NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, April 17, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-157 - New River Gorge NR (West Virginia) - Kidnapping, Assault

Rangers in the Grandview unit received a request from regional dispatch
around noon on April 15th to be on the lookout for a vehicle believed to be
associated with a recent spousal kidnapping.  The wife's parents had found
her vehicle along the side of the road with the windows broken out, and had
reported a suspected kidnapping to the state police.  The husband,
J.C., 42, of Rainelle, West Virginia, was intercepted at a roadblock;
his wife was in the vehicle.  J.C. attempted to flee on foot, but was
captured by a park ranger before he could escape.  Investigation revealed
that both the kidnapping and a subsequent assault had occurred within the
park.  The J.C.s were involved in divorce proceedings which stemmed from
apparent long-term spousal abuse.  A joint meeting was held by rangers, state
police and local FBI agents and a decision was made to have the state police
carry the case forward.  They charged J.C. with felony kidnapping,
assault and resisting arrest.  [Bill Blake, CR, NERI, 4/16]

97-158 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Missouri) - Assault, Robbery

Two visitors reported being attacked and robbed on Arch grounds on the
evening of April 14th.  The couple was approached by six males, all about 20
years old and wearing "Cochrane Cripts" gang colors.  At least two of them
attacked the man, knocking him to the ground and robbing him of his wallet. 
The woman was also knocked to the ground.  Under the threat of death, she was
ordered to disrobe and was forcibly sexually assaulted by more than one of
the individuals; she was then robbed of clothing and jewelry, including a
nose ring which was ripped out of her nose.  Both victims were punched and
kicked repeatedly in the head during the attack and sustained moderate
injuries.  Good physical descriptions of several of the attackers were
obtained.  Law enforcement rangers and the park's criminal investigator are
working closely with the St. Louis police department's gang unit to identify
the attackers.  [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF, 4/16]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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