Lava Beds |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Wednesday, January 17, 1990 The park has closed several caves due to the discovery of a dead pack rat infected with bubonic plague outside the mouth of a cave on the Cave Loop. The remainder of the park is still open to visitors. Health officials reportedly planned to begin dusting the caves with pesticide yesterday to kill the fleas that spread the disease. The control measures should be completed by February 1st, at which time the caves will be reopened, (United Press report, 11 a.m. EST, 1/16/90).
Late in August, rangers recovered two large religious stones taken from monument grounds prior to 1960. The stones were discovered at a business in Klamath Falls through the combined efforts of the park's ARPA ranger, the archeologist from Redwoods, other Lava Bed staff members and various members of the community. The relics were returned to the park on August 26th and will be returned to their sites of origin in the near future. Members of the Modoc tribe will be present on that occasion. More ARPA recoveries are expected over the next few months as a result of this discovery. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10]
H.H. and two companions were attempting a technical ascent out of Heppe Cave on September 1st when a large rock came loose and struck H.H. on the head, causing a severe injury. Ranger Ken Kerr responded and directed a technical evacuation with the assistance of other rangers and fire personnel. The victim was transferred to Merle West Medical Center in Klamath Falls, where his head injuries are being treated. H.H. was not wearing a hard hat at the time of the accident. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10]
W.D., 18, a life-long asthmatic, went into severe respiratory distress while inside Catacomb Cave on November 9th. Rangers Harris and Toops responded, provided oxygen, and help W.D. administer a companion's medicine for the same condition. After he began to show improvement, he was assisted from the cave and taken to a medical center in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Doctors attributed his survival to the quick actions of W.D.'s companions and the rangers. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/13]
Crystal Ice Cave, the most heavily visited cave in the park, has been closed to all entry following a partial collapse of the cave's ceiling. Approximately four tons of material have fallen and other sections are threatened. The park has had the situation evaluated by experts to determine what actions can or should be taken. No decision has yet been made as to whether or not an effort will be made to remove the weakened ceiling sections or to take any other actions. The cave will remain closed to all entry until it has been determined that it is safe to enter. [Doris Bowen, Superintendent, LABE, via telefax from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 4/22]
Seasonal ranger Bill Bailey suffered a major heart attack while on duty on the night of Sunday, June 7th. He is currently in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Rouse Valley Medical Center. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, via cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/8]
Around 4:00 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, July 26th, ranger Pat Toops responded to noise at the park's visitor center and came upon several individuals dressed in camouflage clothing and carrying kendo sticks. He requested backup and was joined by rangers Terry Harris and Kirk Gebicke. The three rangers detained eight individuals at their parked car at Catacomb Cave. One member of the group, J.M. of Klamath Falls, Oregon, was cited for possessing a loaded .38 revolver. It was confiscated from the dash of the vehicle after rangers learned that county authorities had flagged J.M.'s record as "armed and dangerous." A second person, R.M., also of Klamath Falls, had an extensive record and will be cited for possession of an illegal knife. His probation officer will also be contacted. All eight of the men were identified as white supremacists from the Klamath Falls area. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, 7/29]
During a patrol operation being conducted jointly by the park, California Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife on the night of September 19th, rangers stopped a van running without lights which contained four armed males and an illegally killed deer. The four were charged by the state with illegal possession of game, hunting without a license or deer tags, hunting after hours, and hunting with an illegal weapon (a .22 caliber automatic rifle). To date, the joint effort has resulted in the confiscation of five weapons and numerous citations. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, 9/23]
On September 17th, S.N. and three companions entered the park to "party". At some point, an altercation broke out between S.N. and his companions; he attempted to run them over with his vehicle but crashed. S.N. was arrested and taken to a local sheriff's office, where he registered a BAC of .17 over two hours after initial contact. S.N. was charged with seven 36 CFR violations, and state charges are pending, including cultivation of marijuana and assault. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, 9/23]
