NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

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INCIDENTS

Hubbell Trading Post NM/Agate Fossil Beds NM

Defendants Sentenced For Museum Burglaries

On March 31st, M.G. and brother G.G. were sentenced in federal court on two felony counts apiece of interstate transportation of stolen property and aiding and abetting (18 USC 2314 and 18 USC 2). The convictions stem from thefts from Hubbell Trading Post and Agate Fossil Beds.

The two men forcibly broke into Hubbell Trading Post on the evening of May 8, 2007, causing $7,000 in facility damage while in the process of stealing ten historic Navajo rugs worth $80,000. The rugs were subsequently sold to dealers in the Denver area for a total of $21,000. All ten rugs were later recovered by NPS investigators, though the $21,000 from the sale of the stolen property was not found. The crime at Hubbell generated a joint agency investigation that later became a task force of NPS investigators and NPS law enforcement officers working on locating the suspects, recovering the property, and stopping additional crimes at NPS facilities. Through the early ground level work of the NPS case agent in New Mexico and Arizona, the identities of both G.s and their MOs became known. Another NPS investigator began working with information sources, cooperating witnesses, and assisting agencies in Denver. NPS investigators also worked with Arizona prosecutors on court orders to capture in real time the G.'s cell phone call locations. Grand jury subpoenas and other investigative work generated a considerable amount of raw data on the two men, their movements and their activities. Steps were taken to alert NPS museums and collections throughout the West and Midwest. In some parks, items were removed from display and placed in safe storage.

On July 9, 2007, the G.z broke into the Agate Fossil Beds visitor center, causing $60,000 in property damage. During the burglary, they removed some of the Cook Collection museum pieces, a loss of over $120,000. All these items were later recovered. On July 14, 2007, Maxwell Garihan was arrested on an NPS-generated NCIC felony arrest warrant by Colorado wildlife officers in eastern Colorado. Wildlife officer had contacted both G.s, and, while checking their fishing licenses, had run routine wants and warrant checks on them through NCIC. Maxwell Garihan's Arizona judicial district arrest warrant had been entered into NCIC and maintained by the Yellowstone Communications' Center. Because of this warrant hit, the Intermountain Region special agent in charge was able to quickly contact wildlife officers and deputy sheriffs in the area. Shortly thereafter, officers made a probable cause felony arrest on Gary Garihan. NPS investigators in Denver were then called out. During the next 48 hours, they secured the residence of one of the G.s, located another residence, and prepared and served (with the assistance of rangers from Rocky Mountain National Park) two separate search warrants at one location. The investigators subsequently recovered all of the items stolen from Agate Fossil Beds in good condition. The search of the residence also led to the discovery of a large scale marijuana cultivation operation. The marijuana portion of the case was turned over to the county for prosecution.

In July, both G.s had initial appearances in Denver and were remanded to the custody of the US Marshals Service. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States Attorney's Office, Maxwell Garihan was sentenced on March 31st to six years in federal prison and three years of probation upon release and ordered to pay $86,147 in restitution to a total of six victims. He has remained in custody since his arrest on the NPS/NCIC warrant. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the Unites States Attorney's Office, Gary Garihan was sentenced on March 31st to two-and-a-half years in prison and three years of probation and ordered to pay $86,147 in restitution to a total of six victims. Gary Garihan was also found guilty earlier in a separate Colorado state court case (developed by NPS investigators) in the marijuana cultivation operation and sentenced to three years of state custody. He was ordered to surrender himself on May 5th and begin serving his federal sentence.

All of the victims in this case were allowed to enter into the record and be heard in open court regarding the impact these crimes had on their respective operations or businesses. Two of the victims in this case were the NPS areas. The public court record showed that the crimes perpetrated by these two men had significant impacts of both the staffs and the operations of the two parks. While all $200,000 worth of historic items stolen were ultimately recovered by NPS investigators and returned to the museums, the court records reflect damages caused by the G.s that extend far beyond the items stolen and the $63,000 plus property damage they inflicted on National Park Service sites. The four other victims (all of whom cooperated with investigators) unknowingly purchased the items stolen from the parks. It is significant that both defendants were ordered to pay and are responsible for the $86,147 in restitution being paid to victims - the total loss recorded by all six.

NPS special agent Brian O'Dea was the case agent and one of the principal investigators. Park Police captain/IMR LES Pat Gavin and NPS special agent Clyde Yee were both responsible for a significant amount of the investigative work on this case from its inception to its completion. NPS investigators also obtained assistance from the FBI in Denver and in New Mexico and Arizona, and from numerous state and local agencies in Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska. Midwest Region law enforcement specialist Jackie Henman, Scotts Bluff chief ranger Pete Swisher, rangers from Rocky Mountain National Park, staff at the Yellowstone Communications Center, and rangers and special agents in various locations in Intermountain Region all performed significant and crucial work in this case. And, most importantly, NPS museum and curatorial staff at both Hubbell Trading Post and Agate Fossil Beds and in the both Intermountain and Midwest Regional Offices provided significant aid to NPS investigators, making a successful prosecution and conviction possible. [Brian S Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Intermountain Region]

Gulf Islands NS

Vacationing Ranger Saves Woman's Life

On the afternoon of April 6th, a surfer spotted an 18-year-old woman face down in the water just outside the park boundary at Fort Pickens and pulled her to shore. April Wood, a vacationing protection ranger from Buffalo NR, happened to be passing by at the time. She stopped, checked the woman, found that she had no pulse, and immediately began CPR on her. Within two minutes, her heartbeat was restored and she began breathing on her own. Local emergency personnel arrived soon after and took the woman - identified as K.C. of Pensacola - to Gulf Breeze Hospital, where she's been undergoing treatment. The Pensacola Beach Public Safety Department and the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, both park cooperators, credit Wood with saving K.C.'s life. Yellow cautionary surf condition flags were posted at the time of the incident. [Clay Jordan, Chief Ranger]

Lake Meredith NRA

Taser Employed At Annual Sand Drags

During the weekend of February 22 - 24, an annual off-road vehicle event called the “Sand Drags” took place adjacent to Lake Meredith. The event attracted over 8,000 ORV enthusiasts to the Rosita Flats area of the park. During one of the many alcohol violations rangers encountered during the event, a man attempted to evade rangers by running away. After a brief chase, he was taken down with a taser and quickly placed in custody without further incident of injury to himself or to rangers. This was the first time a taser has been used at the park since the program went into effect in October, 2006. [Paul Jones, Park Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:

Gettysburg NMP - The park opened its new museum and visitor center yesterday, offering exhibits that will inspire visitors to learn more about the battle's significance in American history and to draw connections between the events that occurred here and what is happening in their lives today.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6397" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6397

Intermountain Region - Intermountain Region recently hosted its first operational leadership facilitator training session at the regional office in Denver.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6395" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6395

Bryce Canyon NP - Merna Winters will be retiring after 40 years in the NPS. A farewell retirement party will be held for her on May 9th.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1882" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1882

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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363

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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