup. Rangers and local police responded, then all approached J.B.'s vehicle. They could see a syringe needle still in J.B.'s arm, and learned from the woman that he had talked about injecting air into his veins to cause his death. J.B. still refused to open the car doors or get out. A negotiator was requested from the local police. J.B. then began to put various items, including floor mats, against the windows to block officer's vision of the car interior. Fearing that J.B. might harm himself or find a weapon in the car, Chorba broke a window and a local officer sprayed J.B. with pepper mace. After several minutes and a second dose of pepper mace, they were able to remove J.B. from the car. He was taken to a hospital, where he tested positive for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. J.B. was treated and released later that day. A small amount of suspected cocaine was found in the car. Charges are pending against J.B. His female companion was released and not charged. Rangers are encountering more serious drugs in the park more frequently. Earlier this month, individuals were found in possession of what is believed to be opium and psilocybin. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 4/23]
S.A., 33, of Chicago, was reported missing in the waters of Lake Michigan north of the Beverly Shores Pavilion on the afternoon of July 1st. Although nearby guarded waters had been either closed or restricted to waist- deep wading due to rip current conditions, S.A. had gone swimming with his wife and four young children. His wife and one young son began having trouble in the water, and the current separated the boy from his mother. She was able to reach shore, and S.A. attempted to swim out and assist his son. A couple on the beach also entered the water and rescued the boy, but S.A. disappeared under the water. A search was begun which employed over 40 rescuers from numerous organizations, including the park. His body was recovered by a diver 100 yards from shore late that evening. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 7/2]
A visitor found the body of H.L., 75, of Chesterton, Indiana, at Lakeview Beach on the morning of June 29th. He had a single gunshot wound in his temple; a revolver which he owned was in his right hand. He'd been reported missing earlier that morning. H.L. was despondent about his health, and left personal papers with disposition instructions where his wife would find them. H.L.'s vehicle was found parked nearby. A large, plastic drop cloth covered the entire front seat, indicating that he had planned to commit suicide in the car. Criminal investigator Joe Wieszczyk led the investigation. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 7/2]
The park suffered a series of 15 car clouts at the end of July and in early August, including six on August 14th. An MO was deciphered; this lead to a stakeout with a government vehicle as bait. Early on the afternoon of August 25th, the third day of the stakeout, three thefts occurred which matched the MO, but none at the surveillance location. Then, just before 5 p.m., ranger David Van Nest saw two juvenile males break a window on the government vehicle and remove a purse containing $1,100 in marked bills. The two juveniles went into the woods to look through the purse, stopping at a point just 15 feet from the ranger, who was in camouflage. They saw a pack belonging to Van Nest and rifled through it, taking $16 from his wallet. Rangers arrested them. The stolen property was recovered from their car, where rangers also found a bag taken in another theft that had occurred earlier that day. The juveniles, aged 16 and 17, were interviewed with their parents present. They admitted to these thefts and others that had occurred in the park and in beach parking lots in nearby communities. The case has been referred to the local juvenile court. One of the two has a prior arrest for theft and was on probation at the time he was arrested. The investigation continues. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 9/2]
On June 23, 1995, A.F., 19, was arrested by rangers for fleeing after being observed speeding. A stolen and loaded handgun was found in his vehicle. A.F. was issued mandatory citations for possession of a firearm, failure to have a state permit, and resisting arrest. He failed to appear in court, was arrested by U.S. marshals and paid $800 in fines. A county prosecutor charged A.F. with a felony for receiving and retaining stolen property. The case went to jury trial on September 15th and A.F. was found guilty. His defense was that he was so drunk when he waived his rights and made incriminating statements that the statements should not be used against him. His attorney also claimed that the case against A.F. was suspect because the person who stole the gun had not been identified. Ranger Rich Eshenaur and investigator Joe Wieszczyk testified for the government. This was the first felony case brought by the park to a local court. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 9/18]
The new Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center was opened on October 9th. The hands-on residential camp, which is operated in partnership with a non-profit community organization, will initially be targeted at fourth through sixth grade students. The new buildings and facilities were constructed by park staff on the site of the former Camp Good Fellow, which was once operated by U.S. Steel for children of its employees. Between 250 and 300 former campers gathered at the site on October 10th for a reunion and scholarship fund-raising event for the new center. [Al Nash, INDU, 10/13]
On November 18th, a federal grand jury indicted three individuals for criminal acts committed in the park during the past several months. D.C., 19, and M.K., 24, both of Chicago, were indicted on two assault counts each. The indictments stem from a rock-throwing incident last summer which left one victim in serious condition. Each man faces a 20-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $500,000. M.K. has a significant criminal history record, including a dozen arrests for assault, weapons violations and drugs. Ranger Kevin Grossheim handled the case, with assistance provided by the park's investigator. J.H., 18, of Michigan City, was indicted on eight counts - five counts of burglary and one each of malicious destruction of property, making false statements to investigators, and theft. J.H. was arrested on November 6th for break-ins into NPS-owned houses which are currently occupied by private citizens under leases or special use permits. J.H. faces 34 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Rangers Steve Chorba and Rich Eshenaur made the arrest; additional assistance was provided by the park investigator. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 11/20]
The major winter storm which struck the Midwest over the past weekend led to the issuance of an area snow emergency on Saturday, January 2nd, during which all non-essential travel was banned. The park was accordingly closed. Maintenance employees worked to keep public and park roads cleared, and rangers activated the park's "Eldercare" health and welfare check of the area's senior residents. By the time the storm subsided on Sunday, 13 inches of fresh snow had fallen at park headquarters. Bitter cold and high winds then descended on the area, with a low temperature of 19 below zero recorded overnight on Monday. Despite blowing and drifting snow, parking lots and facilities in the park's East Unit were reopened by Sunday afternoon. Most West Unit lots were cleared of snow by Monday. The snow emergency was lifted at 10 a.m. on January 5th, permitting non-emergency park employees to return to work. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Specialist, INDU, 1/6]
On November 6, 1998, J.H., 18, of Michigan City, was arrested for a series of break-ins into NPS-owned houses which are currently occupied by private citizens under leases or special use permits. He was subsequently indicted on eight counts - five counts of burglary and one each of malicious destruction of property, making false statements to investigators, and theft. J.H. plead guilty to all eight counts. On April 14th, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by three years' supervised probation, ordered to pay an $800 special assessment, and required to pay $13,217.56 in restitution to the victims. J.H.'s attorney tried to argue that the sentencing guideline for trespass should be used instead of the guideline for burglary, which would have resulted in less prison time. The district court judge rejected the argument that J.H. broke into the homes for shelter and had no intent to commit the further crimes of vandalism and theft. [R. Littlefield, CR, INDU, 4/16]
Ranger Kevin Grossheim responded to a loud verbal dispute between neighbors living in park owned reservation-of-use homes on May 3rd. Grossheim separated the disputing parties and determined that the argument had evolved from one neighbor's dog biting the other neighbor's dog sometime in the past. Grossheim was in the process of interviewing the owner of the alleged attacking dog when the neighbor came out of her house and stated that she had just accidentally taken a 500 milligram tablet of K9 Cephalexin which had been prescribed for her injured dog. Grossheim contacted the woman's doctor and the animal clinic that prescribed the medication and was advised the Cephalexin would not cause any harm. The woman said that she took the medication by mistake because she was so stressed out over the incident. Grossheim suggested that both parties pursue alternative means for resolving their dispute. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 5/19]
The park sponsored a region-wide water safety expo on Friday, May 28th, in a concerted effort to promote water safety awareness and reduce or eliminate fatalities this summer. More than 20 public safety agencies from Chicago and northwest Indiana participated with displays, educational exhibits, and demonstrations. The Memorial Day weekend kick-off event at the park's West Beach was attended by 800 school children, 150 parents and teachers, and 600 visitors. [Al Nash, PAO, INDU, 6/7]
On March 19th, M.K., 24, of Chicago plead guilty to charges stemming from an assault that occurred on June 6, 1998. During an altercation, M.K. threw a rock which struck M.J. in the head, causing a concussion. In a plea agreement, M.K. plead guilty in federal district court to one count of criminal recklessness, a felony under an assimilated state charge. He had originally faced two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. On June 9th, M.K. was sentenced to two years' supervised probation, ordered to immediately pay restitution of $1,056 to M.J., and also required to pay a $500 fine and a $100 special court assessment. Charges against a second defendant, D.C., 20, also of Chicago, were dismissed after M.K. supplied information clearing D.C. of any involvement in the assault. The judge did not send M.K. to prison because he admitted to the crime and is the sole support for his elderly grandmother. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 6/16]
Rangers began a surveillance/bait car operation in May in response to a number of car clouts at various beach parking lots. On May 19th, ranger Bill Tadych saw C.M., 18, look into the bait car and a visitor's car parked nearby. C.M. went to a second visitor's car on the other side of the lot, looked into it, broke the driver's window by throwing a piece of spark plug ceramic against the window, then hit the inside trunk release and took a cloth bag out of the trunk. When he realized the bag held nothing of value, he threw it into the nearby vegetation. Tadych captured part of this activity on video tape. As C.M. was attempting to drive out of the lot, he was confronted by ranger Fred Grish, who had responded to Tadych's call for assistance. C.M. eluded the rangers and fled the area. Rangers Larry Smith and Tammi Severin had also responded and joined in the pursuit, which covered five miles and at one point reach 75 mph. C.M. was finally stopped at a road block by Grish and arrested. He was charged under 18 USC 1363, damage to personal property, and a state assimilated statute regarding flight from law enforcement officers. Pieces of spark plug ceramic were recovered from five previous thefts, but efforts to link C.M. to those cases have not yet been made. Since the arrest, the number of car clouts in the park has decreased greatly. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 6/18]
