NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Gateway NRA
Two Bodies Found In Burning Car
On the evening of Saturday, March 15th, a fire was reported in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a site within Gateway NRA located in the Broad Channel section of Queens and administered by the park. The source of the fire was a burning vehicle. Investigators discovered two bodies in the vehicle, both of whom exhibited evidence of gunshot wounds. The full circumstance of their deaths are under investigation. United States Park Police officers are investigating in conjunction with the New York City Police Department and the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. [Brian Feeney, Public Affairs Officer]
Grand Canyon NP
Man Dies In Rafting Accident On Colorado River
A call came into the park around 4 p.m. on March 17th reporting CPR in progress on a man who'd gone into the water in Hance Rapid when the raft he'd been on flipped over. He'd reportedly been in the water for several minutes before he was pulled out by other members of his group. Although CPR was begun immediately, efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Rangers were unable to reach the party that night due to weather and terrain, so the group continued down the river to Phantom Ranch and met rangers there. The man's body was flown out of the canyon and taken to the helibase on the South Rim, then transported to the county medical examiner in Flagstaff. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. [Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer]
Gateway NRA
Sentencing On Burglary Conviction
On August 3, 2006, rangers responded to a burglary at the Sea Gulls Nest concession, located in Area D of the park's Sandy Hook Unit. Investigation revealed that the burglar had entered the structure via a rollup window, gone into the snack bar, then forced two interior doors into the office and attempted to force entry into the safe. The scene was processed with the assistance of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Latent prints recovered there matched those of a local man with prior burglary convictions. At the time, the accused - R.D., Jr. - was wanted on outstanding warrants from other agencies and his whereabouts were unknown. R.D. was later arrested on other outstanding charges and appeared in court. On February 15th, he was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $1,660.14 in restitution to the park concessioner. [Peter Tortorell, Law Enforcement Specialist]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's - Park law enforcement and natural resource staff have completed a week-long project to clean up and restore natural conditions to park wilderness areas damaged by illegal marijuana growers.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6307" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6307
Director's Office - The National Park Service has been honored with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education's (NAFEO) Congressional Award.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6310" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6310
In the Media - A weekly summary of news stories about or of consequence to the NPS, including links to the articles. Today's summary includes articles on one impact of climate change at Yellowstone, the outcome of the release from Lake Powell on the Colorado River ecosystem in Grand Canyon, a debate over the identity of a Civil War soldier buried at Petersburg, and the discovery of a wreck at Cape Cod.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6312" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6312
Lake Mead NRA - BLM has recognized the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership (SNAP) interagency law enforcement team with one its highest honors.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1858" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1858
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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