RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, May 14, 1991
INCIDENTS
90-411 - Organ Pipe Cactus (Arizona) - Followup on Drug Arrests
Park rangers and Customs agents made several arrests for drug
smuggling through the park during a two week period last
November. Over 365 pounds of marijuana and 32 pounds of cocaine
with an approximate value of $475,000 were seized from hidden
compartments of vehicles during that time. On April 26th, J.E.M.,
one of the men arrested at that time, was found
guilty on four charges in a jury trail in U.S. District Court
two counts of importation of cocaine and marijuana and two
counts of intent to distribute and sell the drugs in the United
States. Ranger Victor Carrasco assisted Customs agents with
interrogation and investigation and testified during the twoday
trial. [CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/6]
91-154 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Fatal Air Crash Near Park
A smoke was reported outside the park southwest of the Grandview
fire tower at approximately 1:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The
crew of a helicopter dispatched to the scene found that the
smoke came from the wreckage of an Air Grand Canyon Cessna 207
tour plane which had crashed in a clear cut area in the Kaibab
National Forest four miles from the south rim of the canyon.
All seven persons on board an American pilot and six German and
Swiss tourists were killed. Park personnel participated in the
initial response, but only one NPS liaison person is currently
involved in the operation. The incident is being managed by the
Forest Service and by Coconino County. [Barb Brutvan, GRCA, via
telefax from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 5/13; wire service
reports]
91-155 - Natchez Trace (Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee) - Apparent
Suicide
Ranger Robert Perryman found the body of A.M., 36, of
Clinton, Mississippi in the woods near the Lower Choctaw
Boundary turnout just after 6:00 p.m. on May 7th. A.M. had
apparently left a suicide note at home, driven to the site,
walked into the wooded area, and shot herself. A.M. had been
very depressed and was being treated for alcoholrelated problems.
An investigation is underway. [CompuServe message from Pat Reed,
CR, NATR, 5/8]
91-156 - Oregon Caves (Oregon) - Structural Fire
A concession employee was walking near the chateau around
midnight on May 8th when he heard the building's smoke alarm
sound, entered the laundry room and found it full of smoke. He
awakened employees residing in the building (the chateau was not
open to the public), then disconnected all the electrical
circuits in the building. The employee and the concession
manager entered the first floor boiler room through heavy smoke
and diesel fumes and discovered that some plywood and two-by-fours
which had been placed over the fuel lines for insulation were
burning. They pulled the material outside and placed it in a
snow bank. The boiler was shut down and its fuel lines were
shut off. A professional inspection of the boiler was later
conducted, but no damage was discovered. A small amount of
smoke and diesel fumes may have caused damage to the laundry and
to draperies and linen items on the second floor. [Stewart Nuss,
ORCA, via SEAdog message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 5/11]
91-157 - Fort Laramie (Wyoming) - Drug Charges
On the afternoon of May 3rd, rangers observed a smoke column on
the R.S. farm near the park's northwest boundary.
Ranger Steve Fullmer headed to the scene with local law
enforcement authorities; ranger Bryan Piercy responded with the
park's fire truck. While driving to the scene, Fullmer passed a
pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed. Although unable
to positively identify the driver, Fullmer recognized the truck
as one utilized by a local resident suspected of illegal drug
trafficking through and in the vicinity of the park. Upon
arriving at the farm, responding units found a shed totally
consumed by fire. The suspicious nature of the fire prompted
further investigation. Enough information was obtained from
R.S. to obtain a search warrant for the premises, and Fullmer
joined local officers and a DEA agent in the search and evidence
collection. Items suspected of being utilized in the
cultivation, harvesting and packaging of marijuana were found.
Criminal charges are currently pending against R.S., and the
investigation continues. [Telefax from Dan Jacobs, CR, FOLA,
5/7]
91-158 - Petrified Forest (Arizona) - Drug Arrest
Employees in the park's Painted Desert Visitor Center noticed
the smell of marijuana on four individuals who entered the
building on April 30th. They summoned ranger John Williams, who
investigated the incident and subsequently arrested three of
them A.M., 21, and S.S., 26, both of
Rockford, Illinois, and D.W., 24, of England and
charged them variously with possession of marijuana and hashish,
possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a concealed
switchblade. [Kerry Isensee, CR, PEFO, via CompuServe message
from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/7]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) We inadvertently failed to list one person who received a
valor award from the Department of Interior during last week's
ceremonies Dan Horner of Yosemite. Our apologies for the
oversight. [Bill Halainen, RAD/WASO]
2) On May 9th, members of the USPP Criminal Investigation Branch
were honored by the US Attorney for the District of Columbia for
their outstanding achievements in law enforcement, including: 1)
apprehension and assistance in the successful prosecution of a
defendant for a violent kidnapping and rape in C&O Canal; 2)
actions as the lead investigators in the brutal assault of a
USPP officer in Rock Creek Park which resulted in the
apprehension and successful prosecution of the assailants; and 3)
efforts in locating a clandestine PCP lab and the apprehension
and successful prosecution of four individuals and the
forfeiture of their illegal assets, including a horse farm in
Maryland. [Jack Schamp, RAD/WASO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney on annual leave (5/14-5/17).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Martin at FLETC, Glynco,
GA (5/16-5/17).
Branch of Fire: Gale at fire program review of parks in Dakotas
(5/13-5/17); Broyles at training working team meeting, Nashville, TN
(5/13-5/17).
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)
SEAdog: 1/650