On June 11th, rangers Bill Tadych and Gordie Zwick saw four young men walking through the West Beach parking lot and occasionally ducking down behind cars. One subsequently entered an unlocked car twice and removed a portable CD player, adapter cords and 14 CDs. He gave some of the items to each of his three friends, who put them inside their baggy swim trunks. Tadych and Zwick attempted to contact them, but they fled from the area. Tadych saw them talking to other young people on the beach before he lost sight of them, however, and obtained the boys' names from their friends. All attend a local high school. Tadych arranged to interview three of the juveniles with their parents present. They admitted to the theft, with each putting much of the blame on the others. The fourth juvenile, who was identified by his friends as the one who entered the car and removed the items, is known to the county juvenile department. The case was referred to the local juvenile department for further action. This latest case brings to eleven the number of car clouters who have been identified and referred to either the federal court or local juvenile authorities over the last three years. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 7/13]
On July 10th, nearly 1,200 people took advantage of the first chance in six decades to tour four unique, historic homes located in the park. The homes, which were originally constructed for display at the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition of 1933-1934, employed new techniques, revolutionary materials, and ultramodern appliances. After the exposition, they were transported by barge across Lake Michigan to northwest Indiana, where they were sold as private homes. They were acquired by the NPS in the early 1970s; residents were allowed the right of use and occupancy until the 1990s. The open house featured The Florida Tropical House, which is currently under restoration through a unique leasing program overseen by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana through a cooperative agreement with the NPS. Visitors were able to walk through three other homes that are also available for restoration and residency under this leasing program. [Al Nash, PAO, INDU, 7/14]
On July 21st, L.K., 34, was reported missing from her home in Valparaiso by her husband. The L.K.'s house had previously been burglarized and threatening notes had been left in the house; Lorraine L.K.'s vehicle was also missing. The vehicle was found burning in a corn field a few days later, but there was no sign of L.K.. D.M., one of L.K.'s co-workers, was identified as a suspect and arrested after items taken in the burglary were found in his home. D.M. admitted to the burglary, the notes, and the theft and burning of the vehicle, but denied any knowledge of or involvement with her disappearance. Investigators learned that D.M. was familiar with the park and had been at one of the park beaches a few hours before his arrest. They therefore asked for help in searching a part of the park. On several occasions, as many as a dozen park employees from several divisions aided in the multi-agency effort to find L.K.. Search dogs and helicopters with infrared equipment were also employed. L.K. had not been located at the time of the report, but D.M. had been indicted for homicide. Media interest in the search of the park was intense, with all major television stations from Chicago on scene. The park continues to aid in the search effort. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 8/10]
On June 6th, park criminal investigator Joe Wiesczcyk learned of an investigation by an EPA special agent of a local sewage treatment plant which was illegally accepting industrial waste. Because the discharge from the plant eventually flows into the park, the NPS became actively involved in the case. On August 5th, Wiesczcyk and regional special agent Guy Whitmer joined EPA agents in serving a search warrant at the plant. While serving the warrant, a 6,000-gallon truck attempted to off-load industrial waste at the plant. The driver was interviewed and samples were taken of the tanker load. The investigation continues. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 8/10]
On August 4th, a one-count charge of possession of a firearm after conviction of a misdemeanor domestic violence crime (18 USC 922(g)(9)) was filed in federal court against A.M., 29, of Michigan City. The charge stemmed from an investigation begun in August, 1997. A.M. had left his vehicle at a lakeshore parking lot, where it was later found vandalized by ranger Bill Tadych. A.M. could not be contacted, so Tadych had the vehicle impounded for safe keeping. During an inventory of the vehicle, Tadych found a loaded 9mm pistol, and subsequently found that A.M. had been convicted of battery against his wife in 1996. He also had a criminal recklessness conviction for holding a firearm to another person's head during an altercation outside a bar. Tadych was assisted by the park investigator, who traced the sale of the pistol to A.M. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 8/11]
Over 9,000 people attended the 22nd annual Duneland Harvest Festival on September 18th and 19th. The event featured crafts, demonstrations and performances celebrating the region's past. The festival, held at the Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead, is the major annual fundraising event for park partner Friends of Indiana Dunes. [Al Nash, PAO, INDU, 9/22]
On September 16th, D.F., 29, of Cape Coral, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of assaulting federal officers and two misdemeanor counts of assaulting children under 16 years of age. The indictments stemmed from an incident that occurred in the park on July 16, 1998. Rangers Melanie Brunet and Joni Jones responded that day to a report of a naked woman on Mount Baldy Beach. They saw the nude D.F. committing obscene acts, using obscene language and accosting park visitors. She resisted arrest, spitting on the rangers. EMS personnel were summoned, as it was believed that D.F. might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. D.F. continued to struggle and tried to spit on the medics. Her mouth was covered with a towel and she was taken to a local hospital. She was released the next day and subsequently left the area. During the follow-up investigation, Brunet and Jones learned that D.F. had approached a family, intentionally thrown sand into the face of a five-month-old infant, and pinched a two-and-a-half-year-old child. An attempt to subpoena D.F.'s hospital record is being resisted by the hospital. D.F. was found in Florida by the park's criminal investigator. A plea and voluntary appearance agreement with D.F. and her attorney broke down, which led to the indictments. Jones testified before the grand jury. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 10/4]
Park volunteer Christine Kostel, 70, was killed in an auto accident on October 27th. Kostel was a long-time volunteer at the park and an active member and former president of the Friends of Indiana Dunes. Details on a November 6th memorial service are pending. [Al Nash, INDU, 10/29]
Ranger M.B. was on duty and turning her park vehicle into her residence around 10:30 p.m. on November 5th when her car was struck from behind by another vehicle. M.B. suffered head and neck injuries and was taken by ambulance to Porter Memorial Hospital. She was treated and released and will return to work today. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 11/8-9]
On November 17th, C.M. of Beverly Shores, Indiana, pled guilty in magistrate's court to state misdemeanor charges of fleeing from park rangers and damage to property. He was also required to make a restitution payment to the victim of the auto break-in for which he was arrested on May 19th. C.M. was arrested by rangers after he was seen breaking a car's window to gain access to the inside trunk release. He then removed a bag from the trunk, but quickly discarded it when he found nothing of value inside. When confronted by rangers, C.M. fled the area and had to be pursued and stopped. He will be sentenced on February 11th. [R. Littlefield, CR, INDU, 11/30]
On the evening of February 18th, three men broke into a park-owned reservation of use home, assaulted the three occupants, tied them up, and covered their heads with blankets. Two of the victims, J.L. and D.L. (father and son), were beaten and threatened with objects held against them that could have been knives and guns. The assailants demanded money and were given about $80 by the son. The threats and demand for money continued while the house was ransacked. D.L.'s wife, who is six months pregnant, was threatened but not physically assaulted. J.L. offered to take the men to his nearby home, also a park-owned house, where he gave one of the men an additional $100. That house was also ransacked. The couple's wedding rings and the woman's engagement ring were also stolen. The victims were left bound with tape over their mouths. After the suspects fled, J.L. was able to summon help. No rangers were on duty, but local police responded and unsuccessfully searched for the suspects. The victims never got a good look at their assailants and could not provide descriptions. D.L. suffered minor cuts and bruises; J.L. has been admitted to a local hospital for broken ribs and a partial lung collapse. Local law enforcement detectives are investigating the incident with assistance from the park's criminal investigator. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 2/23]
Park employee Michael Williams, 48, passed away on February 21st. He started in the NPS as a seasonal ranger in 1986 and joined the permanent ranks as a maintenance worker in 1990. Mike was the recipient of several special achievement awards and served as a member of the park's fire team during his 14-year career at the park. Funeral services were held on February 28th in Gary, Indiana. The Marine Corps veteran is survived by his wife, Gloria, his parents, and six children. [Al Nash, INDU, 2/28]
Last November, chief of resource management Bob Daum noted recent vegetation cutting on park property adjacent to I-94, which is a major east-west route around the south end of Lake Michigan. The vegetation had apparently been cut to increase the visibility of a large billboard. The park investigator identified the owner as Lamar Advertising, one of the nation's largest outdoor advertising firms, and arranged a meeting between the company and park staff. Lamar officials admitted cutting the vegetation. Because the property was not well marked, no charges will be filed. The company offered to provide free billboard space to the park for the summer season, from May 1st to August 31st. The likely subject of the advertising will be water safety. The park's public affairs specialist will work directly with the company on details. The value of the free advertising space exceeds any restitution that might have been recovered, considering the type and amount of vegetation damaged. The company will also likely remove or relocate the sign to prevent similar problems in the future. [R. Littlefield, CR, INDU, 3/3]
On the morning of April 2nd, a resident from Ogden Dune reported what appeared to be oil on the beach and a light oil sheen on the water. The park notified the Coast Guard, Indiana DNR, and the Porter County hazmat team, all of which responded. The extent and source of the oil-like material was not known at the time of the report. Park resource managers and rangers are continuing to monitor park beaches to determine the movement of the substance. FMO Dave Allen is IC. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 4/3]
Over 4,000 students, teachers and chaperones attended the park's second annual water safety expo on Friday, May 26th. Numerous agencies and organizations from Chicago, northwest Indiana and Michigan took part in the event, which was held at West Beach on Lake Michigan. Demonstrations and exhibits stressed a variety of water safety and water quality issues. The highlight was a simulated water rescue performed by a Coast Guard helicopter team. The expo was preceded by a Thursday night beach party that featured live music and recognition of the winners of a water safety essay contest. The award-winning expo is a partnership among the park, the Gary Post-Tribune, McDonald's franchisee Restaurant Management Corporation, and the local outlet of the Chicago-based retailer Carson Pirie Scott. [Al Nash, INDU, 5/31]
