Big Bend National Park (TX)
Major Drug Seizures
Rangers and Border Patrol officers seized more than three tons of
processed marijuana within the park on January 3. While on routine
patrol, district ranger Cary Brown spotted a suspicious vehicle heading
north toward the park's exit. The truck had an external antenna on the
roof, commonly used for two-way radios; a similarly equipped vehicle had
been seized the previous week and found to contain a substantial load of
marijuana. Brown stopped the truck, which he found was being driven by
Jamie Cazares, 20, of Pecos, Texas. Brown noticed that several large
plastic barrels were sitting on what appeared to be a raised bed.
Cazares could not produce a driver's license and was asked to exit the
vehicle, at which time he admitted to transporting marijuana. The truck
was transported to a detention facility near park headquarters with the
assistance of other rangers and Border Patrol officers. It was
inventoried and found to contain 2,854 pounds of processed marijuana,
hidden in the plastic barrels, bed, toolbox and rear seat. Rangers and
officers were then notified to be on the lookout for other vehicles with
external antennae. A short time later, they found a Ford F-350 pickup
abandoned near the north exit. It was also equipped with a two-way
radio. It was impounded, inventoried, and found to contain 3,218 pounds
of processed marijuana, packaged similarly to the contraband found in
the first vehicle. The frequencies on both radios were the same. The
case was turned over to DEA for further investigation and prosecution.
Rangers have seized over four-and-a-half tons of processed marijuana in
the park within the past two-and-a-half weeks.
[Submitted by Cary
Brown, District Ranger]
Saint Croix National Scenic River (WI)
Emergency Aircraft Landing
The Chisago County Sheriff's Department advised the park that an
airplane had landed on a frozen river in a remote area of the park on
the night of January 2. The pilot, Steven Lere, had notified the FAA of
his emergency landing and his approximate location along the river. The
late night search for the downed Cessna 185 was coordinated by the
sheriff's department and included several rangers and officers from
other agencies. The Cessna was located from the air around midnight and
the uninjured pilot was evacuated by helicopter. Rangers Bob Whaley and
Keith Nelson, VIP Barb Whaley and two Minnesota state park rangers
helped Lene locate his plane the next day. After an inspection for
damage, refueling, and several unsuccessful efforts to get the plane
going, it was finally started and flown off the ice. Lene said that he'd
simply run out of gas while trying to reach the airport in Rush City and
refuel.
[Submitted by Bob Whaley, District Ranger]
Western Arctic National Parklands (AK)
Burglary
Upon arriving at work on January 9, park employees found that the
main door and interior doors for the park office in Nome had been pried
open and that desks had been entered. Personal property was stolen, and
a floor safe had been tampered with. All major government property items
had been accounted for at the time of the report. The office space,
which is leased from a native corporation, is the second office within
the building to have been burglarized since December. Nome PD is
investigating. There are no suspects.
[Submitted by Lindy Russell,
Chief Ranger]
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Suicide
On January 9, rangers checked the registration of a Ford van that had
been parked along the Generals Highway at Eleven Range for several days.
LAPD had recently listed the owner, a resident of Van Nuys, as a missing
person. The 57-year-old man was reportedly despondent over his finances
and was said to own several firearms. A closer check of the van revealed
that sheets had been secured on the inside to obstruct the view of the
interior back section. Other law enforcement personnel were called in to
assist with the investigation. The man's body was found inside the back
of the van. Evidence at the scene indicated that he'd perished from a
self-inflicted gunshot wound. A suicide note addressed to his family was
found on his person.
[Submitted by Al DeLaCruz, Special Agent]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.