NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

INCIDENT

Grand Canyon NP

Report Of Abduction Proves False

An investigation into the reported abduction of a woman from the park's Mohave Apartments housing area came to an end this weekend when special agents from the Investigative Services Branch interviewed several local residents who admitted they were the cause of the report. At approximately 7:50 p.m. on the evening of July 15th, rangers responded to the Mohave Apartments to investigate the report of an individual being pushed into the trunk of a white passenger car. Rangers immediately set up a containment area, establishing checkpoints at all of the major access and egress points to the village, and canvassed the area where the abduction was reported to have occurred. Additionally, a BOLO (“be on the lookout” message) was distributed to local law enforcement agencies and rangers began searching for the vehicle in Grand Canyon Village and in the community of Tusayan. Additional patrols were scheduled and a nationwide broadcast was made to law enforcement agencies describing the incident. A 24-hour tip line was established, and the public was encouraged to call in if they had information. On Sunday, July 19th, several local residents were interviewed by investigators acting on a tip called in to the tip line. When interviewed, the residents said that they were at the Mohave Apartments at approximately 7:45 p.m. on July 15th in a white passenger vehicle and that there was an individual in the trunk of their car. The person in the trunk opened it several times while the vehicle was driving though the apartment complex, an action investigators believe was interpreted as someone in the trunk trying to escape. The person in the trunk also attempted to startle a female acquaintance by popping out of the trunk. Investigators believe this action was interpreted by witnesses as some kind of altercation. Several members of the group said that they knew they were the cause of the abduction report, but were afraid to come forward for fear of getting into trouble. Criminal charges may be pending through the United States Attorney's Office. [Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist]

Canyon de Chelly NM

Suicide Victim Found At Park Overlook

On the morning of July 19th, a concerned family member contacted the park and asked that rangers check on a 57-year-old man from Louisiana who was travelling alone and had called home the previous evening from the park's Massacre Cave overlook. Ranger Fernando Jones checked the area and discovered the man's body on the rim of the canyon approximately 15 yards from his vehicle in the Massacre Cave overlook parking lot. He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. NPS, Navajo Police, and the Apache County Sheriff's office conducted the on-scene investigation. [William Yazzie, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS.

Booker T. Washington NM - A commemoration of “Juneteenth” - a celebration of freedom from slavery - was held in the park on Saturday, June 20th. Over 700 people attended.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7953" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7953

Risk Management - The Division of Risk Management has collaborated with the Student Conservation Association to launch a first-ever public risk management student internship program. An overview of the program is provided. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7952" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7952

Palo Alto Battlefield NHS - In mid-June, the park, the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (ABPP), the American Battlefield Protection Program, and the Western Archeological and Conservation Center hosted a workshop on preserving, mapping, and registering historic battlefields and artifacts. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7955" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7955

Zion NP - Zion National Park has received a new addition to its fleet of emergency service vehicles - a 1997 International originally outfitted as an ambulance for a city in New Mexico, then used as an ambulance at Bandelier and Grand Canyon. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7954" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7954

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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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