NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, November 29, 2010

INCIDENTS

Independence NHP

Man Arrested For Violent Threats

Last June 2nd, park dispatch received a phone call from a Philadelphia police officer advising of a threatening posting that he'd discovered on a popular internet website called Craigslist. The posting was under the “Personals, Rants and Raves” section, which displayed a heading that read “I am a killer” and went on to describe shooting someone with a shotgun in the park. Upon receiving this posting, the park immediately doubled up patrols and went on elevated alert. On June 3rd, investigators contacted a representative from Craigslist and obtained the Yahoo email address and an IP address associated with the posting. This information in turn lead to a suspect by the name of Robert Ortgiesen of Limerick, Pennsylvania. Through extensive additional investigation, it was discovered that Ortgiesen had written two additional posts, one of which described killing his wife and family and the other about “f****** the police.” As a result of these postings, the park, in consultation with the US Attorney's Office, obtained and issued a search warrant for Ortgiesen's residence. On June 16th, protection rangers, Limerick SWAT team members, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms K-9 agents served the warrant and seized numerous items as evidence. Ortgiesen's computer was found to contain the threatening postings, and, as a result, an arrest warrant was issued for him on November 16th. Rangers and Limerick PD officers executed the warrant the next day. Ortgiesen was booked into a federal detention center on a charge of knowingly transmitting in interstate commerce a communication which threatened to injure the person of another (18 USC 875). Ortgiesen was released on $50,000 bail and is awaiting his court date. [Don Reed, Law Enforcement Specialist]

Grand Teton NP

Two Plead Guilty To Drug Possession, Forfeit Over $53K

While on routine patrol last December 26th, ranger Joe Lachowski stopped a new 2010 Toyotoa pickup truck for speeding. When Lachowski approached the truck, he smelled marijuana and saw indications that the driver, R.P., might be under the influence. Lackowski convinced R.P. and passenger S.R. to surrender the marijuana (just over an ounce) that they had with them. A search of the truck led to the discovery of $53,020 in bundled cash, which also smelled strongly of marijuana. Both men were detained. The truck was found to be registered to R.P.'s parents in Illinois and had recently been purchased. A computer check indicated that S.R. had an outstanding warrant against him for drug distribution in California, but a further inquiry revealed that the warrant was not extraditable from Wyoming. S.R. was eventually released, but with a notice for a mandatory court appearance for possession of a controlled substance. He left the area in the pickup, which also contained two pit bulls. R.P. was arrested and taken to the Teton County Jail. An NPS special agent assumed oversight of the case and followed through with the U.S. Attorney's Office, DEA and California agencies. S.R. pled guilty to possession this past October; R.P. pled guilty to the possession charge on November 16th. In addition to a $1,000 fine, he forfeited all the seized cash to the government. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]

Shenandoah NP

Ranger Successful Intervenes In Suicide Attempt

While sweeping the Skyline Drive as part of a seasonal nightly road closure, ranger Bill Cardwell checked on a truck parked in one of the overlooks and found a man slumped over inside the cab with a hose through the window. Cardwell was able to awaken the man, who proved to be intoxicated. He ultimately admitted to trying to commit suicide, but said that he was unsuccessful because the hose kept coming out of the tailpipe. The man then said that he had decided to sleep awhile, then head to another overlook and drive his vehicle over the edge. Cardwell took the man into protective custody and he was admitted into a local hospital. This is the seventh successful suicide intervention in Shenandoah in the last two years. [Pete Webster, Deputy Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Risk Management Division - The Division of Risk Management and the Student Conservation Association have established a summer internship program. This year, parks can apply to participate in the public risk management internship program and/or the employee safety internship program, depending on park needs.

Workplace Enrichment - Since 2001, the NPS has had the authority to help employees with student loan repayment. Particulars are provided on how it works.

Alaska Region - More than 100 people gathered in Anchorage earlier this month for Ted Stevens Day, celebrating the continuing legacy of the late Alaska senator. Photo.

Office of the Comptroller - Jennifer Greatorex has been appointed to the position of manager of the Service's Accounting Operations Center. Photo.

Office of the Comptroller - Frances J. Hill has been selected as the manager for the Service's Office of Property and Space Management in WASO. Photo.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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