Saguaro |  |
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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March 3, 1987 Location: Not given Mr. P.T. was on a week-long hike into the park, when bad weather forced him to take shelter in a cave. He was reported missing on February 26th, and the park initiated a search. P.T. was found on March 1st. He was uninjured.
Location: Panther Peak A hot air balloon crashed into Panther Peak. As far as could be determined, only one person was in the balloon at the time, and he escaped uninjured. Rangers are investigating.
An air balloon was reported to have crashed into Panther Peak in the park. Update: The operator claimed to have landed because of turbulence, but rangers found that the balloons fuel tanks were empty. The balloon v/as dismantled and removed. The pilot v/as cited for resource destruction.
Location: Picture Rocks Road F.L. was riding a motorcycle when he collided with a semi truck. NPS Rangers responded, an ambulance was called. Ambulance personnel performed CPR, F.L. was pronounced dead at the hospital. An investigation of the accident is continuing.
Location: Sus Picnic Area, Tucson Mountain A park maintenance man found the body of A.T. on a ridge on Tucson Mountain on the 20th. Alcohol and drug bottles were also found on the scene. A.T. apparently took the substances together, then slid off the ridge and died when her head hit upon impact. A.T. had a history of treatment for mental illness and had tried to commit suicide several times in the past.
As reported in the "Field Notes" of yesterday's morning report, BLM ranger Jim Huff was shot but not seriously hurt while driving his patrol vehicle on a county road in southern Arizona. Huff was driving up to a residence near the west boundary of Saguaro to inquire about recent cactus thefts when he was struck by approximately six pellets of birdshot through the open side window of his vehicle. He was able to drive off, call for backup and obtain medical assistance. Park rangers from Saguaro and deputy sheriffs from Pima County responded to the scene. The shotgun employed in the shooting was recovered, and Pima County officers have arrested a 14-year-old male and charged him with assault on a police officer. Although Huff was not seriously hurt, doctors were concerned about his eye and kept him in the hospital for observation through the weekend. Before joining BLM, Huff was a ranger at Saguaro; his wife, Elaine Huff, is an employee at the Service's Western Archeological Center. (Bryan Swift, CR, SAGO, via RAD/WRO).
R.F. of Garfield Heights, Ohio, signed out for a day hike in the park on the 26th. When rangers found his rental car unmoved and at the same location on the following day, a search was initiated. R.F.'s body was found on the morning of the 28th on the Freeman Homestead Trail. The cause of death has not yet been determined. (Telephone report from RAD/WRO).
On December 2nd, a patrol ranger noticed a car parked at the Zus picnic area; when it was found there again the following day, a hasty search of the area was initiated for its driver, J.C., 36, of Lufkin, Texas. No sign of J.C. was found when rangers found that the car was still there on Monday morning, a full-scale search was initiated. During the course of the associated investigation, it was learned that J.C. had been treated for mental illness for many years and that he had recently experienced a business setback which apparently put him in a depressed state. Eight NPS employees and a dozen members of Southern Arizona SAR, assisted by search dog teams and an Arizona DPS helicopter, were employed in the search. On the morning of the 5th, J.C. was found at the bottom of a 25-foot-high cliff. He apparently had fallen about 15 feet while hiking, but had not suffered major injuries. He was helicoptered to a nearby hospital and treated for dehydration and hypothermia, (Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, via CompuServe report from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
On the morning of the 25th, a Canadian visitor reported that he was threatened by a pack of dogs while hiking in the park's Tucson Fountain District. The dogs began to circle around him, and he was forced to turn around and take another trail to reach his car. He was neither attacked nor injured during the confrontation. Rangers immediately closed the Hugh Norris and Sendero Esperanza trails and began a search for the dogs with the assistance of the county animal control center. During the course of that search, a female German shepherd was captured, a denning site was discovered, and several other dogs were observed. Further efforts to trap the animals were unsuccessful, and they now appear to have left the area. The trails were reopened on the 30th. (Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5 p.m. EST, 1/30/90).