Over the Memorial day weekend, the park was involved in what appears to be the single largest ARPA event in the Northwest - and possibly the United States - to date. The event, known as "Project Spearhead", involved officers from BLM, the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, Native American groups, the Oregon National Guard, Oregon State Police and county sheriff offices in Oregon, northwestern Nevada and northeastern California. Lava Beds assisted the northeastern California archeological task force in the California/Nevada sector of this project in coordinating overflights and providing backup and site protection on park and interagency lands. The results of the project will be forthcoming over the next few months; numerous ARPA felony charges are pending from cases made in Nevada. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, 6/1]
The earthquakes which struck the area around Klamath Falls, Oregon, on the night of September 20th, were felt in the park, which is about 45 miles southeast of that city. Park facilities were not damaged, but caves in the park were closed until they could be inspected for hazards. The park expects to return to normal operations this morning. [Craig Dorman, Superintendent, LABE, 9/22]
On September 26th, rangers contacted five men who said that they were mushroom hunters from the Shoshone reservation who were in the park because they had been driven from their usual collecting areas in Oregon and Washington by Asian collectors. The men, who were not cooperative, were all wearing edged weapons and had five SKS assault rifles, two .357 handguns, a .22 rifle and two scoped, high-powered rifles with them. They also had a considerable amount of ammunition. Five of the weapons were seized. On October 1st, rangers responding to complaints of shots being fired at Immigrant Crossing campground contacted two men with an SKS assault rifle and ammunition in their possession. A short time later, a second vehicle with two more men arrived. A handgun was in plain sight on the dashboard of their pickup. These men admitted that Forest Service officers had recently seized five of their weapons. All four were also wearing edged weapons. Rangers believe that all of these men may present threats to law enforcement personnel. The men and their DOB's are as follows: W.B. (6/15/71), F.B. (8/20/51), R.B. (8/3/43), D.C. (2/12/60), W.F. (10/24/74), R.H. (2/27/63), N.R. (5/26/73), G.S. (4/28/47), and H.T. (9/2/72). Their vehicles - all of which have Washington plates - include a white Ford sedan (GOX-281), a blue '74 Volvo sedan (788-ENC), a green and white '73 Chevy pickup with shell (GJ-2767), a white '79 Ford Courier pickup with shell (PV- 8904) and a blue '79 Datsun sedan (HDL-755). For further information, contact chief ranger Terry Harris at 916-667-2282. [Kirk Gebilke, LABE, 10/4]
Just before midnight on October 21st, a person or persons attempted to break into the park's entrance fee station by removing the station's door from its frame. The removal of the door set off an alarm, though, and the would-be burglar(s) fled. Rangers were on scene within minutes, but were unable to locate anyone within the area. The investigation is continuing, and a suspect has been identified. The station has since been modified to deter this method of entry. About $1,000 in fees were in the structure at the time of the incident. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE, 10/25]
Rangers Terry Harris and Kirk Gebicke contacted two individuals - subsequently identified as M.B. and F.C. - digging in an archeological site on the east side of Petroglyph Point along the park's border with adjacent BLM lands on May 6th. The two were in possession of human remains; when asked what they were doing, they both replied that they were "digging up bones." A consent search of their vehicle was conducted, during which the rangers found additional human remains and a homemade marijuana pipe containing residue. The pair were charged with possession of a controlled substance and vehicle violations. The park is currently working with BLM, a northern California ARPA task force and the U.S. attorney's office to obtain ARPA charges on both subjects. The case is still under investigation. [Admin, LABE, 6/2]
Rangers Terry Harris and Kirk Gebicke contacted two individuals - subsequently identified as M.B. and F.C. - digging in an archeological site on the east side of Petroglyph Point along the park's border with adjacent BLM lands on May 6th. The two were in possession of human remains; when asked what they were doing, they both replied that they were "digging up bones." A consent search of their vehicle was conducted, during which the rangers found additional human remains and a homemade marijuana pipe containing residue. On November 21st, M.B. and F.C. both pled guilty to misdemeanor ARPA charges. M.B. was fined $1,000 and sentenced to two years' probation, 200 hours of community service and mandatory drug testing for two years; F.C. was sentenced to 40 days in jail. Local tribes have been consulted on repatriation of human remains in compliance with NAGPRA. [Kirk Gebicke, LABE, 11/21]
The severe storms that have been raging over northern California since late last week have had significant impacts on two parks: * Lava Beds - The park reports winds yesterday of 65 mph, with gusts to 80 mph. These winds have downed many trees and heavily damaged the roof of a seasonal apartment building. The campground has been closed due to tree damage. At the time of the report, one of the park's Mission 66 houses was threatened by a tree that had almost completely fallen over. Electricity and phones were out. Severe weather is forecast for the area for the rest of the week, with no break yet apparent. [Craig Dorman, Superintendent, LABE, 1/9; Betty Knight, LAVO, 1/9]
