NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, March 23, 2009
INCIDENTS
Lake Mead NRA
Five Plead Guilty To Assault And Robbery Charges
On February 24, 2008, five people were arrested by rangers and special agents for assaulting and robbing two men on a beach near Kingman Wash on the Arizona side of the park. Both victims suffered serious head and facial trauma and other injuries. Each of the five people arrested - J.A., Ja.A., J.B., A.G,, and S.M. - had blood on his or her clothing and hands; each also had $500 in his or her possession, with blood on a number of the bills. Special agents collected physical evidence from the suspects and the crime scene, then interviewed them and a child witness. A special agent later identified and located a sixth suspect, W.K., who'd fled from the scene. He confessed and was arrested. A search warrant was obtained for the suspects' vehicles, where more blood evidence and information pertaining to the victims was found. Overwhelming DNA evidence connected each of the six assailants to the victims. Keck was arrested for homicide while he was awaiting trial and is currently incarcerated in Las Vegas. The A.s and S.M. have been identified as being affiliated with the Hammerskins, a violent white supremacist gang associated with the skinhead movement. Special agents and rangers continue to work with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in ongoing gang investigations. J.A., Ja.V., J.V., A.G., and S.M. pled guilty on felony counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and robbery; the defendants are awaiting sentencing. [Kristy J. McGee, Special Agent]
Golden Gate NRA
Firefighters Suppress Stovetop Blaze
A smoke detector activation came into the park communications center from the fire alarm system at the Marine Mammal Center Hospital just after 6 p.m. on March 18th. Park fire department units responded and found moderate smoke issuing from the front door. Marin County units also responded. Firefighters found that the smoke was caused by a pot that had been left on a stove. They checked the building to see if the fire had spread, then began smoke removal efforts. Investigation revealed that a volunteer at the center had been distracted by a problem with her car, parked nearby, and had left a large stockpot with about seven rubber feeding tubes unattended on the stove. Once the water boiled off, the rubber feeding tubes began to melt and eventually caught fire. Slight charring and melted plastic veneer on the backsplash indicated significant heat from the burning pot. Thanks to fast notification via the fire alarm system, the fire did not have a chance to spread beyond the pot and stove top, potentially saving the building and many marine mammals in nearby recovery condos. Once the smoke was cleared from the building, park firefighters assisted center staff in returning the building to normal operations. Law enforcement rangers provided scene security and traffic control during the incident. [Matt Kiolbassa, Interim Fire Chief]
Pinnacles NM
Motor Vehicle Accident Leads To Manhunt And Arrest
On the night of March 18th, rangers investigated a report that a car had gone over the edge of Bear Gulch Road on the east side of the park. An SUV was found below the road - unoccupied, with its airbags deployed. The SUV struck a pine tree on the hillside, which kept it from landing in a creek bed 100 feet below. The passenger was found in the campground and taken by ambulance to a medical facility. Investigation revealed that the driver was fleeing from rangers to avoid prosecution and that he was injured. Search dogs were called in, along with a San Benito County canine unit. The driver was eventually found as friends attempted to drive him to the hospital. He was arrested and has been charged with a number of offenses, including felony DUI. [Brett Hergert, Operations Supervisor]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
Bering Land Bridge NP - During the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which passed by the Bering Land Bridge visitor center, park staff hosted a week of guest speakers, movies, and cultural demonstrations that showcased the people and wildlife of the region as far back as the last ice age.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7467" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7467
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. Seven new park-related bills were introduced and several confirmations were either held or scheduled.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7468" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7468
NPS Law Enforcement Training Center - Ranger Joseph Wilcox has become the 21st ranger to register a perfect score of 300 on the pistol qualification course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, making him the newest member of the “300 Club.”
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2273" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2273
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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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