NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, May 14, 2015
INCIDENTS
Big Bend NP
Traffic Stop Leads To Significant Drug Seizure
On May 3rd, a ranger made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle for a defective tail lamp. The vehicle was towing a small utility trailer. Upon interviewing the driver, the ranger developed strong suspicions that the operator was involved in drug smuggling activities. An odor of marijuana was also detected coming from the vehicle.
A search of the driver's compartment turned up leafy material that tested positive as marijuana. The driver was questioned about the contents of the trailer; he said that he'd just purchased the trailer, and that anything that was in there was there when he bought it.
Further information from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents made the ranger believe that the trailer contained large amounts of marijuana concealed in a hidden compartment, as the driver had an extensive criminal history, including drug trafficking.
Area license plate readers (LPRs) confirmed that the vehicle had traveled south toward the border from the town of Marfa, Texas, with no trailer. Other area LPRs later showed the vehicle northbound with the trailer attached.
A Border Patrol canine unit was called in to perform a free sniff of the air around the vehicle and trailer. The dog alerted on the trailer. A search of the trailer showed a hidden wall partition which was made to look like the trailer was empty. Within the compartment, searchers found 553 pounds of marijuana.
The driver and passenger were arrested for drug trafficking. The subjects and narcotics were subsequently transferred to HSI for prosecution.
[Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Grand Canyon NP
Rangers Successfully Intervene In Suicide Attempt
On Monday, May 11th, the police department in Tallmadge, Ohio, contacted park dispatch and advised that a man missing from that town was believed to be suicidal and at the park.
Rangers were able to locate his vehicle at the Bright Angel Lodge and were able to trace the man to the Abyss on West Rim/Hermit's Rest Drive based on information provided by investigators in Ohio. Rangers contacted the man and over the course of three-hours were able to safely move him away from the rim. He was then taken to the Flagstaff Area Medical Center for evaluation.
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and the Tallmadge Police Department.
[Public Affairs Office]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers):
Centennial and Communications Offices - This spring's Find Your Park campaign reached more than a billion people over the course of only a few weeks. Sincerest thanks go out to all of you for making both the launching of Find Your Park and the 2015 National Park Week extraordinary successes.
Colonial NHP - On Saturday, May 9th, Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement jointly offered a range of programs marking the 408th anniversary of the colony's establishment.
Denver Service Center - Denver Service Center recently hosted two mini-trade fairs to connect small businesses with DSC staff for networking and training opportunities.
Harpers Ferry Center - This month, Harpers Ferry Center shipped Braille booklets to the hundredth park nationwide. The center is on track to complete 140 more by spring 2016.
George Washington Birthplace NM - George Washington Birthplace recently hosted a visit from the manager of Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire, England, the ancestral home of the Washington family.
Pecos NM - Regina Carrico, the chief ranger at Pecos National Historical Park, retired on April 30th with 24 years of service with the National Park Service.
To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites:
NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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