On April 21st, D.P., 46, of Tucson, was fatally injured when he lost control of his mountain bike on a steep grade on the Nine Mile Loop, left the roadway, then fell and struck his head. Rangers and an ambulance were at the scene within six minutes and immediately began CPR and advanced life support procedures. They were unsuccessful. D.P. was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby medical facility. (Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, via (CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4:30 p.m., 4/24/90).
G.E., 26, of Tucson, Arizona, was killed in a four-car accident on Picture Rock Road at 12:30 a.m. on the morning of November 10th. G.E. was five months pregnant at the time; despite efforts of emergency responders, the child died at the scene about four hours later. Preliminary investigation indicates that G.E. was driving at an excessive rate of speed and that she caused the accident. The occupants of the remaining three vehicles were treated for minor injuries and released. (Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/13).
E.M., 32, of Tucson, was involved in a one-car motor vehicle accident on Picture Rocks Road on November 11th. Since rangers were investigating a fatal auto accident which had occurred just prior to this incident, Pima County deputies responded to the accident and had E.M. transported to a local hospital. Subsequent investigation by rangers Ryan and Siewert revealed that E.M. had an outstanding felony warrant against him in Maricopa County for conspiracy to sell marijuana and for possession of marijuana. E.M. was arrested on the 19th and transported to the Pima County jail for extradition to Maricopa County. He was also charged with DDT and destruction of natural features. (Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/29).
A park visitor reported the discovery of a body about 200 feet of the Hugh Norris Trail near the trailhead on the morning of March 28th. Responding rangers and Pima County deputies found the body of M.Y., 67, of Tucson. Investigation revealed that M.Y. had committed suicide with a handgun, and that a missing persons report had been filed on him in Tucson on the 26th. [Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 3/29]
Wilfred Canez, 45, a longtime equipment operator at the park, experienced a massive cerebral hemorrhage while off duty Friday evening, April 26th, and passed away Saturday. He is survived by his wife. [Bill Palleck, Superintendent, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/29]
On the morning of September 10th, a six-year-old girl was abducted from the King Learning Center in Tucson by an unidentified male and taken to a remote area of the park. She was disrobed, bound, struck repeatedly with a shovel, then forced to lie down in a 16-inch-deep trench while the man buried her up to her neck. He then left, telling her he was going to get a camera. The girl was able to dig herself out and walk to a roadway, where she was found by a park maintenance worker. Medical and law enforcement assistance was summoned and a search of the park by rangers and Pima County sheriff's deputies led to the location of the crime scene. Both offices are continuing the investigation. Tests revealed that the girl was not molested. [Brian Swift, CR, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10; Arthur Rotstein, Associated Press, 9/11]
Early on the afternoon of March 15th, rangers were notified that a hiker had fallen and injured herself east of the Douglas Spring trail and about a mile from the trailhead. Rangers Littlefield and Ruthledge responded and found the victim, T.T., 36, of Tucson, lying unconscious near the bottom of a steep ravine in an area of very rugged, rain-soaked slopes. Advance life support measures were administered and she was evacuated to the trailhead and transported to Tucson Medical Center. T.T. failed to regain consciousness, though, and was pronounced dead of head injuries the following morning. The evacuation was conducted jointly by the park and Arizona Department of Public Safety. The Pima County sheriff's office is assisting in the investigation. [Bryan Swift, SAGU, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 3/16]
Heavy equipment operator Don Reid, 52, suffered a heart attack while performing general maintenance work at the Signal Hill picnic area on May 27th. Rangers and local fire department paramedics responded and transported Reid to Northwest Hospital, where he is currently reported to be in stable condition in the intensive care unit. [Bryan Swift, SAGU, via cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/28]