Several more initial and follow-up reports have been received from California parks regarding the storms that have been buffeting that state: * Lava Beds - Five park structures - two of them historic buildings - were damaged by high winds Monday. About 50 trees are down in and around developed areas of the park. Many wayside bulletin boards and signs have been damaged, as has the park's emergency siren, which blew down, went off, and caused something of a stir. The campground has been closed because of downed trees and will remain closed until an assessment can be made on Friday. One residence remains threatened by a tree; the occupant has been evacuated. Power and phones have been restored. Several more storms are forecast for the area through the balance of the week. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS; Acting Superintendent, PORE; Craig Dorman, Superintendent, LABE; Betty Knight, PAO, LAVO; Bob Andrew, CR, YOSE; all reports, 1/10]
The park has begun assessment and repair of the damage caused by the rain, snow and high winds that struck the area between January 8th and the 22nd. Roofs on six park buildings were damaged, and many doors, windows and antennae were destroyed. Seventy trees are down or seriously damaged in developed areas. Removal of several which were threatening structures has been completed, but clean-up or removal of others will not be possible until spring. Temporary repairs have been completed on two wash-outs on secondary roads. Repairs to traffic and information signs and replacement of bulletin boards will take place over the next few months. Damage assessments are continuing, but are being hampered by snow. Estimates of losses are still being compiled. All park roads, facilities, and a portion of the campground have been reopened. [LABE, 1/24]
On April 21st, rangers were summoned to the Forest Service's Doorknob Snow Park for a medical emergency. Employees there reported that B.D. had been working in the generator room of his cabin at Little Medicine Lake when he apparently was overcome by carbon monoxide. Information supplied to the rangers and ambulance service indicated that B.D. was in serious distress. Ranger Terry Harris responded by snowmobile, verified that B.D. was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, and provided oxygen and other medical assistance until a paramedic arrived on scene. B.D. was transported nine miles by snowmobile to a waiting ambulance. He is in fair to good condition at a hospital in Klamath Falls. [CRO, LABE, 4/25]
J.H., 27, became separated from his party in Catacombs Cave, one of the largest caves in the park, around 9 p.m. on the evening of April 17th. His friends searched for him until midnight, then contacted rangers. Chief ranger Terry Harris and science technician Chris Roundtree lead a search of the cave. They found J.H. at the rear of the cave, about 6,900 feet from the entrance, at 4:30 a.m. Although wet from crawling on the cave floor and displaying initial signs of hypothermia, J.H. was in good condition. He was treated at the scene and released. J.H.'s flashlight had broken shortly after he became separated from the group, which caused him to become disoriented. [LABE, 4/25]
A five-year investigation has culminated in the arrest of J.K., 30, for possession of Native American remains taken from the park. In July of 1990, J.K. began showing off a human skull at local bars which he said he'd taken from "the lava beds." Efforts were made at the time to develop a case against him, but park staff were unable to gather sufficient evidence. At the request of the Klamath tribe, the case was reopened in 1993 when J.K. began showing off the skull in Oregon, this time with a wig resembling a mohawk cut. The county sheriff's office and Oregon state police were both brought into the investigation, but J.K. and the skull disappeared. When he resurfaced last summer, a search warrant, based partly on the park's investigation, was served on him by Oregon state police, who found and seized two skulls (one of an adult, the other of a child), bald eagle feathers, and methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of Native American remains, possession of protected bird parts, and illegal possession (as a previously convicted felon) of a firearm. J.K. is currently awaiting trial; the skulls are being returned to the Klamath tribe. [LABE, 5/1]
On April 2nd, J.A., 40, a companion, and two small children fired about 50 rifle rounds into petroglyphs behind the security fence at Petroglyph Point. Total damage to petroglyphs is still being assessed. J.A. has been charged with defacing an archeological resource, vandalism, using a weapon to endanger property, and littering. [LABE, 4/28]
Chief ranger Terry Harris and maintenance worker Pat Teague were returning to the park from a teaching assignment when they picked up an alert from an ARPA radio sensor located in the Granada Hills in the Klamath National Forest. The sensor was one of those placed and utilized by the Northeastern California ARPA task force. They summoned Forest Service officers to the area and maintained surveillance of the road access to the location until the officers arrived. Four people - R.H. and D.H., S.B. and C.F., all from the Yreka area - were found digging, screening and removing artifacts from a recorded archeological site. Harris and three Forest Service officers arrested the foursome as they were leaving the site. They were charged with felony ARPA violations and booked into the county jail. The case has been forwarded to the U.S. attorney's office for prosecution. The park is a founding member of the task force and is currently working with other task force members on a number of open cases. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE]
