NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

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INCIDENTS

Redwood N&SP

Arrests for Theft of Redwood Logs

After an investigation of several months, arrest warrants were served on two local Orick residents on Thursday, November 10th, for attempted grand larceny for "poaching" downed old growth redwood logs from within Redwood National and State Parks. Both old growth and second growth wood is regularly and illegally removed from the park to be converted into commercial products, such as shingles and carved bears. Working with a very supportive district attorney's office in Humboldt County, park rangers are hoping a strong prosecution will result in far fewer wood theft incidents in the future. [Pat Grediagin, Chief Ranger]

Prince William Forest Park

Successful Search for Alzheimer's Patient

An Alzheimer's patient in his 80's walked away from the home of relatives in the Montclair community adjacent to Prince William Forest Park around 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon of November 10th. The man, who had a history of walking off, was dressed in short sleeves and pants. Park personnel began checking areas near his last known location. At approximately 6 p.m., Prince William County PD alerted the park and formally requested assistance. The county had put ICS into effect and had mobilized approximately 50 paid and volunteer search units. The park was identified as a low probability area due to traffic patterns and other factors. The search continued through the late night and morning hours with limited personnel. At first light, additional searchers were mobilized and the search area was increased to include part of the park. Blocking units were stationed in the park along possible routes of travel and tracking and dog teams were utilized. Park buildings and rental cabins were continually checked throughout the search. At about 2 p.m., the man was found by a volunteer ground team in Cabin Camp 1, C unit. Park EMT's provided initial assessment of the patient. He was found to be in remarkably good health with only minor hypothermia. It's unclear how he entered the park, crossing a dangerously congested roadway, and how he was able to withstand the low temperatures, with nighttime lows near freezing and daytime highs only in the 50's. The area he was located in had been checked a number of times prior to his discovery, the most recent check occurring approximately one hour earlier. [Chip Nelson, Chief Ranger]

Blue Ridge Parkway

Kidnapping and Assault

On the evening of October 15th, a woman was taken against her will from a bar/restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia, by her estranged boyfriend and driven away. While traveling on the roadways of Roanoke, he began hitting her in the face with his fist. When she tried to call 911 on her cell phone, he hung up the phone, then broke it and threw it out of the window of the vehicle. Hen then drove her to a restaurant parking lot in Vinton, where he continued to assault the woman outside of her car. He then drove onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the N&W Railroad Overlook, the stopped the car and once again assaulted the woman with his fists, telling her that he was going to kill the woman, her ex-husband, her son, and himself. He then put the now semi-conscious victim back into her car, and, while driving south on the parkway, pushed her out the door. She was taken to a local hospital and treated for cuts, abrasions (road rash) and minor head injuries. The incident is being investigated by the park, Vinton PD and Roanoke County PD. [Jon Murphy, Plateau District Ranger]

Natchez Trace Parkway

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

Rangers and Mississippi Highway Patrol officers are currently investigating the cause of a fatal collision that occurred on the parkway late on the evening of November 10th. Around 10 p.m., park staff received a report of a two-vehicle collision near milepost 248 in Lee County, Mississippi. A 31-year old male resident of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision. Five other occupants of the vehicle he was driving were transported to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi, by air and ground ambulances. The driver of the other vehicle and his three passengers were treated at the scene but did not require transport to the hospital. The initial investigation indicates that the two southbound vehicles collided, resulting in the victim's vehicle traveling down the road shoulder and coming to rest in a drainage ditch, partially submerged in water. The ongoing investigation will determine what role speed, seatbelt use, and/or drugs, including alcohol, may have contributed to the collision. No charges have been filed at this time. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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