On September 25th, a patrol ranger found a suicide note in an abandoned vehicle parked on the Cactus Forest loop drive in Saguaro East. Rangers and county deputies began a search of the area and a dog team was brought in. Investigators subsequently learned, however, that the note was false and that the subject of the search, 25-year-old K.S., had hiked several miles out of the park and returned to his girlfriend's home on the morning of the 26th. The suicide was apparently faked in order to obtain sympathy in an unrequited love affair. [Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/28]
During Christmas weekend, rangers seized eight firearms and issued $1,950 in fines in two incidents involving target shooting near the north boundary of the Tucson Mountain District. Two saguaros, two ironwood trees and several other native plants were damaged by weapons fire. [Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, 12/28]
Since January 6th, the Tucson Basin has received over four inches of rain. Roads in both of the park's districts have been closed due to flooding and sand deposits on roadways, and backcountry trails have been closed due to run-off and erosion. The northeast section of Tucson and the town of Marana have been hardest hit by the storms; residents in both areas have been cut off from their homes due to high water in streams and rivers. In accordance with an MOU with local authorities, rangers have assisted the county sheriff's office in organizing road closures, establishing emergency shelters, and evacuating low-lying areas. Operations have been under the incident command system. Rangers assisted with the development of the incident action plan, and provided assistance to the logistics and operations divisions. At the time of the report yesterday morning, it was raining again throughout the area. This storm was expected to produce up to an inch of rain, and another storm is due in the area on Friday night. [Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, 1/13]
Rangers began a search for C.A. of Tucson on the night of January 27th when he failed to return from a 32-mile round-trip day hike up the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail to Manning Camp and back. C.A.'s brother-in-law, who notified the park that he was overdue, also advised rangers that C.A. suffered from Huntington's Disease, which affects coordination and becomes more pronounced as the person becomes fatigued. At the time of the report, it was starting to rain, and forecasters predicted that showers would continue through the night. Hasty teams were sent up both the Tanque Verde and Douglas Spring Trails. Just before 1 a.m., the hasty team lead by ranger Mike Danisiewics found C.A. four miles up Ridge Trail. C.A. had hiked to Tanque Verde peak, then had lost the trail - and his flashlight and water bottle - on the way back. When he found that he was lost, C.A. sat down and waited for help to arrive. He was found to be suffering from minor injuries sustained from several falls, but was otherwise all right. Searchers believe, however, that his condition would have seriously deteriorated during the night if he had not been found. [Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, 2/1]
Rangers have assisted Border Patrol agents in two illegal alien arrests during the past two weeks. In the first instance, a Mexican national was stopped for erratic driving; a loaded semi-automatic handgun was found under the driver's seat. In the second, an abandoned ice cream truck on Picture Rocks Road was searched and found to contain a small amount of marijuana. This discovery resulted in the arrest of another Mexican national. Border Patrol agents believe that the truck was used for smuggling drugs. [Laura Hiatt, SAGU, 2/16]
On the morning of February 26th, visitors reported seeing two men wearing camouflage gear and carrying weapons in the park. Rangers Richard Hayes, Loren Whitehead and Dallas Meeks tracked and apprehended the pair near Javelina Rocks, where they were in the process of gutting the three collared peccaries that they had shot. The weapons, equipment and animal carcasses were confiscated. The suspects - B.C. and D.S., both of Tucson - were cited for illegally taking wildlife, possession of illegally taken wildlife, and discharging firearms inside a national monument. The collateral totalled $1,575. An Arizona game and fish agent also issued citations for up to $1,000 for exceeding the bag limit. [Bryan Swift, CR, SAGU, 3/1]
On April 2nd, D.S., 21, of Tucson, was killed and two others were critically injured in a two-vehicle motor vehicle accident on Sandario Road in the Tucson Mountain District. Alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident. Pima County sheriff's deputies are investigating the accident. [Paula Rooney, SAGU, 4/5]
A hiker discovered the body of 19-year-old M.S.W. of Tucson near the Douglas Springs trailhead on the morning of April 6th. Evidence indicates that M.S.W. committed suicide. At the time of the discovery, rangers and county deputies were beginning a search for M.S.W., who'd been missing since April 2nd. The search began when his vehicle was found burglarized at the trailhead on the 5th. [Paula Rooney, SAGU, 4/7]