P.M., 16, and students from a local high school were exploring lava tube caves in the Symbol Bridge area of the park on May 25th when P.M. became wedged in the entrance to a small lava cave. Teachers and students spent almost two hours attempting to free her before notifying park staff. A six-person rescue team rendezvoused at the site. When they arrived, group members were gathering vehicle jacks with the intention of moving the rocks away from P.M.. The rescue team took charge of the scene and halted this hazardous project. Resource technician Chris Roundtree worked through another access to the cave and was able to help P.M. free herself. She was released after a medical assessment revealed that she was uninjured. [CRO, LABE]
Early on the morning of May 16th, W.H. contacted park residents and told them that he'd been injured when he'd fallen into a lava flow while hiking cross-country the previous day. W.H. had a broken collarbone, arm and wrist; he was treated, then transported to a local hospital. While being treated, W.H. said that he believed he was dying from a communicable terminal illness. On the morning of May 26th, ranger Kirk Gebicke received reports of an individual yelling for help and threatening visitors in the Skull Cave area. A license plate check revealed that the individual was probably W.H.. Gebicke was joined by chief ranger Terry Harris and officers from cooperating agencies, as it was believed that W.H. might be armed. Harris attempted to talk W.H. out of the lava field, but the latter repeatedly stated that he'd come there to die and that the only way he'd come out would be for Harris to kill him. Harris followed W.H. for over a mile into the lava flow and was finally able to determine that he wasn't armed. He then talked W.H. into surrendering. He was taken into custody without further incident and is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation. [CRO, LABE]
On June 2nd, B.S., 31, was contacted for multiple violations within the park. During his arrest and transport, B.S. threatened ranger Kirk Gebicke and other law enforcement officers, stating that he would return with a militia group and kill Gebicke and any other officer he should find. B.S. was booked and later released. When he failed to appear in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Employing information gained from local residents on B.S.'s whereabouts, Gebicke and ranger Terry Harris served the warrant and arrested B.S. on October 1st. He entered guilty pleas on all charges in magistrate's court and was sentenced to two days in jail and $700 in fines. Threats of militia retribution such as those made by B.S. are becoming more common in field contacts in the local area. [CR, LABE]
On October 9th, chief ranger Terry Harris escorted sheriff's deputies and state highway patrol officers into mushroom hunter camps on private lands adjacent to the park. The intent was to evict mushroom hunters who were trespassing on those private lands and to address complaints from citizens concerning threats to forest users by armed mushroom hunters. Those evicted immediately moved onto Forest Service lands adjacent to the park. All were armed with weapons ranging from handguns to semi-automatic rifles. On the 10th, ranger Kirk Gebicke and Forest Service officers contacted armed mushroom hunters entering the park and directed them to alternate routes around Lava Beds. On the 14th, Harris discovered evidence of commercial mushroom collecting inside the park's southwest boundary and contacted seven armed mushroom hunters adjacent to the park. On the 15th, Harris and superintendent Craig Dorman contacted the occupants of two vehicles in the park; each vehicle was found to contain weapons, mushrooms and harvesting tools. It's estimated that between 500 and 550 mushroom hunters are collecting within a 15 mile area adjacent to Lava Beds. All persons contacted to date have been armed. A number of the mushroom hunters have stated that they've moved into the area due to the violence occurring in southern Oregon forests. [CRO, LABE]
Mushroom hunting activity continues to increase in the area around the park as groups of hunters move south to escape storms in the Northwest. On October 28th, chief ranger Terry Harris contacted the occupants of a convoy of 13 vehicles who were transporting mushrooms through the park. A variety of handguns and knives were found in the vehicles. Visitor complaints continue regarding these activities. Incidents of threats and confrontations continue in the Modoc National Forest outside the park. [CRO, LABE]
On April 11th, the park hosted a special program commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Modoc War. Twenty living history volunteers established an encampment at the site of Gillems Camp, the principal army headquarters during the conflict. About 600 people visited the camp during the day, nearly twice the pre-event estimate. Activities offered included a caravan tour of war-related sites, interpretive programs, drill and weapons firing demonstrations, and a memorial ceremony for the casualties of the Modoc War. Local media covered the event. Public response was overwhelmingly positive, and the park is now considering making the program an annual event. [Terry Harris, LABE, 4/14]