Fugitives R.H. and J.W. (who murdered Gulf Islands NS ranger Bob McGhee in 1990) engaged local police in a gun battle in Indiana yesterday. A deputy sheriff in Lake County spotted the van on I-65 at 2:15 a.m. It was doing 75 mph in a 55 mph speed zone, so he pursued, not knowing that the two escaped felons were within it. The driver pulled the van off the road of his own accord and the deputy pulled up behind it. As he approached, the driver leveled a double-barreled shotgun at him and fired both barrels. The deputy was able to duck down and was not hit. A pursuit ensued, first north and then south on the interstate. During the chase, J.W. and R.H. fired numerous rounds at pursuing officers. Stop-sticks were employed which deflated two tires on the van. The driver pulled off the interstate, pulled into a truck stop, and engaged in a shootout with officers. The two men then fled into nearby fields. A helicopter with infrared detection equipment and tracking dogs were utilized in the search, but without success. Approximately 40 officers from various agencies searched area homes, farms and woods, but found no signs of the two men. The recovered van is being processed for evidence. The van had eleven bullet holes in it and a small amount of blood was found in the parking lot. Investigators believe that one of the two men was wounded. The van, which was brown, had been spray painted blue. Several shotguns and handguns were recovered from the vehicle, but the two men are likely to still have handguns in their possession. Food and other items found in the van indicate J.W. and R.H. were living in it. J.W. has been identified as the person who tried to shoot the deputy. Indiana Dunes NL sent four rangers to assist in the search and a special agent to act as agency liaison at the command post (the incident occurred about 30 miles southwest of the park). The search was called off about 12 hours after the incident, as it appeared that the two men had stolen another vehicle and left the area. Yesterday evening, two men matching their description walked into a market in Hebron, Indiana, and bought some food. They left in a brown, late-model Buick, heading south on Indiana Route 2. One of the employees of the market got the license plate, Indiana 478-M28, which was stolen a year-and-a-half ago from a dealership in Merrillville. The men were wearing new clothes - R.H. was dressed in a forest green T-shirt, jeans, and light blue Air Walk shoes; J.W. was wearing a dark baseball cap, white T-shirt, and blue jeans. The search continues. [R. Littlefield, CR, INDU, 6/14; The Valparaiso Times, 6/15]
Maintenance mechanic supervisor Dwight Lange, 49, passed away on June 23rd. Dwight, who hailed from Superior, Wisconsin, had worked for the government for 27 years; he joined the Service at Padre Island NS in 1984 and had worked at Indiana Dunes for the past ten years. He was Midwest Region's maintenance employee of the year in 1998. A memorial service will be held on June 28th at the Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home in Chesterton, Indiana. Dwight is survived by his wife, Cathleen, his mother, Lillian, and several siblings, children, grandchildren, and many close friends and co-workers. Memorial donations should be sent to the Indiana Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 921 East 86th Street, Suite 205, Indianapolis, IN 46240. [Al Nash, INDU, 6/26]
A resource management employee on fire patrol on August 20th noted damage to park property adjacent to railroad tracks that pass through the park. The area involved is habitat for the federally-listed endangered Karner Blue butterfly. Cable-laying work under contract by the railroad damaged or destroyed the lupine plants that are the sole source of food for the larval stage of the butterfly. Resource management and protection staff returned to the site the following day and contacted the crew doing the work . They confirmed that the crew was responsible for the damage and ordered them to stop work. FWS biologists and special agents were contacted. FWS was aware of the project and had informed the involved parties of the sensitive nature of the area. An environmental consulting firm hired by the railroad had provided the contractor with a map identifying the location of the lupine plants. It appears that the contractor changed the method employed for laying cable, which resulted in the damage. The case is being jointly investigated by the park and FWS. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 8/24]
On the morning of October 29th, D.B., 21, of Gary, Indiana, was found stabbed and shot to death on Maple Avenue east of County Line Road in the park. According to investigators, D.B., who was blind, apparently had been a passenger in a car and became involved in a dispute with the driver over drugs. The argument began in Gary, but continued in the park. D.B. shot the driver, a 20-year-old Gary man, around 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. The wounded driver apparently stabbed D.B. several times, then used D.B.'s own gun to shoot him. D.B.'s body was then left in the park on a dead end street. Later that morning, a Gary police officer saw a man driving a car and stopped it because it had blood visible inside and on the windows. The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment, then taken to the Gary city jail. The driver reported that he had received his wounds in an argument with D.B. Police looked for D.B. in several wooded areas based on information provided during the investigation. On Sunday, a park resident found D.B.'s body within the right-of-way of a city road within the park. While the road is within the park's boundary, the NPS does not have jurisdiction on the road itself. The case will be handled by local jurisdictions with assistance from the FBI. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 10/31]
On November 13th, S.M., 20, of Gary, Indiana, had his initial appearance in state court for the murder of D.B., 21, also of Gary. S.M. is charged with stabbing D.B. 22 times, then shooting him in the head with a handgun. In a statement, S.M. said he and D.B. had been selling cocaine throughout the night of October 28th. Some time after 8 a.m. the following morning, S.M. was driving D.B. to his girlfriend's house. S.M. said that he was afraid D.B. was trying to lure him elsewhere to kill him. An argument ensued and S.M. was shot during a struggle. He then killed D.B. S.M. was arrested after blood, a gun, a knife, and cocaine were found in his car. A Gary police officer had stopped him when he saw blood on the outside of his car. Although D.B. was blind and had two glass eyes, he was known to carry a handgun, and, incredibly, had a permit from the state to carry it. D.B. was found on the side of a road within the park, but Indiana Dunes does not have jurisdiction on the road or the associated right-of-way. Rangers assisted with the initial crime scene investigation. [Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 11/15]
Rangers were summoned to a hospital in Gary to take a rape report on November 18th. Two men had sexually assaulted a woman, struck her with a wooden, bat-like weapon, and taken $300 from her. A third man was present and drove the car used by the trio, but did not participate in the assault. Initial information on the site of the incident was sketchy, but later was pinned down to a former residence in the park. An FBI agent and the park's special agent are investigating; an assistant U.S. attorney has also been assigned to the case. [Richard Littlefield, CR, INDU, 12/21]
The body of a 40-year-old man believed to be from Gary, Indiana, was found on the side of the road within the park on the evening of July 23rd. He had been shot several times, probably at the spot where he was found. He was wanted on a federal warrant in connection with an ATF firearms investigation, but its not yet known whether his death was linked to the investigation. Rangers assisted with the crime scene, then returned the following morning to assist with a second search for evidence. Shell casings were found at that time. There are no suspects in the murder. Although the road is located within the park and the park has concurrent jurisdiction, that jurisdiction is limited to lands owned in title by the government. Since the government doesn't own the lands beneath the road or the associated shoulders, the case is being investigated by local and county police departments. This is the first homicide in the eastern portion of the park in 20 years. [J.D. Swed, CR, INDU, 7/26]
On Monday, August 13th, K.S., 19, of Niles, Illinois, drowned off Porter Beach in the park. K.S. was on a camping trip to Indiana Dunes State Park with a group of 35 people from the Downers Grove church. Waters at the state park were closed to swimming early that morning due to high waves and a rip current. K.S., his brother and a friend went swimming off of unguarded Porter Beach west of the state park in the afternoon. K.S. and his friend were caught in a rip current and pulled out into the lake. K.S.'s friend was barely able to make it back to shore. When he got to land, he called for help. State park lifeguards, assisted by others on the beach, began a water search and found K.S. underwater at the buoy line. He'd been underwater for about five to ten minutes by that time. CPR was begun and he was taken to Porter Memorial Hospital and placed on a ventilator. Around 7 p.m., doctors pronounced him dead. [Joseph Wieszczyk, INDU, 8/14]
R.L., 23, of Palatine, Illinois, was issued a mandatory court appearance citation last November 3rd by ranger Bill Tadych for off-road vehicle use in the West Beach area that caused considerable resource damage. R.L. and his brother had driven off-road over several acres; since most plants were in their dormant state, however, the long-term damage was minimal. Resource management staff worked up a damage assessment and placed the cost of restoration at $480. On March 15th, R.L. appeared in magistrate's court and agreed to immediately pay the restitution to the park. He also volunteered an additional $100 donation, which was accepted. The citation was dismissed. The $480 will go into the park's resource restoration account, and the $100 will go into a general donation account. [J.D. Swed, CR, INDU, 3/20]
D.B., 22, of Union Mills, Indiana, was issued citations on two separate occasions in 2000 for possession of marijuana, gift of alcohol to minors, and contributing to the delinquency of minors. D.B. failed to pay the fines or appear in court on the two mandatory citations. After further investigation by the park's special agent, D.B. was indicted and pled guilty to a charge of misdemeanor possession of marijuana under 21 USC. D.B. was fined $1,000 and placed on supervised probation for two years. He also paid $250 in fines on two of the prior citations. At the time of sentencing, the federal magistrate expressed his reluctance to place D.B. on probation, as he has a prior drug conviction in state court. The magistrate told D.B.: "There is a bed waiting for you at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago if you violate your probation." But D.B. nonetheless violated numerous probation conditions, including several positive drug tests. On April 25th, D.B.'s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to six months of federal confinement followed by a year of probation. He was immediately placed in the custody of US marshals and transported to the federal correctional center in Chicago. [Joni Jones, ACR, INDU, 4/29]
On the morning of February 9, a park visitor walking the trail at
Inland Marsh came upon the body of a 59-year-old man from Portage,
Indiana. Initial investigation indicates that he died from a single,
self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found next to him; the
weapon's box and a purchase receipt dated January 31 were found in his
vehicle, which was in the trail parking lot. Rangers provided on-scene
assistance for local police, who are handling the investigation.