Rangers apprehended an illegal alien in the Rincon Mountain District on April 15th. The Mexican national, who had no identification and spoke very little English, was carrying a loaded shotgun in a gunny sack. NCIC checks on the weapon were negative. The Border Patrol took the individual into custody; ATF agents were notified and charges for the weapon violation ar pending. Further investigation revealed that the man had probably just been released from prison. He was the twelfth illegal alien apprehended in the park in the last six months. [Paula Rooney, SAGU, 4/19]
On the morning of May 25th, a female park volunteer was collecting litter on Sandario Road when a man driving a grey vehicle stopped and approached her. When he got closer, he began chasing the volunteer. She immediately ran to her vehicle and locked herself inside just before the man reached the car. He attempted to forcibly open the car door; when he failed to get in, he ran to his vehicle and fled the area at a high rate of speed. The man is believed to be the same one wanted by the Pima County sheriff's department for a violent sexual assault which occurred on May 5th. In that incident, the victim was abducted at gunpoint outside the park and driven to a location near Saguaro, then violently assaulted for several hours. Rangers and Pima County deputies are conducting a joint investigation of the incident. [RAD/WRO, 6/4]
On the evening of September 2nd, a shot was fired through the back dining room window of the park fire management officer's residence in the Rincon Mountain District. The .357 magnum round lodged in the living room window frame. No one was injured in the incident. Other park residents reported that they'd heard shots followed by the screeching of vehicle tires. Preliminary investigation by rangers and Pima County officers show that the round most likely came from the Old Spanish Trail outside of the park. [Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10]
On January 3rd, a park biotech employee experienced headache symptoms after coming in contact with some tar-like material he observed at the base of a storm drain in the Tucson Mountain district. He was sent to a local hospital for examination, and rangers called in the Pima County hazmat team to examine the material. Investigation revealed that a combination of asphalt emulsion dilute and diesel fuel had been spilled into the drain in the maintenance yard. EPA tests on the substances are pending. Corrective action has been taken to prevent future incidents. [SAGU, 1/4]
The park has just received a $10,000 settlement from the insurance company of R.T., who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Picture Rocks Road in the Tucson Mountain District last November 25th. R.T. was speeding and drove 150 feet off the road, damaging thousands of dollars in saguaro cactus and other native plants. Seasonal ranger Jon Hale conducted the investigation and resource damage assessment in conjunction with the U.S. attorney's office's civil division in Tucson. The case was prosecuted under 16 USC park system resource protection provisions. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 1/12]
At 4 p.m. on February 14th, ranger John Williams was returning to Madrona ranger station after packing supplies to a trail camp in the Rincon Mountains when he stopped on a mountain portion of the trail to adjust a pack saddle on one of his mules. While avoiding a kick from a mule, Williams lost his balance, stepped into a crevice, and dislocated and fractured his left ankle. The accident occurred at a point about three and a half miles north of the ranger station. Williams tried calling for assistance by radio, but found that he was in a "dead spot" for radio communications. Rangers were notified that Williams was overdue at 10 p.m. and began a search for him. A rescue party arrived at the accident scene at 1:30 a.m. and transported Williams to the Madrona ranger station. At 4:15 a.m., he was air lifted to Tucson Medical Center, where he's currently recuperating from his injuries. Williams told rangers that he'd heard a mountain lion stalking his horses and mules while awaiting rescue, and that he'd seen the lion just as the first member of the rescue party arrived on scene. [CRO, SAGU, 2/18]
On March 14th, a park neighbor who's also a participant in the "Park Watch" program advised rangers of a vehicle travelling off road through the desert west of Panther Peak. Rangers and Pima County officers responded and found the operator, C.O., passed out in his vehicle. Investigation revealed that C.O. had consumed a large quantity of alcohol before he went four-wheeling in the park. Criminal charges totaled $4,150; approximately $6,000 in native vegetation was damaged or destroyed. Civil prosecution is pending. The "Park Watch" program is in its fourth year at Saguaro and now involves 700 park neighbors. It has proved to be a valuable tool in assisting the park's visitor protection and resource management staff. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 4/4]
