NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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NOTICE
The White House
Flags At Half Staff Today
President Bush has directed that all flags be lowered to half staff on Thursday, May 15th, for Peace Officers' Memorial Day. Flags will return to full staff on Friday. For the text of President Bush's proclamation, click on the link below.
HYPERLINK "http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080509-5.html" http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080509-5.html
INCIDENTS
Appalachian Trail
Convicted Murderer Shoots Two, Dies In Jail After Arrest
A once-notorious southwest Virginia man died in jail Saturday night, a day after he was charged with shooting and wounding two campers on the Appalachian Trail, not far from the isolated area where he killed two hikers in 1981. R.L.S., 54, was hospitalized with multiple injuries last Tuesday night after crashing a pickup that he'd stolen from one of the victims during a police chase. R.L.S. was jailed on Friday after being discharged from a hospital in Roanoke. He faced several felony charges, including attempted capital murder. Although it appears that he didn't commit suicide, he'd earlier told officers that he was ready to die. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. The shootings brought back memories of the spring 1981 discovery of two bodies in shallow graves near Pearisburg, Virginia, a town near the Appalachian Trial, about 270 miles southwest of Washington. S.R. and R.M. Jr., 27-year-old social workers from Ellsworth, Maine, had been hiking and camping on the popular trail. Ramsey was stabbed more than a dozen times in the back. R.M. was shot three times in the head. R.L.S. was captured about two weeks later in a wooded area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, by a dozen police officers and FBI agents. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and spent 14 years in prison. By all accounts, R.L.S. had led a quiet, if at times impoverished, life since his release in 1996, and was off probation. In early March, R.L.S. left home with his dog and headed into the woods. The Appalachian Trail was directly behind his house. On Tuesday, May 6th, R.L.S. befriended two campers on the trail, spending about three hours talking and sharing a meal around a campfire with S.J., 37, and S.F., 33, both from Virginia. Around 8 p.m., R.L.S. "just got up from his chair around the fire and said, 'I gotta go,'" Hamlin said, recounting what the victims had told investigators. "Then he stood up and starting popping them [with a gun]. It was like firecrackers. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop." S.J. was shot in the back and neck; S.F., in the face and chest. Both are currently doing well in the hospital. R.L.S. was captured driving S.J.'s pickup. [Washington Post and other news accounts]
Grand Canyon NP
Two Carjackers Die After Fleeing Border Patrol
T.“T.-B.”T., 36, and W.T., 38, the two men who carjacked a vehicle in the park on Monday afternoon, died of self-inflicted wounds after a 136-mile pursuit yesterday afternoon. Several agencies, including the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, joined in the pursuit of their vehicle on Interstate 8 on Wednesday morning. The chase began when the men pulled up to a checkpoint near Wellton, just east of Yuma, said a supervisory Border Patrol agent. When they were asked to pull over for further inspection, they fled in the vehicle. The chase continued down Interstate 8 into Pinal County, where it stopped near Stanfield Road. Deputies and agents surrounded the vehicle, a white Dodge Caliber. Soon after, they heard two gunshots come from the car. They later found the two men dead of self-inflicted wounds. [News reports]
Crater Lake National Park
Concession Security Guard Convicted Of Sexual assault
On May 8th, J.F. was found guilty of felony abusive sexual contact in a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Medford, Oregon. The crime occurred inside the park at the Crater Lake Rim Dormitory in the early morning hours of August 31, 2007. J.F., 34, had been hired as a uniformed security guard by Xanterra, the park concessioner, and assigned to nighttime security of its property and interests. On the evening in question, J.F. invited four underage Xanterra employees to his trailer in Mazama Campground for drinks. He socialized with them, served them alcohol, and drank with them. Several hours later, while on duty and in uniform, J.F. continued drinking and doing shots of alcohol with the same and other Xanterra employees at the Rim Dormitory. A short time later, in the early morning hours, an intoxicated 24-year-old woman was carried to her bed and covered with a blanket. J.F. later came back to this room, entered without her permission, and sexually assaulted her. Two friends of the victim discovered J.F. in the room with her and J.F. quickly left. The incident was immediately reported and Crater Lake rangers responded and investigated. The case was prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office in Medford. Ranger Charles Mayer was case officer and investigator. [Pete Reinhardt, Acting Chief Ranger/Operations Supervisor]
Natchez Trace Parkway
Serious Vandalism To Construction Equipment
On Monday, May 5th, park dispatch received a report of vandalism to construction equipment on the parkway near milepost 339 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Ranger Anthony Franks discovered that a 2005 Kobelco crane had been seriously vandalized. The cab of the crane, all of its electronics, computers and windows had been destroyed. The crane belongs to a contractor that is replacing three bridges on the parkway. During his investigation, Franks learned that a dump truck, parked one half mile from the parkway, had received similar vandalism and that a suspect, C.J., had been arrested by Lauderdale County officers. During his investigation, Franks located physical evidence that tied C.J. to the crane vandalism. During an interview, C.J. admitted to vandalizing the crane. Charges are pending. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Office of Public Affairs - Some were recognized for decades of service, others for acts of bravery, but all 21 NPS employees who received Department of the Interior Honor Awards on Tuesday showed what's best about our agency.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6507" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6507
Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - International Cartridge Corporation has issued a recall on certain lead free frangible rounds. The primers have been found to be defective.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6501" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6501
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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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