On May 16th, R.L., 30, of Bridgeman, Michigan, pled
guilty in magistrate's court to unauthorized taking of wildlife (deer),
use of a firearm, feeding wildlife, and destruction of plants. He was
fined a total of $3,250, banned from the park for five years, and
ordered to forfeit a "deer cam" camouflaged camera to the government.
Last November, rangers found two locations where deer were being baited
with corn. Also found were empty corn bags, folding chairs, a hunting
blind constructed from nearby small trees, and evidence that a vacant,
park-owned house in a nearby isolated location was being used as a
second hunting site. Surveillance of the site led to the identification
of a suspicious vehicle registered to R.L. Of special note was the
discovery of a motion activated "deer cam" located along a deer trail
leading to one of the feeding sites. The film from the camera was
removed and replaced and the camera was returned to its prior location.
Photos of deer and a rear view picture of a man were on the film.
R.L. was found to have two convictions in Michigan for destruction
of plants and trees and illegal taking of an antlerless deer. He was
contacted by case ranger Rich Eshenaur and agreed to come in for an
interview. Eshenaur was able to obtain a full, taped confession to the
noted violations. R.L. was also charged with littering and
trespassing for entering the posted, vacant house. The latter two
charges were dismissed in a plea agreement between the US Attorney's
Office and R.L.'s attorney. During the interview, R.L. said he
set up a second deer cam as counter-surveillance, as he knew rangers had
been at his hunting sites. R.L. later claimed that this second
camera was stolen. He said that he was fined $1,000 for poaching the
deer in Michigan and that he didn't think it was much of a fine. The
latter two statements by R.L. were used to request the fines levied
in this case, which are the highest fines ever received in a poaching
case at Indiana Dunes. A Lacey Act violation and search warrant were
considered in this case, but various issues precluded such action.
Several other rangers assisted with the case; special agents assisted in
the interview and case presentation to the US Attorney's Office.
J.B., 44, of Chicago, drowned after jumping from a boat
during an outing with two friends on Lake Michigan on Wednesday,
September 3rd. J.B. and friends D.C. and B.C. were
swimming off Bailly Beach when J.B. became fatigued while about 100
yards offshore. It appears that J.B. may have stepped off a sandbar
and into a lakeward current created by a power station outwash. The
C.s tried to rescue J.B. and even managed to grab hold of him
at one point, but became exhausted themselves and lost their grip.
J.B. then sank to the bottom. The C.s returned to the boat and
called 911. A multi-jurisdictional search was begun, employing emergency
medical personnel, divers, and rescuers on ATV's, PWC's, boats and
helicopters. Participating agencies included the NPS, Coast Guard,
Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Porter, Portage, Ogden Dunes,
Crown Point and Burns Harbor police and fire departments, Porter
Memorial Hospital, and the Lake and Porter County sheriff's departments.
J.B.'s body was found about two hours later in 10 to 15 feet of water
just west of where he was last seen. The park's jurisdiction extends 300
feet into Lake Michigan, so the incident was within NPS jurisdiction.
On September 5th, M.C., 19, of Portage, and T.L., 20,
of Valparaiso each pled guilty in US District Court to felony conspiracy
in connection with the theft of two park-owned ATVs. On the evening of
October 21, 2002, T.L. got his girlfriend's van stuck after he drove
into a park area at West Beach. Unable to free the van, T.L. and
M.C., his passenger, entered a locked and fenced vehicle storage area
where they started two six-wheel ATVs, then drove them from the area.
M.C. returned to the service area the next day to check on the van. He
was contacted by rangers and special agents who were investigating the
thefts. M.C. admitted being in the area the previous night and said
that T.L. stole both ATVs. T.L. was interviewed and said M.C. stole
both ATVs. T.L. took an agent to a spot where one of the ATVs was found
stuck in a marsh. A few days later, T.L. contacted the park with
information about the second ATV, which was found at the home of a
friend of M.C.. The friend said that M.C. had brought the ATV to his
house and said that he had purchased it. This ATV was found stuck
against a tree in a ravine. Shoe impression evidence linked both M.C.
and T.L. to the thefts. Each man was indicted on two counts of theft
and one count of conspiracy. In a plea agreement, both pled guilty to
the conspiracy charge and the theft charges were dismissed. They will be
sentenced in December. Restitution for $1,500 in damages to the ATVs is
part of the sentencing. Rangers and agents worked cooperatively on this
case.
The last of three defendants in a robbery case previously reported in
these pages pled guilty in Federal district court on September 26th.
Last October, F.C., who is blind and has glass eyes, was
befriended by J.H., 20, and R.P., 21, both of LaPorte,
Indiana. They had just met F.C. and offered him a ride home. The trio
spent some time riding around in J.H.'s van. F.C. bought J.H. and
R.P. beer in return for the ride. R.P. helped F.C. buy the beer and
saw that F.C. had a "roll of money." There was talk about purchasing
and sharing drugs, with F.C. going so far as to buy syringes for that
purpose. J.H. and R.P. took F.C. to the home of C.L., 26,
of Michigan City, Indiana, supposedly to purchase drugs. Instead,
J.H., R.P. and C.L. agreed to take F.C. to a "country road" and
take his money. R.P. drove the group to the Mount Baldy parking lot in
the park. J.H., C.L. and F.C. got out of the van, after which
J.H. hit F.C. in the head from behind with a PR-24 baton. F.C.
tried to get back into the van, but C.L. pulled him out and onto the
ground. F.C. was struck several more times with the baton while
trying to protect his money. Only after his left forearm was badly
broken did F.C. give up his money, about $750. J.H., R.P. and
C.L. fled from the scene, leaving F.C. bleeding and semi-conscious.
Over the next two days, they spent the money on motel rooms, alcohol and
marijuana. F.C. tried to get help by walking toward traffic sounds on
nearby US Highway 12. Due to his injuries and because his cane was taken
by the three men, he staggered into the woods bordering the parking lot,
got tangled in vegetation, fell down and could not get up. After about
an hour and a half, F.C. was found by rangers Steve Chorba and Gabe
Bell, who heard him yelling for help. Numerous rangers and two special
agents processed the crime scene and took statements from F.C., who
was treated for numerous lacerations and a fractured left arm. Over the
course of the next eight months, the three suspects were identified. Key
to the case were two store security tapes which showed R.P. and J.H.
with the victim when the beer and syringes were purchased and some motel
receipts in C.L.'s name. Each of the three suspects was indicted by a
federal grand jury on one count of robbery. Chorba and Bell arrested
J.H. and C.L.; R.P. was arrested by local police when he came to a
probation office just about the time an NPS agent was faxing a copy of
the warrant on R.P. to his probation officer. Each man faces up to 15
years in prison, with their actual sentences depending on the
pre-sentence investigations. Other agencies assisting were the LaPorte
City and Michigan City police departments, Indiana State Police crime
scene unit and lab, LaPorte County probation office and the HIDTA
investigative support office. After the final guilty plea, the assistant
U.S. attorney offered the following: "Sometimes you get one that makes
you feel good. We took some real thugs off the street."
In December, M.C., 19, of Portage, and T.L., 20, of
Valparaiso were sentenced in federal court for the theft of two
park-owned ATV's. T.L. was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and
three years' probation upon release and was ordered to pay restitution
to the park for damage done to the ATV's. T.L. has already been in
custody for five months; this time may be applied to his sentence.
M.C. was sentenced to three years' probation, but no prison time; he
was also fined $500 and ordered to pay restitution to the park. Both
pled guilty last September to felony conspiracy in connection with the
theft. The incident took place on the evening of October 21, 2002, when
T.L. got his girlfriend's van stuck after he drove into a park area at
West Beach. Unable to free the van, T.L. and M.C., his passenger,
entered a locked and fenced vehicle storage area where they started two
six-wheel ATVs, then drove them from the area. M.C. returned to the
service area the next day to check on the van. He was contacted by
rangers and special agents who were investigating the thefts. M.C.
admitted being in the area the previous night and said that T.L. stole
both ATVs. T.L. was interviewed and said M.C. stole both ATVs. T.L.
took an agent to a spot where one of the ATVs was found stuck in a
marsh. A few days later, T.L. contacted the park with information about
the second ATV, which was found at the home of a friend of M.C.. The
friend said that M.C. had brought the ATV to his house and said that
he had purchased it. This ATV was found stuck against a tree in a
ravine. Shoe impression evidence linked both M.C. and T.L. to the
thefts. Each man was indicted on two counts of theft and one count of
conspiracy. In a plea agreement, both pled guilty to the conspiracy
charge and the theft charges were dismissed.
The last of three defendants in a robbery case previously reported in
these pages was sentenced in federal court on January 9th. R.P. was
sentenced to 87 months in prison and two years' probation upon release
and ordered to pay $750 in restitution to the victim and a $100 court
assessment. In October, 2002, F.C., who is blind and has
glass eyes, was befriended by R.P. and J.H. They had just met
F.C. and offered him a ride home. The trio spent some time riding
around in J.H.'s van. F.C. bought J.H. and R.P. beer in return
for the ride. R.P. helped F.C. buy the beer and saw that F.C. had
a "roll of money." There was talk about purchasing and sharing drugs,
with F.C. going so far as to buy syringes for that purpose. J.H.
and R.P. took F.C. to the home of C.L., 26, of Michigan
City, Indiana, supposedly to purchase drugs. Instead, J.H., R.P. and
C.L. agreed to take F.C. to a "country road" and take his money.
R.P. drove the group to the Mount Baldy parking lot in the park.
J.H., C.L. and F.C. got out of the van, after which J.H. hit
F.C. in the head from behind with a PR-24 baton. F.C. tried to get
back into the van, but C.L. pulled him out and onto the ground.