On August 6th, the county sheriff's office advised the park that G.S. and F.S., both in their 60s, were lost and possibly in need of medical aid in the forest to the south of the park. The couple had reportedly been wandering through the woods for two days without either food or water. Rangers Terry Harris and Grayson Stanford began searching for the pair and found them about four miles south of the park. They accepted water and medical aid, but declined ambulance transport. Stanford and SCA Pascha Bueno instead drove them to their home in Tulelake. The S.s had set out to gather firewood on August 4th, but their truck broke down. They stayed with the vehicle for 24 hours and lit a signal fire. When no help came, they decided to walk out to the main road. This was no small task, as G.S. requires the aid of a walker due to a previous stroke and F.S. lacked the medication she takes for diabetes. Both had also had back surgery to remove discs. The S.s walked all that day and night, finally reaching the road the following morning. Both declined to seek further medical attention. [Terry Harris, LABE, 8/7]
K.Y. and T.E., both 11, became separated from
their school group and family in Catacombs Cave on the afternoon of May
27th. The children became lost and exhausted at the far end of the cave,
where they remained while awaiting rescue. When the children were found
26 hours after the initial report, they were cold, tired, and hungry,
but otherwise in good condition. The area where they were found is in a
remote section of cave not shown on most cave maps and beyond a small
passage not accessible to the average adult. Catacombs Cave includes
complex branches and passageways with a total traversable length of
about 6,900 feet. The ceiling height of the cave ranges from 12 feet to
less than a foot, and rough, sharp lava makes many sections extremely
difficult to access. The sound dampening nature of the lava hampered the
search and contributed to the delayed discovery time. Park and Siskiyou
County Sheriff's SAR personnel, with the assistance of local cavers,
searched the cave three times before locating the children. Over 75
people were involved in the search effort on the surface and in
Catacombs and surrounding caves. Participants from federal, state
and local agencies included CARDA dog teams, California Highway Patrol
aircraft, Modoc and Klamath County Sheriff's Office SAR teams, and
numerous cavers. The incident received significant national media
interest.
On the afternoon of Sunday, January 27th, a 68-year-old woman and her 43-year-old daughter attempted to reach the park's south boundary in their four-wheel-drive pickup via a 14-mile-long Forest Service road that is not maintained during the winter. They made it about two miles before becoming stuck in a snowdrift. They were unable to call out via cell phone due to a lack of service, so the daughter attempted to walk into the park to get help. She walked for three hours during one of the worst winter storms of the season before she finally got cell service and was able to call 911. Modoc County Sheriff's Office personnel tried to respond, but were hampered by whiteout conditions. Park chief ranger Terry Harris was contacted at 6 p.m. and asked to help find the daughter, who by now had been hiking for three-and-a-half hours. Harris used his four-wheel-drive patrol vehicle to traverse the road, but was impeded by high winds, whiteout conditions, and snow drifts over four feet high. He could not find the daughter, but was able to drive within 100 yards of the stranded vehicle before being blocked by a five-foot-high drift. He hiked to the pickup and found that the mother was in no immediate danger. Rescue personnel from the sheriff's office advised that they were about an hour from the scene and would handle the mother's rescue so that Harris could continue the search for the daughter. Harris and the dispatcher from the sheriff's officer were able to direct the daughter back to the access road, where Harris subsequently found her. She'd been walking for four hours by that time. She was treated for mild hypothermia and driven to Lava Beds. Sheriff's officers and local volunteers rescued the mother via snowmobiles later that night. Mother and daughter were reunited on Monday morning. There are no plans to recover the vehicle until the storm abates. [Terry Harris, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of the June 28th, four rangers responded to a request for emergency assistance from the nearby Tulelake Police Department. The town was hit by an extreme localized wind event that caused severe damage to buildings and town infrastructure. The strong winds caused trees to fall onto houses and power lines throughout the town. Due to the magnitude of the damage, emergency responders in the town were temporarily overwhelmed. In addition to rangers, law enforcement units responded from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Merrill (Oregon) Police Department. Fire and EMS personnel from the Tulelake Fire Department, Basin Ambulance, Mount Shasta Fire Department and Modoc National Forest also responded. Tulelake is a farming community with a population of about 1,000 located 15 miles north of the monument near the Oregon border. There were no injuries related to the incident. [Garrett Sarcinella, Park Ranger]