Between May 8th and 18th, eight suspected arson fires were set in or adjacent to the park. Four were set during the Mother's Day Fire in the Rincon Mountain District, which burned 1200 acres and attracted national media attention. Two of the fires were set along Golden Gate Road in the Tucson Mountain District. The fires have ranged in size from a tenth of an acre to ten acres. An arson investigator has been called in to assist in the investigation, and rangers have increased boundary patrols. There are no suspects at this time. Winds increased to 40 mph yesterday and are expected to continue today. [Paul Rooney, CRO, SAGU, 5/18]
The county sheriff's department notified the park yesterday of a shooting incident which had occurred at the Douglas Springs trailhead on June 5th. Two men, one 18 and the other 19, reportedly got into a shootout over $1,000 owed by one to the other. Despite the use of shotguns at close range by both men, only one received injuries, and those are reported to be minor. A shot-up 1984 Civic with Iowa plates was left at the scene; rangers found it earlier this week and had investigated it as a vandalized vehicle. A local Tucson newspaper is calling the incident "the new gunfight at the OK Corral." Rangers and sheriff's deputies are investigating. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 6/8]
J.B., 19, and T.R., 18, both of Tucson, have been arrested on charges of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following last Sunday's shootout at the Douglas Springs trailhead. As was noted yesterday, only one of the two had minor injuries despite the use of shotguns at close range. A third individual, R.Y., 18, who apparently witnessed the incident, has been charged by the state with making a false report of an emergency, a misdemeanor. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 6/9]
R.O. of Benson, Arizona, was arrested by Pima County deputies on June 9th and charged with five counts of arson, including one fire set on park lands. R.O. also admitted to setting a fire on BLM land and starting three vehicle fires. Investigators believe, however, that he is probably responsible for setting 30 fires in southeastern Arizona. The park fire was set on April 13th in the Rincon Mountain District. When ranger Richard Hayes arrived at the scene after receiving the initial report, he found R.O. extinguishing the blaze. Hayes questioned him, then turned the information over to the sheriff's department, which was beginning to gather evidence against R.O. He is currently being held in county jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 6/23]
J.T. of Tucson was returning from a hike on the Douglas Springs trail on the evening of July 13th when he was confronted by two men at the trailhead. The pair made small talk about J.T.'s new '94 Toyota pickup, then one drew an automatic weapon and told J.T. that they were going for a ride. J.T. was taken to Redington Pass, located on Forest Service land adjacent to the park, then forced to take the two men on a joy ride. At one point, J.T. was forced to change a flat tire on the truck. He was subsequently pistol-whipped on his head and thrown from the truck. Pima County deputies are taking the lead in the investigation of the kidnapping. The two suspects remain at large. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 7/15]
Rangers in the Tucson Mountain District spotted J.D. holding a rattlesnake with a snake-catching tool on Kinney Road at midnight on July 31st. When J.D. and his partner were contacted, they stated that they were moving the snake off the road. The pair subsequently showed the rangers a dead gila monster - a state protected species - which they claimed was a road kill. A consent search of their vehicle led to the discovery of freshly-cut rattles from a Mojave rattlesnake, several snake-catching tools, and numerous collecting jars and bottles. They were cited for both possession and harassment of wildlife and the specimen was confiscated as evidence, and notified state game authorities regarding possible state prosecution. All southern Arizona parks were also alerted about the incident. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 8/4]
On the evening of October 12th, the park received a report that S.S., 34, had failed to return home from a solo, 32-mile day hike to Manning Camp in the Rincon Mountains. Hasty teams searched for her the next morning, but were unable to find any sign of her. The search intensified on the 14th when some of S.S.'s personal belongings were found on Tanque Verde Ridge trail four miles from the trailhead. About 35 searchers are looking for her at present with the assistance of aircraft and dog teams. Cooler temperatures and gusty winds have hampered search efforts. S.S. is known to have attempted long solo day hikes without adequate preparation previously, and may also be under the influence of drugs. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 10/17]