F.C. was struck several more times with the baton while trying to
protect his money. Only after his left forearm was badly broken did
F.C. give up his money, about $750. J.H., R.P. and C.L. fled
from the scene, leaving F.C. bleeding and semi-conscious. Over the
next two days, they spent the money on motel rooms, alcohol and
marijuana. F.C. tried to get help by walking toward traffic sounds on
nearby US Highway 12. Due to his injuries and because his cane was taken
by the three men, he staggered into the woods bordering the parking lot,
got tangled in vegetation, fell down and could not get up. After about
an hour and a half, F.C. was found by rangers Steve Chorba and Gabe
Bell, who heard him yelling for help. An investigation ensued which led
to the arrest of the three men and their subsequent conviction. During
R.P.'s sentencing hearing, his attorney argued for a sentence reduction
because R.P. did not assault F.C. and did not take his money. The
judge rejected the argument, ruling that R.P.'s involvement was crucial
to the crime and that he was as culpable as J.H. and C.L. In
previous sentencing hearings, J.H. received 100 months in prison and
C.L. 84 months in prison, with the same probation and restitution as
R.P.
On June 24, 2003, ranger Rich Eshenaur contacted M.S., 20, of Portage, Indiana, and two companions in a secluded area of West Beach. During the contact, a small amount of marijuana was found on M.S. All three individuals became uncooperative and refused to comply with Eshenaur. While he was waiting for backup, the trio fled on foot through the dunes. Eshenaur pursued Semernezki and caught up with him as he attempted to climb a chain link fence. Semernezki then charged Eshenaur and struck him in the face with his forearm. A struggle ensued in which they ended up on the ground in thick vegetation. Eshenaur sprayed Semernezki with his OC; although it had little effect on him, Eshenaur was nonetheless able to take him into custody after a struggle. M.S. was charged with assault on a federal officer. After failing to appear for a pre-trial hearing, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was located in Indianapolis by the U.S. Marshals Service and was placed in jail until trial. On April 20th, M.S. appeared before a federal magistrate and pled guilty to simple assault on a federal officer. During sentencing, the magistrate took into consideration the time M.S. spent in jail prior to trial and sentenced him to two years probation, with mandatory participation in a substance abuse treatment program and $602 in restitution for Eshenaur's medical bills.[Submitted by J.D. Swed, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of September 12th, E.M., 22, was swimming with a female companion at West Beach. E.M.'s companion was cold and returned to the beach, leaving him to swim alone. She fell asleep there; when she awoke an hour later, she searched the shoreline but couldn't find E.M. anywhere. She then called 911 and reported him missing. Ten agencies responded and conducted searches of lake and land. E.M.'s body was found at 8:30 p.m. in five feet of water about 150 feet from the shore near the place where he was last seen swimming. E.M. was described as a fair swimmer. Winds were calm and there were few or no waves. There's no indication that either drugs or alcohol were involved. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is the lead agency in the death investigation.[Submitted by Chief Ranger's Office]
In March, a jury found J.W. guilty of raping a Hobart woman in July, 2001. J.W. is charged with multiple rapes in Porter County and elsewhere in Indiana and Illinois. At least three of the rapes occurred within the park's boundaries (see "More Information" below for the original report). J.W. is being prosecuted through Porter County for those crimes. In the Hobart conviction, the judge told J.W. that his behavior was "animalistic and depraved" and that he considered him a "disgusting individual." The judge sentenced him to 120 years in prison. J.W. is awaiting trials in both Indiana and Illinois. The park has offered investigative assistance as necessary. [Submitted by Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger] http://data2.itc.nps.gov/morningreport/morningreportold.cfm?date=2005%2D03%2D07%2000%3A00%3A00 More Information...
While on patrol of the Mount Baldy parking lot, ranger Anthony Papesh
was flagged down by two park visitors who reported a woman needing
medical attention. Papesh found a 58-year-old female from Michigan City,
Indiana, unconscious in her motor vehicle. After checking for signs of
life and calling for a local EMS unit, Papesh noticed a suicide note and
a knife on the passenger seat. It appears that she had attempted to
committee suicide by consuming a large quantity of alcohol and cutting
her wrist. According to her family, the victim suffers from
depression and other medical health issues. The patient was stabilized
at the scene and transported to St. Anthony's Hospital for further
treatment and a mental health evaluation.
In February 2005, a man was arrested for breaking into a visitor's car at the Inland Marsh parking lot. He was caught with a box of cookies and tooth flossers that he'd removed from the vehicle. The man was identified as a suspect in numerous other car clouts in the park and the northwest Indiana region during the previous several years. While the theft of chocolate chip cookies may sound inconsequential, the subsequent investigation recovered stolen property from several other car clouts in the vicinity. Investigators also learned that the man has an extensive criminal history of over 29 arrests for various crimes. Due to his impressive criminal record, he was recently sentenced to six months imprisonment and restitution of $650 for the cookie break-in. Upon the completion of his federal sentence, he will be facing prosecution from several local jurisdictions for similar crimes. [Joni Jones, Supervisory Park Ranger]
A group of 11 local neighborhood children, ages 6 to 14, were dropped off by a parent at the Mount Baldy area of the park for an afternoon of swimming on July 29th. Mount Baldy, the tallest sand dune in the park, is fronted by a popular, unguarded, day use beach and was occupied by several hundred other visitors at the time. By all accounts, several of the unsupervised children were engaged in horseplay in the water on a sandbar approximately 40 to 60 feet from the beach. The water in the area is three- to four-feet deep and was flat calm. At some point, the 11-year-old victim, a non-swimmer, probably stepped off the sandbar into water that was five- to six-feet deep and drowned. It's not known how long it took before other children in the group noticed that she was missing and called for help. Numerous bystanders responded, formed a spontaneous line search, and quickly found her. They called for help and started resuscitation efforts. NPS rangers and a boat from the United States Coast Guard were on scene within five minutes of receipt of the 911 call. The girl was transported by the Coast Guard to Michigan City and taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The National Park Service and officers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are jointly investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
During recent severely cold weather, the resident of a home inside the park occupied under a reservation of use permit called the dispatch center and asked for assistance. The man, who lives by himself, said that he had neither food nor water at his residence. Rangers helped him obtain groceries and the services of a plumber. It was also apparent that the man was experiencing some mental and physical health issues. Out of concern for his condition, ranger Kelsey Cassidy and other rangers periodically dropped by the house to check on him. On February 19th, it was apparent that his physical condition had declined to the point where he was no longer able to take care of himself. That and the sanitary condition of his house mandated an intervention. Rangers asked Porter County Adult Protective Services to evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action. The county was able to obtain an 'endangered adult' order and sheriff's officers took him to a hospital. The evaluating physician determined that the man's condition was so severe that he would not have survived through the next day. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of February 25th, rangers received a notice to be on the lookout for a missing woman from the nearby town of Portage. The woman had called her husband from an unidentified parking lot and threatened suicide. To emphasize her threat, she used her cellular phone camera to photograph slash marks on her wrist and sent them to her husband. Rangers began checking parking lots within the park. Within minutes of receiving the call, ranger Bill Tadych spotted the woman as she was driving out of the Mount Baldy parking lot and pulled her over. He found a seven-inch-long steak knife and numerous bottles of prescription medicine - including sleeping pills - inside the car. The woman was taken into protective custody and admitted to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. It was later determined that she had indeed intended to end her life. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On April 18th, park dispatch received a call from the Porter Police Department advising that a vehicle belonging to a missing person had been found adjacent to park property. A search of the area was conducted and the body of a 47-year-old man was found inside a reservation of use house within the park. He reportedly had been despondent over a recent court hearing concerning bomb making. The U.S. Secret Service had also recently served a warrant on his property and seized his personal computer and other materials in connection with a child pornography case. No explosives or other hazardous materials were found either in the house or in his vehicle. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of July 18th, a line of severe thunderstorms moved across northern Indiana. In addition to heavy rainfall, the storms brought an average of 2300 lightning strikes per hour. One of these lightning strikes found a target in the Dunewood Campground and injured three Canadian visitors. The bolt left an impact crater one foot in diameter adjacent to their tent. From the evidence at the scene, the lightning moved from the crater to the nearest corner peg of the tent, which was about a foot away. Once inside the tent, the lightning sliced across the floor, through an umbrella and out the next tent peg, leaving a burned/melted path behind. The path of the lightning was less than two inches from the family of three inside the tent. The lightning exited the tent and apparently ended at the campers' car, as all of the electrical components were found inoperable the next day. The bolt affected all three family members. The five-year-old child temporarily stopped breathing. While the mother started CPR, the father obtained help from other campers. After a short time, the child began breathing on his own. Rangers, county deputies and EMS personnel responded to the incident. All three family members were transported to a local hospital for observation. They were released the next day. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Before leaving work around 10 p.m. on the evening of September 22nd, ranger Jennifer Jackson investigated several complaints of loud noise - well past the start of quiet hours - at the Dunewood campground. Jackson and the campground host found a 40-year-old man and his 19-year-old and 14-year-old sons yelling and playing loud music at their wooded walk-in campsite. There were numerous beer cans and liquor bottles around the campsite. Jackson talked to them about the loud noise and about their violations of the campground's alcohol closure. They were not cooperative, so she called for backup from rangers Kelsey Cassidy and Rich Eshenaur, who were 15 minutes away. The father and both sons were intoxicated and admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the evening. During the contact, the father repeatedly disobeyed rangers' orders to remain seated. When Eshenaur attempted to take him into custody, he became combative and a struggle ensued. The father repeatedly threatened Eshenaur's life. The two sons attempted to rescue their father, but Cassidy prevented them from doing so with the threat of pepper spray. During the struggle, five more people arrived at the campsite to join the party. Jackson controlled and searched the new arrivals, one of whom had a BB gun hidden in his sweatshirt. Jackson cited him and ordered all five to leave the park. Meanwhile, Eshenau got the father handcuffed without further incident. The father and both sons have criminal records and all possessed large folding knives. Throughout the contact, the father attempted to retrieve a cane, which he said that he needed for mobility. Jackson had secured the cane when she first arrived at the scene and denied several of his requests to return it to him. Upon examination, Jackson discovered that the cane concealed a nineteen-inch sword. Multiple charges are pending against the father and both sons, and felony charges are being considered. