NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

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INCIDENTS

National Mall and Memorial Parks

Protestors Sentenced For Assaulting USPP Officers During Demonstration

On Monday, November 10th, three people were found guilty in DC Superior Court on a variety of charges stemming from a demonstration last spring and sentenced to incarceration, probation and court costs. On Saturday, April 19th, the Park Police handled a permitted demonstration on the Mall by the National Socialist Movement. The group had secured a special use permit to exercise their First Amendment rights. They planned to assemble on the grounds of the Washington Monument, then march to the Capitol for a rally. Counter-demonstrations were expected and a security plan was developed to minimize the possibility of violence between the permitted group and any counter groups. The Park Police coordinated extensively with the Metropolitan Police and the United States Capitol Police, since the event crossed jurisdictional lines. Prior to the arrival of the main group, a large group of counter-demonstrators arrived on the grounds of the Washington Monument wearing masks and attracting considerable attention. The group spotted two members of the permitted group and began verbally and physically assaulting them. Park Police officers responded to escort the two out of the area, at which point the counter-demonstrators surrounded the officers, then assaulted them with pepper spray. One counter-demonstrator also struck an officer across the back with a pole while he was attempting to arrest another of the counter-demonstrators. A total of six arrests were made, with charges of assaulting police officers and weapons offenses filed against them. Convicted were the following trio:

M.B. was found guilty of two counts of assaulting an officer and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon (pepper spray). He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with all but ten suspended on each charge (concurrent), a total of five years' supervised probation (consecutive), and court costs.

J.R. was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon (pepper spray). His sentence was identical to M.B.'s.

S.V. was found guilty of assaulting an officer and attempted possession of a prohibited weapons (a piece of wood). She was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with all but 20 suspended, a total of 10 months supervised probation (concurrent), and court costs.

Click on the following to see the original report: HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3832" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3832

[Sgt. Rob Lachance, US Park Police]

OTHER NEWS

Among the stories in today's edition are the following:

Servicewide - November is National American Indian Heritage Month. The theme for this year's observance is “A Vision for Native Communities: Health, Education and Economic Opportunities.”

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7103" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7103

Washington Office - On November 8th, the NPS, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO's) signed a new programmatic agreement for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7106" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7106

Washington Office - The Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy have signed an MOU that will help the NPS showcase sustainable energy practices and fulfill the Service's mission of environmental stewardship.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=829" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=829

Grand Canyon NP - Michael Archer was recently named chief ranger of Grand Canyon National Park.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2134" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2134

San Juan Island NHP - Carl Stoddard, the first superintendent of San Juan Island National Historical Park, died on Wednesday, November 12th, at his home in Friday Harbor, Washington.

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2135" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2135

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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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