The ten-day-old interagency search for S.S., 34, has been suspended. S.S., who reportedly has a history of drug use and had not prepared for her 32-mile hike, was recovering from the flu on the morning she headed out on her solo trek. Representatives from ten agencies and organizations assisted park rangers in the 2,000-hour search effort. The incident received intense media attention, and 20 psychics contacted the park with their predictions on where S.S. was located. Investigators from the park and the Pima County sheriff's office are following up on recent investigative leads. The FBI has also expressed an interest in the case. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 10/24]
Park rangers in both districts apprehended six deer poachers in four incidents over the last two weeks. All suspects were given mandatory appearances with fines totaling $1,200. All weapons were confiscated as evidence; the Arizona Game and Fish Department was notified and will also prosecute the poachers. In the most recent incident, Arthur Costa camped illegally at a trailhead, then entered a private guest ranch adjoining the park, where he shot and killed a buck. He then dragged the deer back to his vehicle through the park. Rangers and Arizona Game and Fish agents contacted Costa at his residence, where the deer was hanging in the front yard. He was issued multiple citations by both agencies. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 1/11]
On January 9th, R.O. was sentenced to 30 months in prison for setting numerous fires in the park, on a national forest, and elsewhere in the Tucson area last spring. A park ranger spotted R.O. extinguishing a small brush fire in the Rincon Mountain District on April 13th. He was questioned and released, but information collected by the ranger was utilized by the local county sheriff's office in building a case against him. R.O. was also ordered to pay over $15,000 in restitution to the park to cover resource damage costs. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 1/9]
Since early last year, there have been numerous auto burglaries at trailheads in the park's Tucson Mountain District. Rangers determined that the burglar was probably a local and working alone. Surveillance operations were begun, and, on January 8th, rangers observed J.P., 42, of Tucson, dumping stolen property at a trailhead that he'd taken in an auto burglary in the adjacent county park. Following a short pursuit, he was arrested and booked into federal prison on felony charges of possession of stolen property. J.P. is believed to have committed 28 car clouts in the district and another 50 in the county park. He told rangers that he was hoping that the arresting ranger would shoot him while fleeing the scene. J.P. has a history of auto burglaries, including a felony conviction in Texas. The county attorney's office has also filed felony charges against him. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 1/26]
On January 30th, maintenance worker Steve Sneed saw 32-year-old T.A. removing cactus skeletons near Golden Gate Road in the Tucson Mountain District and advised rangers. Ranger Laura Hiatt responded and pursued T.A. at high speeds for ten miles before getting her to stop. T.A. resisted arrest and attempted to flee on foot. Over 75 pounds of cactus skeletons and parts were found in the back of her truck; methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were discovered in the cab. T.A. is currently in federal prison awaiting a detention hearing. She will be indicted on charges of possession of stolen property, felony flight, and possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 2/9]
On February 28th, rangers and local deputies received a telephone call from the brother of 25-year-old Tucson resident K.W. reporting that he'd just received a 15-page suicide letter from K.W. saying that he was going to hike to a remote area in the Rincon Mountain District to end his life. A helicopter search was begun, and K.W.'s body was spotted on a rock outcropping about ten miles from the trailhead, where he'd parked his vehicle on February 25th. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 3/1]