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of May 3rd, rangers Todd Papesh and Jennifer Jackson contacted a man in the Dunewood Campground regarding an alcohol violation. During the contact, the man assaulted both rangers and was taken into custody. He is currently being held by the U.S. Marshals Service in Hammond, Indiana. Multiple charges are pending. The rangers are recovering from their injuries. In the interests of preserving the integrity of the case against the suspect, the U.S. Attorney's Office has asked that the information released in this case be restricted. Once legal proceedings are further along, a follow-up report will be made available. The rangers and the park are doing well and would like to thank all those who have expressed concern and support. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of May 3rd, rangers Todd Papesh and Jennifer Jackson contacted a man in the Dunewood Campground regarding an alcohol violation. During the contact, the man assaulted both rangers and was taken into custody. He is currently being held by the U.S. Marshals Service in Hammond, Indiana. Multiple charges are pending. The rangers are recovering from their injuries. In the interests of preserving the integrity of the case against the suspect, the U.S. Attorney's Office has asked that the information released in this case be restricted. Once legal proceedings are further along, a follow-up report will be made available. The rangers and the park are doing well and would like to thank all those who have expressed concern and support. [Submitted by Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
A group of eleven people from Chicago Heights came to Indiana Dunes State Park on Sunday, July 13th, to go swimming in Lake Michigan. Due to hazardous surf, the state park was closed to swimming, so they continued a short distance to Kemil Beach, an unstaffed beach in the national lakeshore. It was windy at the time, with surf about two-and-a-half feet high and possible rip currents. Around 3:30 p.m., three of them began having trouble while swimming about 100 yards from the shoreline. Two of them got to shore okay, but the third - a 14-year-old boy - sank below the surface. Boats, divers, a Coast Guard helicopter and side-scanning sonar were employed in the search to find him. The operation was scaled back to beach patrols that night, then resumed on Monday morning and continued until all dive time had been expended. It resumed on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, when searchers found his body about a quarter mile from the point where he'd disappeared. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
A family from the Chicago area came to the area on August 2nd to go swimming in Lake Michigan. Due to hazardous surf conditions, the state park was closed to swimming, so the group traveled a short distance to Porter Beach, an unstaffed beach in the national lakeshore. Just after 1 p.m., two members of the group were overcome by the dangerous waves. Family members and bystanders rescued one of them, a nine-year-old boy, but were unable to reach a 13-year-old boy. He was last seen disappearing under the lake's surface. It was windy at the time, with surf about three feet high and increasing and possible rip currents. Members of the group were about 30 to 50 yards from shore when the incident occurred. A multi-agency search was begun that employed boats, divers and helicopters. A line search was conducted by lifeguards from Indiana Dunes State Park, but diving operations were soon halted due to the severity of the water conditions. A surface search using boats, personal watercraft, and a Coast Guard helicopter equipped with forward looking infrared (FLIR) gear continued through the night. Family members of the victim maintained a vigil on the beach through the night. The boy's body was found on the state park beach just after 6 a.m. - a point about a half mile from where he'd last been seen. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Rich Eshenaur was nearly hit head-on by a motorist speeding through the park on the afternoon of August 3rd. A short pursuit ensued that ended when the driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the woods. When Eshenaur arrived at the crash scene, he saw a passenger in the vehicle climbing out the driver's window. The passenger physically resisted arrest, but was safely taken into custody after Eshenaur employed his taser. After seeing the taser used on his friend, the other passenger in the vehicle placed his hands on the headliner and said that he would be cooperative. Prior to Eshenaur's arrival, the driver of the vehicle fled into the surrounding woods. A multi-agency search was conducted, but he was not found. The first passenger was charged with resisting law enforcement and being a minor in possession of alcohol. A warrant was issued for the driver. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Each year, rangers locate and remove patches of wild growth marijuana from park property. This growth typically occurs in isolated areas and consists of what is commonly referred to as "ditch weed." The stands are normally small and are limited to a few hundred spindly plants with few leaves. This season, possibly due to very favorable weather, the number and quality of these plants significantly increased. On August 21st, rangers, other park employees, and officers from the Burns Harbor and Portage Police Departments and the Porter County Sheriff's drug task force participated in a joint operation to clear out a significant patch of wild growth marijuana. The majority of these plants were in excess of 12 feet tall with full foliage. The patch of plants is in an area of the park known for the best salmon fishing in the Midwest and is frequented by anglers from all over the United States. Approximately 30 people worked for eight hours to remove over 10,000 marijuana plants from the park and secure them for later destruction. Local authorities place the value of these plants at approximately $800 per mature plant for a total haul of over $8,000,000. There was no evidence located that the plants were being tended or actively cultivated. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Some parks in Midwest Region that were hit by the remnants of Hurricane Ike have reported in, with others are unable to communicate yet due to power and phone outages. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lowell, which came ashore in the U.S. from the Pacific Ocean, has caused closures and evacuations at Big Bend due to rising waters in the Rio Grande. Here's today's update: Indiana Dunes NL - The northwest Indiana area was subjected to the impacts of the remains of Hurricane Ike last weekend. The park received over 10 inches of rain and sustained winds in excess of 35 miles per hour. Because of the torrential rainfall, all rivers, creeks and waterways overflowed their banks, and some minor flooding occurred in isolated areas of the park. The most significant issue was damage that occurred when several small marinas could not hold their own against the current and debris from the storm. Parts of these facilities broke apart and were flushed down the Burns Waterway into Lake Michigan. Due to the strong north winds, a significant amount of debris was forced up onto park beaches. This debris included over a dozen boats, pieces of marina docks, fuel tanks and natural material. A work barge and small crane also broke loose and ended up on park property. This debris was being battered along the shoreline yesterday by four to six foot waves. Salvage of some boats may be possible once the waves subside, but most are broken beyond salvage. Rangers on scene early Monday morning chased off several looters who were risking serious injury or death in an attempt to take property from the damaged boats. The area around the new Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is now under guard. The park will be assessing the options for cleanup and recovery, but initial estimates are those costs will be significant. [Mike Bremer, INDU; DOI Watch Office; Jackie Henman, MWRO; Leta Parker, BITH]
Ranger Bill Tadych was on foot patrol in a remote section of the park known to contain a large amount of wild growth marijuana on September 7th when he located several plots that appeared to have been "adopted" by someone just outside the park's boundary. The ground around the plants was cultivated and surrounding vegetation cleared to allow sunlight to reach the marijuana. Many of the plants were over 10 feet tall. Additional patrol of the area later in the day revealed a newly arrived mountain bicycle chained to a nearby tree. Additional rangers were called to the area to search for suspects. Within 10 minutes, rangers saw a 41-year-old man inside one of the plots, harvesting leaves from the plants. He was stripping the leaves off the plants and putting them into several gallon size plastic bags. Using their county deputizations, rangers Rich Eshenaur and Jennifer Jackson took the man into custody without incident. He admitted that this was not the first time he had harvested from the site. He was turned over to local authorities for prosecution. A mutual-aid eradication is planned for the area. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
A woman and two children from Madison, Wisconsin, came to Kemil Beach on the afternoon of September 21st. The girls, ages nine and ten, were playing in the water about 30 feet from shore when they began having trouble. The woman entered the water to get them; she was able to push her foster daughter toward the beach, but could not find the ten-year-old and called for help. Another woman at the beach used her cell phone to summon assistance, and rescuers began arriving on scene within six minutes. The girl was found close to shore. It's estimated that she'd been underwater for about 25 minutes. Resuscitation efforts were immediately begun and she was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital in nearby Michigan City, where doctors were able to establish a week pulse. She was placed on a respirator, then later taken to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. At the time of the report, she was suffering from significant brain swelling and still on a ventilator. Her prognosis is unknown. The preliminary investigation indicates that the girl was bouncing up and down on a sandbar in water that was at least chest deep. At some point, she probably bounced off into deeper water. There were no dangerous surf conditions at the time. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On September 21st, a woman and two young girls from Madison, Wisconsin, came to Kemil Beach. The girls - ages nine and ten - were playing in the water when both began having trouble. The ten-year-old disappeared underwater and it took rescuers about 25 minutes to find her. Resuscitation efforts were begun immediately and the girl was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital in nearby Michigan City, then airlifted to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. After an extended stay in the hospital, she was transferred to a hospice in Madison. On October 16th, she passed away from an unrecoverable brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Due to the circumstances surrounding the case, no autopsy is planned. Click on the link below to see the original report. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
