RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Wednesday, February 6, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-40 - Southwest Region - Seizure of Illegally Taken Fossils
Federal law enforcement officers from the Forest Service, BLM
and the Park Service served a search warrant at the home of
L.M. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 31st and
seized several cartons of fossils which were illegally taken
from public lands. The regional law enforcement specialist,
three law enforcement rangers, and two employees from SWRO's
anthropology division participated in the search. The warrant
was requested after L. and P.M. approached
officials at the Museum of Natural History in Albuquerque and
attempted to trade the fossils for others the museum might have.
L.M. reportedly told the museum's paleontology curator that
many of the fossils came from public lands near Farmington, New
Mexico. Museum experts estimated that the fossils were from the
Paleocene Age, and said that the materials L.M. brought to the
museum were of "inestimable" scientific value and could be found
in only about two dozen places in the world. L.M. later said
that he cooperated with the federal officers and provided the
names of others involved in removing the fossils. [Newspaper
article by Karen Peterson, Albuquerque Journal, 2/1, via telefax
from Jim Radney, LES, RAD/SWRO, 2/4]
91-41 - Yosemite (California) - Arson
At about 2:30 a.m. on January 25th, a structural fire broke out
in a garage located within the administrative site at El Portal.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire was man-caused
and most likely arson. The garage was wooden with a dirt floor
and was used for storage. A vehicle was observed leaving the
scene when approached by park enforcement rangers; they were
able to obtain a vehicle description and partial license plate
number. An investigation is now underway. [Roger Rudolph, CR,
YOSE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/5]
91-42 - Lassen Volcanic (California) - Suspicious Device
A California transportation department maintenance man
discovered a device which looked like a bomb sitting on a snow
bank about a mile from the main entrance of the park on January
25th. The county bomb squad detonated the device and discovered
that it had all the characteristics of a bomb but lacked
explosives. An investigation is underway. [Guy Whitmer, LAVO,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/5]
91-43 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Multiple Arrests
The park's dispatch center received a report on February 2nd
from a man who claimed that he had been kidnapped, handcuffed,
and held in the back of a stolen vehicle for three days. The
vehicle was spotted by rangers on the West Rim Drive shortly
thereafter. A computer check revealed that the vehicle was
stolen and possibly contained a shotgun and two rifles. Rangers
made a felony stop and took six occupants of the vehicle into
custody. Upon further investigation, rangers learned that the
kidnapping report was false and that it had been made by a
companion of the members of this group. Another of the adult
males arrested also claimed to have been kidnapped. Four female
juveniles in the group were listed in NCIC as runaways. Both
males and one of the females were arrested for making false
reports and for possession of stolen property. All six people
in the vehicle came from Minnesota. Rangers are assisting
authorities with the investigation of burglaries which occurred
in that state and with charges of vehicle theft, sexual
misconduct with minors and probation violations. [John Benjamin,
GRCA, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/5]
MIDDLE EAST INCIDENT UPDATE
Statue of Liberty (New York) - There were two bomb threats to the
statue on February 1st. Both calls were received on the city's
911 emergency number. Necessary precautions were taken with the
assistance of NYPD's harbor unit and the New Jersey state police
harbor unit. No bombs were found. [John Lynch, RAD/NARO, 2/5]
Independence (Pennsylvania) - MAR rangers are being assigned to
the park to provide additional, around-the-clock security at the
Liberty Bell Pavilion and other sites in Independence. The
rangers are being sent to the park for 14 to 21 day details and
are working eight to 12 hour shifts. [United Press, 2/5]
Please advise us through your regional offices of all threats
received, permits issued for demonstrations, and demonstrations
or incidents that occur which are related to the war in the Gulf.
Call Major Schamp at FTS 268-4209 (202-208-4209).
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No reports today.
OFFICE NOTES
1) NPS-51 requires each park to conduct an EMS needs assessment
to determine the level and degree of EMS required in the park.
Butch has a sample assessment designed by Glacier ranger and
park medic Randy Coffman and would be happy to send it out to
any park that would like a copy. You can reach him at FTS
268-4188. [Butch Farabee, RAD/WASO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney at Southwest Region chief rangers'
conference (2/4-2/6), and Albright EDC (2/6-2/8).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Halainen at field
legislative coordinator conference, WASO (2/5-2/6); Henry on SL (2/4-?).
Branch of Fire: Hurd at meeting in Denver, CO (2/4-2/8); Gale
instructing at I-520/I-620 course, Marana, AZ (2/4-2/8); Farrel
at Timpanogos Cave, UT (2/4-?); Botti, Broyles and Clark at SWR
chief rangers' conference, San Antonio, TX (2/6-2/8).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
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