Day/date: October 21, 1987
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Possible Sniper Incident
Log number: 87-253
Date/time of incident: 10/20, Date/time received: 10/21, 1pm
Park: Glacier NP Location: Going to the Sun Highway
Reported by: Chuck Sigler, CR (through Tom McDonnell, RMRO)
Received by: Charles Farabee, WASO
Summary:
Over the past week there have been isolated reports of gunfire in the vicinity
of Going to the Sun Highway. Nothing has been found upon investigation.
At 10 am yesterday morning, an NPS ranger on patrol in a marked vehicle may
have been shot at, but he was unable to confirm this with certainty. On three
separate occasions later in the day the park received reports from individuals
who believed that they had been shot at while driving in the same area. At
4:30pm on the same day a maintenance vehicle driven by a maintenance employee
was struck by a small arms round, but the employee was not injured because the
bullet disintegrated as it came through the door. This morning, 7 rangers, 1
Kalispell city policeman and dog, and 2 FBI agents searched the area for the
alleged sniper. Going to the Sun Highway has been closed temporarily. The
search team reported hearing 5 shots which were fired approximately 1/2 mile
from their location at 10:21 am. The latest report from the park states that
a suspect has been apprehended and is now in custody. No further details are
known at this time.
Persons involved:
Name Address DOB or age
***NOT GIVEN***
FIELD INCIDENT FOLLOW-UP REPORT
Original incident log number: 87-253
Date/time of original incident: 10/20, am
Park: Glacier Location: Going to the Sun Highway
Summary of original report:
A sniping incident occurred in the park in which a maintenance employee
driving a government vehicle was hit by a bullet which passed through the
vehicle's door. He was not hurt because the bullet was largely spent.
Several other vehicles had apparently been sniped at as well. Rangers
and FBI agents conducted a search and arrested a suspect on the 21st.
Follow-up number: 1
Date/time of follow-up: 10/23, noon
Reported by: Tom McDonnell, Law Enforcement Specialist, RMRO
Prepared by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
The man who was apprehended has been identified as C.S.S. of
Dix, Illinois. He is 32 years old. Investigators have found that Illinois
police have been searching for C.S.S. as a suspect in a serious felony
which occurred in their state. A magistrate has ordered that C.S.S. undergo
psychiatric examination. C.S.S. has so far refused to make any statement.
He has been charged with attempted murder, and is under a $100,000 bond.
Investigation has also confirmed that another government vehicle had been hit
by a bullet in the rear wheel well, and that two visitor vehicles which had
suffered flats had also been hit by sniper bullets.
*** INFORMATION NOT FOR RELEASE ***
FIELD INCIDENT FOLLOW-UP REPORT
Original incident log number: 87-253
Date/time of original incident: 10/20, pm
Park: Glacier Location: Going To The Sun Highway
Summary of original report:
A sniping incident occurred in the park in which a maintenance employee
driving a government vehicle was hit by a bullet which passed through the
vehicle's door. He was not hurt because the bullet was largely spent.
Several other vehicles had apparently been sniped at as well. Rangers
and FBI agents conducted a search and arrested a suspect - C.S.S. of
Dix, Illinois - on the 21st. He was charged with attempted homicide.
Follow-up number: 2
Date/time of follow-up: 11/9
Reported by: Tom McDonnell, Law Enforcement Specialist, RMRO
Prepared by: Bill Halainen, Ranger Activities, WASO
It has been confirmed that a total of two government and four civilian
vehicles were shot and struck by the sniper. Investigation has also revealed
that the bullet which hit the maintenance man went through the driver's
door, struck the steering wheel and ricocheted into a can of snuff in his
pocket. C.S.S. is still incarcerated on attempted murder charges.
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Fatality - Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Accident
Log number: 87-254
Date/time of incident: 10/21, 10am Date/time received: 10/21, 2pm
Park: Curecanti NRA Location: Elk Creek Campground
Reported by: Joe Alston, Supt. (through Carolyn Kershaw, RMRO)
Received by: Melissa Warner, WASO
Summary:
W.C. and his wife were preparing to leave their campsite. Mrs. W.C.
removed blocks from under the tires of their parked vehicle which had a camper
attached. The vehicle started to roll and Mr. W.C. tried to stop it. He
fell and was passed over by the vehicle and possibly by the attached trailer.
Two NPS rangers arrived on the scene shortly after the report was received,
both were EMTs. W.C. went into cardiac arrest about 10 minutes after they
arrived and could not be revived. The W.C.'s have a son who has not been
notified of the incident. An attempt is being made at this time to locate
him.
Persons involved:
Name Address DOB or age
W.C. Antonita, CO 85