The man who assaulted and injured two park rangers last summer has been sentenced to a long jail term. The park has also provided additional information on the original incident that was previously withheld at the request of the U. S. Attorney's Office. On May 3, 2008, rangers Jennifer Jackson and Todd Papesh were patrolling the Dunewood Campground when they observed a can of beer on a picnic table. As they approached the campsite, they contacted J.Y., a local resident, who admitted to possessing the beer (the superintendent's compendium has closed the campground to alcoholic beverages). During the brief contact, J.Y. became very agitated. He attacked Papesh by throwing cold campfire ashes and sand in his eyes and shoving him toward a set of stairs leading to the campsite. Jackson then drew her baton and delivered a strike to J.Y.'s leg. More than twice the size of Jackson, J.Y. was able to jerk the baton from her, then strike her on the head with it. Papesh, who was attempting to clear his vision, heard the deployment of the baton and came to the aid of Jackson. J.Y. used the baton to deliver a full force strike to the top of Papesh's head. Jackson, who was bleeding profusely from her head wound, saw J.Y. drop the baton and begin walking across the campsite. She used her pepper spray on J.Y., hitting him in the face and eyes. The spray had little effect, though, possibly due to J.Y.'s eyeglasses. Jackson then drew her handgun and ordered J.Y. and the five other people who were in a tent onto the ground. J.Y. lowered himself onto his side, not fully complying with her order. By then, thing were beginning to stabilize and help was on the way. J.Y.'s two-year-old son wandered across the campsite toward his father. J.Y. grabbed his son and held him out in front as a human shield toward Jackson and her drawn weapon, then backed out of the campsite towards his vehicle. Jackson and Papesh, who was also suffering from a significant head injury, moved with J.Y. as he placed the child in his car. J.Y. then began walking through the campground. Concerned for the safety of other campers and despite their injuries, the rangers followed J.Y. and called in situation reports to dispatch. Within minutes, assistance arrived from local police and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. After officers had sprayed J.Y. with a significant amount of additional pepper spray, which he licked off his face, they rushed him and took him into custody. An ambulance took both rangers to the hospital, where they received treatment for lacerations and contusions to their heads. They both returned to full duty within two weeks of the incident. J.Y. was charged with numerous violations, the most significant being two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon. The court rejected a motion for bond. On July 22, 2008, J.Y. entered a plea of guilty to both assault counts. On April 15th, he received his sentence. Before the judge passed sentence, J.Y. made a plea for mercy from the court and forgiveness from the rangers. J.Y. received two sentences of 108 months of incarceration, to run concurrently. He must repay the Department of Labor for the rangers' worker's compensation claims. Upon his release, J.Y. will be required to undergo a minimum of two years of supervised release. With time already served and good behavior, he will not be eligible for release for at least 79 months. In his sentencing, the judge noted that J.Y. was very fortunate that he did not kill either of the rangers. He was also dismayed and saddened that J.Y. chose to injure the lives of so many people over a can of beer. Parks interested in additional information on this incident may call the Chief Ranger's Office at 219-395-1644. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a missing person report from the La Porte County 911 center early on the morning of November 24th. A 61-year-old man who is a diagnosed epileptic was overdue from a visit to the park. His wife, who'd notified the center, had dropped him off at 3 p.m. the previous afternoon to go metal detecting in the Mt. Baldy area of the park. He was not dressed for the weather and overnight temperatures were in the low 30s. He'd also missed taking his epilepsy medication. Ranger Bill Tadych was called out from his residence and conducted a quick but unproductive search of the area. Tadych then began calling in additional assistance, including a search dog team from nearby Michigan City. A hasty search by the dog team proved inconclusive. While the park began mobilizing for a more intensive search, Tadych requested assistance from a security guard at a power plant that adjoins the park. The guard found the man inside the park. The man said that he'd gotten turned around in the woods, but that he found the power plant fence and was following it back to the road when he became entangled in thick brush and was unable to go any further. He therefore decided to stay where he was until morning. Tadych assessed the man's condition and cut him out of the brush. He was cold but otherwise in good condition and declined medical transport. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
A troubled individual from the local community parked in the Mount Baldy parking lot on the morning of June 10th with the intent of committing suicide. Local authorities broadcast an "attempt to locate suicidal subject armed with a handgun" bulletin. Around 5 p.m., visitor use assistants Brandon Waters, Matthew Wineland, Sharon Welsh and Jermaine Dancer, who had been assigned to help visitors in the parking lot, identified the vehicle and called for assistance. Rangers Rich Eshenaur, Thomas Lang, Kelly Caddell, Julie Ladd and Kyle Hudick discovered that the windows of the car were tinted very darkly. They could barely make out the shape of someone moving inside the car. After seeking proper cover, the rangers unsuccessfully attempted to open a dialogue with the driver. After ten minutes, he rolled down his window, and the rangers were able to talk him into getting out of the car. He was taken into protective custody and transferred to a local hospital for evaluation. A search of the car did not reveal any weapons, but a plastic bag with tape around the edge was found. The man said that he had placed the bag over his head and taped it in place in an attempt to end his life, but later took it off. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Last February, rangers found a mini-van parked after hours in the Mt. Baldy area of the park. At that time, the region was experiencing a blizzard and whiteout conditions existed. A search of the area revealed footprints leading along a trail to the nearby beach. There was a note in the van indicating that it had broken down and that the driver would return in a few days. There were no indications or clues indicating foul play. A check of the video cameras mounted on a nearby building showed the driver, later identified as R.S. of Indianapolis, walking to and returning from the trail to the beach. However, blowing snow obscured segments of the video. Rangers called the Indianapolis Police Department to request a check of R.S.'s residence, which led to her family filing a missing person report. Park staff conducted a more extensive search of the area at first light with assistance of a U.S. Coast Guard ice rescue crew, fixed wing aircraft and a search dog from a local police department. No evidence was found. A follow-up search the next week, when some melting had occurred, did not reveal any additional clues. Reports from the family indicated that R.S. was known to go off on her own for days at a time and loved winter camping. On the morning of October 21st, a jogger discovered R.S.'s body on the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park, which is located within the national lakeshore and approximately six-and-a-half miles from Mt. Baldy. Recent severe storms, which had created waves as high as 24 feet on Lake Michigan, had probably dislodged the body and carried it ashore. The Porter County coroner conducted an immediate autopsy and determined the cause of death to be drowning. There were no signs of foul play. Although there are a number of theories as to how R.S. met her end, there is no evidence to support any conclusions. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Two hikers coming out of the restrooms at the Calumet Dune Interpretive Center on the afternoon of October 25th heard a "pop" from the parking lot. As they drove out of the lot, they passed a car with a man leaning back in the driver's seat, covered in blood. Responding ranger identified him as a 58-year-old resident of Chesterton, Indiana. Clutched in his hand was a .44 caliber handgun. It appeared that the man died from a single gunshot wound to the right temple. He left a diary in the passenger armrest of the car and had placed his driver's license in the seam of the glove compartment door for easy retrieval. Rangers Bill Tadych and Kyle Hudick, along with a chaplain from the sheriff's office, notified the surviving wife and two teenage daughters. Entries in the diary, which were confirmed by the family, revealed long-standing and very emotional work-related issues. The Porter County coroner has ruled the death a suicide. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of July 13th, LaPorte County 911 and park dispatch received simultaneous calls reporting that a child had fallen into a hole near the top of Mt. Baldy. A seasonal resource management employee and two Student Conservation Association workers were on scene almost immediately and began digging. Responders from the Michigan City Police and Fire Departments arrived within 15 minutes, with others close behind. The first officer on scene saw a group of people frantically digging into the north side of the dune about midway between the beach and summit. They told the officer that a six-year-old boy had fallen into a cylindrical hole and disappeared. The boy's seven-year-old brother said that they'd found the hole in the sand and wanted to see how deep it went. The younger brother disappeared below the surface after he climbed into the hole with the intent of standing in the bottom. The victim's father said that he could hear his son crying for help, but could not see him. As the family members attempted to dig the boy out by hand, the hole collapsed and filled with sand. As emergency personnel arrived, digging continued with hands and shovels. One hour of continuous work resulted in a pit about 30 feet wide and eight feet deep, with no sign of the child. High heat and shifting sand hampered the rescue effort. While hand work continued, local contractors were called to use heavy equipment to move sand away from the site. At the peak of the effort, the operation involved approximately 50 rescuers, including National Park Service rangers and firefighters and responders from several local agencies, plus two tracked excavators and a backhoe. Probes were used periodically to feel for anything solid. Heavy equipment and shovels were used if nothing solid was identified. If the probes hit anything firm, hand digging was employed. Within about three-and-a-half hours of the initial call, an estimated 200 cubic yards of sand had been removed from the site. At about 8 p.m., rescuers found the head of the boy at a depth of 11 feet from the original dune surface. The boy, unresponsive when found, was upright with his body extending into a cavity in the dunes. It appears that he was in a decayed root ball or trunk from a long buried tree. The boy was placed in the care of the Laporte County EMS. En route to the hospital, he spontaneously regained vital signs. He was airlifted to Comer Children's Hospital of Chicago. At last report, the boy was recovering. The response to this incident is a testament to the cooperative relationship between the park and local authorities. Interest in this incident is high and the public affairs officer has received calls from as far away as the United Kingdom. Evidence at the scene supports that theory that the boy encountered the remains of a tree buried long ago by the advancing dune. As the tree decayed, it left behind a shell of compacted sand and bark remnants. The boy possibly slid down the void left by the decaying trunk. Resource management staff had been on the same spot earlier in the day and saw nothing unusual. More than 150,000 people visit Mt. Baldy every year and there are no recorded incidents of this having previously occurred. The Mt. Baldy area of the park is now closed until the park can accomplish a thorough review of the event and a safety assessment of the dune [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