On the morning of March 11th, two park maintenance employees reported a suspicious man hiding in the woods and pointing a gun at them as they drove past on Medicine Lake Road. The man's vehicle was parked on the side of the road with the driver's side door and trunk wide open. Rangers Terry Harris and Travis Hall responded and passed a Honda Civic matching the description of the suspect vehicle. The rangers turned around and pursued. Before they could catch up, the driver had completed a U-turn and was heading back towards them. He came to a quick stop directly in front of the rangers' vehicle, but refused to comply with the rangers' subsequent commands. He then began a sequence of vehicle maneuvers which resulted in an armed standoff. When he was finally taken into custody, he was found to have a loaded pistol holstered on his waist belt, with 30 additional rounds of ammo around his waist, and to be wearing a ballistic vest. While on scene, the rangers were informed by local law enforcement and the DEA that the man was currently under investigation for threats he made against officers and federal agents via the internet and that he was believed to be capable of carrying out his threats. The man was transported to a Tulelake PD holding cell to sort out further details with the DEA and ATF agents. While being held, he was able to make his escape by using a Bible and jamming it into the cell door. Hall saw him bolt from the cell and into a locked storage room. A Tulelake officer, a Siskiyou County deputy and Hall gained entry into the room and had a brief struggle with the man. Hall employed three drive stuns to get the man under control and back into his cell. On the afternoon of March 11th, the man was transported by state officers from Tulelake to Sacramento, California. The transport time was approximately five hours. When they arrived in Sacramento, the state officers discovered that the man was on the verge of destroying and nearly escaping from the ASP cuffs that had been used during transport. On the following day, the DEA, ATF, and Tulelake PD conducted a search of the man's home and recovered several handguns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, another ballistic vest, several marijuana plants, and a computer. The man is a convicted felon and is being held in Sacramento on multiple charges. Many agencies continue to be involved in the case, including the National Park Service, DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Tulelake PD, the Siskiyou County Sherriff's Office, and the US Attorney's Office. This story has received local and national media attention due to the severe threats made against local and federal agents. [Travis Hall, Lead Park Ranger]
On May 17th, rangers discovered vandalism in an area of the park known as Petroglyph Point. Damage included over 50 occurrences in which individuals had carved over prehistoric and historic petroglyphs (a form of rock art) across a 300 foot stretch of the west face of this important cultural site. Petroglyph Point contains thousands of culturally significant petroglyphs, the most concentrated number in the state of California, which may date as far back as 4,000 years and are important to members of The Klamath Tribes. A temporary site closure has been enacted and additional security measures have been taken while a long term protection plan is established. Rangers are currently conducting an investigation into this incident of vandalism. Editor's note: A related story on the upswing in vandalism in the national parks appeared in Tuesday's New York Times and can be seen by click on the link below. [Mike Reynolds, Superintendent] HYPERLINK "http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/us/as-vandals-take-to-national-parks-some-point-to-social-media.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0"
A ranger investigated a vehicle burglary at Captain Jack's Stronghold on August 6th that had resulted in the loss of numerous electronic devices and identification documents. During the morning hours of August 9th, rangers investigated three separate vehicle burglaries throughout the monument that resulted in the loss of several thousand dollars' worth of personal property and a chocolate lab puppy. Rangers began collaborating with county and city law enforcement partners in California and Oregon that had also experienced numerous thefts and burglaries in the same timeframe. On August 14th, law enforcement officers from California and Oregon arrested a 23-year-old transient in connection with the thefts and burglaries in the area. Before he was arrested, he attempted to elude law enforcement by driving a stolen pickup truck into a muddy field before ultimately getting stuck. The vehicle the transient was driving contained items that were stolen from all four vehicles at Lava Beds. In a plea deal with the Klamath County District Attorney's Office, the transient agreed to serve ten years in prison on the condition that the DA would file no additional charges against him. Lava Beds would like to thank the Siskiyou, Modoc, and Klamath County Sheriff's Departments, Tulelake Police Department, and other area law enforcement agencies for their role in the investigation and apprehension of this person. Ranger Shane Kempf was the NPS case officer and has been working to return recovered property to its rightful owners. The chocolate lab puppy was found on the evening of August 10th in Mount Shasta, California, approximately 100 miles from the monument. The puppy was quickly returned to its owners and is in excellent condition. [Shane Kempf, Park Ranger]