During the summer and fall of 2011, rangers responded to a rash of vehicle break-ins at the eastern end of the park. A lack of physical evidence hampered the investigation until two break-ins occurred at the Kemil parking lot, which is under video surveillance. The images captured by the system resulted in the identification of a suspect vehicle. Ranger Rich Eshenaur, the lead investigator for the cases, distributed the vehicle's description to local law enforcement agencies. Within a few hours, the Michigan City Police Department stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and arrested the driver, K.F., on unrelated fraud and stolen property warrants. Eshenaur discovered that K.F. was under investigation by three different police departments for various felonies, including burglary, theft and fraud. Using fingerprints, photo lineups and pawn shop records, Eshenaur was able to tie K.F. to multiple vehicle break-ins within the park. The apprehension of K.F. resulted in the successful conclusion of numerous theft and burglary cases in the park and all three local jurisdictions. Without the investigative efforts of Eshenaur, all of these cases would have likely remained unsolved. K.F. was charged with several felony charges related to his activities in the park. In September of 2013 he pled guilty to several charges and was sentenced to 12 years in state prison. This time will be served after he completes a 3.5 year sentence on other unrelated theft charges. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger/Acting Deputy Superintendent]
In March of 2012, Ranger Frank Quinto saw a man, later identified as R.C., 57, of Dune Acres, Indidana, riding a personal watercraft (PWC) along the Lake Michigan shoreline inside the boundary of the park. Knowing he was spotted and that PWCs are prohibited within the park, R.C. anchored near the beach and left the area. As darkness fell that day, he returned to the public beach near the town of Dune Acres with an all-terrain utility vehicle and loaded the watercraft onto a trailer. When contacted by Quinto, R.C. said that he received permission to operate the PWC and drive on the beach from the chief ranger and superintendent, an assertion that was refuted when the chief ranger arrived on scene a minute later. R.C. received violation notices for the operation of the PWC as well as launching/recovering a watercraft in an unauthorized location and driving off of the road. In June of 2012, R.C. appeared in federal district court and pled not guilty to all charges. R.C., a longstanding proponent of PWC use in the lakeshore, entered into a series of delaying tactics to prolong the case until July of 2013, when a bench trial was held. During that trial, R.C.'s attorney moved for dismissal of the charges based upon his opinion that the National Park Service does not have jurisdiction on the beaches within the park. In answering the motion for dismissal, the U.S. Attorney's Office responded with citations of case law going back for nearly 75 years that supported the United States' authority to regulate the use of lands and waters within the boundaries of national parks. In January of 2014, a federal judge found that the National Park Service does have jurisdiction over the beach within the boundary of the park and found R.C. guilty on all three counts. He was sentenced to fines totaling $275. This case serves as an important event in the history of the park. Since the establishment of the national lakeshore, local resident have long argued that the park does not have legal jurisdiction along Lake Michigan and have regularly threatened civil suits to assert private property rights over public lands. This was the first case that actually tested that opinion and confirmed that the NPS has the authority to regulate activities taking place within park boundaries along Lake Michigan. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
A spill at the U.S. Steel plant in Portage last week leaked a toxic chemical into Burns Waterway, a Lake Michigan tributary, forcing the closure of beaches in and around the park. Low levels of the chemical hexavalent chromium, which is a carcinogen, were found in Lake Michigan near the mouth of Burns Waterway. It's so far unclear whether, or how far, the chemical traveled down the shoreline, but EPA and other officials took 100 samples along the waterway east and west of its entry point to the lake. Results were expected last Thursday. A pipe failure at the steel plant led to the contaminated water being released to the wrong wastewater treatment plant at U.S. Steel Midwest and being discharged into Burns Waterway. The park closed public access to West Beach and the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk on April 11th and added the beach at Cowles Bog on April 12th. Sources: Chicago Post-Tribune (click here for more), Indiana Dunes NL public affairs (click here for more). Both sites include maps of the closed areas.
A spill at the U.S. Steel plant in Portage earlier this month leaked a toxic chemical into Burns Waterway, a Lake Michigan tributary, forcing the closure of beaches in and around the park. Low levels of the chemical hexavalent chromium, which is a carcinogen, were found in Lake Michigan near the mouth of the waterway. Between April 12th and April 16th, water and beach sand samples were taken by contractors working for EPA at three locations — West Beach, Cowles Bog Beach, and Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk beach. All water and beach sand samples were below laboratory reporting limits. Based on these results, the three beaches were reopened on the afternoon of April 17th. The National Park Service is working with the EPA and other agencies to implement a long-term monitoring protocol to ensure the safety of park visitors throughout the upcoming beach season. Park staff also remain concerned about potential long-term harm to wildlife and other park resources. For details on the testing results, go to the United States Environmental Protection Agency website. Source: Public Affairs, Indiana Dunes NL.
Beach areas in the park were closed on Monday following reports of a foamy, scummy discharge flowing into the Burns Waterway from the U.S. Steel Midwest plant and thence out into Lake Michigan. They will remain closed until the discharge has been identified. U.S. Steel's Portage plant has been at the center of a controversy since April 2017, when it spilled nearly 300 pounds of hexavalent chromium — or 584 times the daily maximum limit allowed under state permitting laws — into the Burns Waterway. Recent groundwater tests at area wells, which are required by the government because of the 2017 spill, have shown elevated levels of hexavalent chromium. Source: NWI.com.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Indiana Dunes NL — The park's Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Unit, closed on November 30th due to a potential hazmat spill, has reopened. No hazardous materials were found in the discharge that caused the closure. Source: Indiana Dunes NL.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Indiana Dunes NP — Lake View Beach in Beverly Shores will be closed until at least May 1st due to erosion concerns. Access to the beach and western end of the parking lot will be restricted until then, or further notice depending on conditions; the picnic area and parking lot directly south will remain open. The higher lake level this winter, in combination with recent storm waves, has resulted in continued erosion and narrower beaches along Lake Michigan. Estimates by the Army Corps of Engineers' Detroit District office state Lake Michigan is nearing the record water levels set in 1986. Source: Meredith Colias-Pete, Gary Post-Tribune.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Indiana Dunes NP — As noted in a previous edition, the park has temporarily closed down the western portion of the parking area and all beach access at the Lake View area in Beverly Shores due to rising lake levels and erosion. The closure will last through May 1st or further notice. Last week, the mayor of Portage joined Porter County, Ogden Dunes and Beverly Shores officials in declaring emergencies on their respective lakefronts as a result of the worsening erosion problem occurring along the Lake Michigan shoreline. "Indiana Dunes National Park is a gem, and it must be protected," she said. "I am declaring this emergency because we need to act before it is too late. I am calling on the state and federal governments to work with surrounding communities to address this serious public safety issue." Source: Anna Ortiz, Munster Times.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Indiana Dunes NP — On January 23rd, the Ogden Dunes Police Department announced that the town's beach access ways have been closed due to hazardous conditions resulting from severe erosion. The mayor of Portage declared an emergency earlier this month, asking for state and federal agencies to act quickly to save the disappearing beach. The county's emergency declaration came less than a week after the park temporarily closed down the western portion of the parking area and all beach access at the Lake View area in Beverly Shores. Source: Bob Kasarda, Munster Times.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Indiana Dunes NP — The park and its neighbors continue to deal with major beach erosion, which was aggravated by a storm last week. Waves have washed away the dunes that protect both a parking area and a portion of the nearby public road. Underground utilities are also in danger. In recent weeks emergency work has begun and the National Park Service is working cooperatively with the Town of Beverly Shores to remediate the problem. At a cost of $325,000 to Beverly Shore residents, that includes the installation of 300 linear feet of sand bags piled above the high water mark on the beach, blocking off the parking lot and road. The lake's level, in combination with recent storm waves, has resulted in conditions this part of the lake hasn't seen in decades. Source: Patrick Elwood, WGN News.
On September 26, a U.S. Steel plant in Portage, Indiana experienced "an upset condition with the finishing line wastewater treatment plant," resulting in the spill of iron particles into the Burns Waterway. A water treatment facility and many local beaches were closed for public safety, including those at the park. The park beaches reopened on September 29. The Environmental Protection Agency and other local agencies have responded and are testing and monitoring the situation. Source: The Times of Northwest Indiana, WNDU
On February 21, a group of five visitors stood on an ice shelf along the shoreline at West Beach when the shelf shifted. Four were able to retreat to the shore, but one visitor fell into the water. Large waves and unstable ice made it too difficult for the bystanders to rescue the victim in the water. A rescue effort was attempted by the NPS, Indiana conservation officers, fire crews from Portage, Porter, and Ogden Dunes, Lake County Sheriff's Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard. As of February 22, the victim had not been located and authorities have stated that the search is now considered a recovery. Source: CBS Chicago
In 2019, the Burns Harbor Works steel mill discharged ammonia and cyanide into the the Burns Waterway that resulted in a massive fish kill in Lake Michigan, threats to drinking water, and beach closures. The steel mill was then owned by ArcelorMittal USA, which has since been acquired by Cleveland-Cliffs. The company reached a consent decree with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Hoosier Environmental Council, the State of Indiana, and the federal government to pay $3 million in fines, fix equipment to prevent a recurrence, do better monitoring, and donate 127 acres of land valued at $2 million to the Shirley Heinze Land Trust. The land is located on Boo Road just south of the Marquette Trail. The trust will restore the land and eventually donate it to the park for public use. Source: NWI Times
On April 11, a person answered their front door and found a 40-year-old standing on the doorstep, naked. The individual then turned and ran toward Pinhook Bog, a location in the park. La Porte County (IN) Police officers responded to the area and found the individual still naked, with brown work boots on. They provided the individual with a trash bag to use as a body covering. During an interview with the officers, the individual stated they were looking for a cell phone they had just acquired and that they were under the influence of methamphetamine. The individual was arrested. A status hearing is scheduled for May 19. Source: Hometown News Now
The park made a public announcement about a recent uptick in bicyclists riding on hiking trails where bikes are prohibited. They have asked the public to visit the biking page on their website to determine which trails are bike-friendly. Source: WIMS
On August 2, the park reduced hours for public access at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk due to "an increase in overnight vandalism and illegal beach fires." The lifesaving ring at the breakwater has reportedly been stolen three times this summer, raising safety concerns for swimmers. The park is exploring monitoring options for the area. Source: FOX 32 | |