A five-year-old Klamath Falls boy fell approximately 20 feet while exploring a lava tube cave with his family on Friday, March 27th. Park rangers were the first on the scene. Emergency crews were contacted and the child was flown via helicopter to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls and transferred to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, where he is now recovering. Park staff are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Of the approximately 135,000 visitors that visit Lava Beds each year, about 25,000 visit Skull Cave. It is a popular cave due to its large entrance and ice floor. There are no records of a similar incident occurring in Skull Cave. [Mike Reynolds, Superintendent]
On the afternoon of May 7th, the Klamath County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man threatening to kill someone near Collier State Park north of Klamath Falls, Oregon. A deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle the man was driving, but he fled south towards Klamath Falls, nearly striking an Oregon State Police trooper who was attempting to deploy a spike strip. Another spike strip deployed north of the California state line was successful in deflating one of the tires. As the driver entered California, the California Highway Patrol and Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office entered the pursuit. The truck headed southbound on Hill Road, the main entrance to Lava Beds National Monument. After overhearing Siskiyou County radio traffic, Ranger Shane Kempf began to prepare park staff and visitors for a possible pursuit through the park. During this time, a Siskiyou County deputy requested NPS assistance. Staff from several divisions began to close access to the main park road by restricting visitors from leaving parking areas to ensure visitor safety. The pursuit entered the park and continued along the north road near Canby's Cross. At this time, Kempf joined the pursuit. Once in the park, the man got out of his pickup through a window and got on top of the cab while a woman who was riding with him continued to drive the truck slowly. One it came to a stop, the man jumped off and started walking towards officers while holding a club and making religious statements. He refused to comply with orders and was subsequently tased by Oregon officers. The woman and the man's two juvenile children were occupants of the truck. A search of the vehicle yielded several types of illegal drugs, several firearms, including an assault weapon, and a large quantity of ammunition. According to witnesses, the driver said that he was planning on going to the Lava Beds area to pray and nobody was going to stop him. He was arrested by CHP and faces multiple felony offenses in Oregon and California. During the pursuit, the park was hosting its annual "Timeline" event, which brought hundreds of school children to the park. No one was injured during the incident. Agencies that were involved included the Oregon State Police, Klamath County SO, Klamath Falls PD, Merrill PD, CHP, Siskiyou County SO, and the NPS. An Oregon law enforcement helicopter and CHP airplane were also involved in the pursuit. [Mike Reynolds, Superintendent]
Ranger Shane Kempf made a traffic stop for an equipment violation while on patrol in the park on August 12th. As he approached the vehicle, he saw a large quantity of food and clothing in the back seat and smelled the strong scent of an alcoholic beverage. The driver admitted that her adult passenger had been drinking in the vehicle, but denied having any open alcohol containers. She was unable to produce a driver's license and said it was valid but had recently been stolen. When Kempf returned to the vehicle, he saw the driver grabbing near the floorboard of the passenger seat. A subsequent search revealed they were attempting to hide an open alcohol container and that the driver had a suspended license under a different name then the one she had originally given. The passenger also had a suspended license. Since many of the clothing items were still on store hangers and had price tags attached but there were no shopping bags or receipts, Kempf was suspicious that they hadn't been obtained lawfully. He contacted the store where the driver said the items had been purchased over the past few days. By using the UPC numbers of several items from the vehicle, they were able to determine that the items had not been purchased at that store in over a month. The driver remained adamant that the items had been paid for until Kempf located an item still in the security packaging that is removed at the time of purchase. He then obtained a recorded confession of the theft of approximately two dozen items with a total value of several hundred dollars. Federal charges are pending, including possession of stolen property, providing false information, driving with a suspended license, and possession of an open alcohol container in a motor vehicle. The couple has been living in the vehicle and using campgrounds in the region. Later consultation with the law enforcement agency where the store was located revealed that one of the individuals had recently fled during a contact with an Oregon sheriff's deputy and a BLM officer. [Submitted by David Hansen, Chief Ranger] | |