On February 20th, ranger Jon Hale came upon two suspicious individuals parked illegally near the Red Hills visitor center in the Tucson Mountain District. He called for assistance, and was joined by rangers Robert Stinson and Laura Hiatt. When the rangers approached the vehicle, the driver accelerated away and fled at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, the vehicle's occupants threw out a one-pound package of marijuana. About three miles into the chase, the vehicle went off the road into a wash and traveled about 200 yards through the desert before coming to a stop. Both occupants were arrested at the scene. The driver was charged with felony flight and booked into federal prison. Because he was using a false identity, rangers began an investigation and developed leads that later proved to be instrumental in keeping him in prison. He was eventually identified as R.H.V., who was wanted on multiple felony warrants, including six counts of attempted murder, possession of a deadly weapon, and possession of narcotics. R.H.V., who is a member of a street gang, shot an individual between the eyes with a .45 caliber handgun, then fled the scene. He had been on the run from a multi-agency task force for two months until apprehended by rangers. R.H.V. will be indicted by a federal grand jury on numerous felony charges. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU, 3/8]
On March 29th, a Ford Mustang being driven by 22-year-old J.C. of Tucson crossed the center line of Picture Rocks Road and slammed into a pickup truck being driven by James Pierce, 36, who was accompanied by his nine-year-old son. J.C. was killed on impact; neither Pierce nor his son was injured. Although J.C. was traveling at a high rate of speed, the accident does not appear to have been alcohol related. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU, 3/30]
On May 3rd, J.P., 42, of Tucson, pled guilty to felony possession of stolen property in federal district court and was sentenced to seven months in prison, six months in a half-way house, 36 months supervised probation, mandatory therapy, restitution to his victims, and banned from all NPS areas. J.P. was arrested by rangers in January and connected with over 30 car clouts in the park's Tucson Mountain District and another 50 or more in the adjoining county park over the last year. For the past five months, J.P.'s movements have been monitored through an electronic ankle bracelet in order to stem his "passion" for breaking into vehicles. The county attorney's office has also filed felony theft charges for the offenses that occurred in the state park. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 5/8]
On May 13th, rangers and local fire department personnel were called to the scene of a suspicious wildland fire near Safford Peak in the Tucson Mountain District. The fire started about 300 feet inside the park boundary. Unpredictable gusty winds fanned the fire toward several homes, a chapel and two guest ranches. Two airtankers dropped retardant along the boundary, which helped suppression personnel contain the fire at 30 acres. Investigators have interviewed numerous park neighbors and visitors regarding suspicious activity in the area, but have not yet come up with leads on possible suspects. The investigation is continuing. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 5/15]
On September 7th, R.V. pled guilty in federal district court to charges of felony flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle and was sentenced to two years without parole in federal prison and forfeiture of cash and property seized. R.V. led rangers in a high-speed pursuit last February, then ditched his vehicle before being apprehended. R.V., a street gang member, was also wanted at the time on multiple felony counts, including six counts of attempted murder, possession of narcotics, and possession of a deadly weapon. He'd been on the run from a multi-agency fugitive task force for two months until caught by rangers. R.V. will be transferred to state custody to stand trial for these charges before serving his two-year federal sentence. R.V. has been linked to numerous drive-by shootings in the Tucson area, and has been identified as the primary trigger- man. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU]
On September 8th, district ranger Robert Stinson was first on scene at a two- vehicle, head-on collision on Picture Rocks Road in the Tucson Mountain District. The operator of one vehicle, D.M., had crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by J.W. J.W. and his wife, S.W., were trapped in their car as it caught on fire. Stinson and local fire department personnel used a jaws of life to gain access to the couple, who were airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries. D.M. and another person were transported by ambulance. After Stinson and ranger Jon Hale cleared the scene, they were dispatched to the same location for a one-vehicle accident in which T.D. flipped his vehicle while driving at a high rate of speed. T.D. was assessed by local paramedics, but refused treatment; he then began to fight with rangers and a deputy, and was arrested on DUI and felony resisting arrest charges. The next day, ranger L.W. responded to a report of fatal accident on Speedway Boulevard at the edge of the Rincon Mountain District. Three juveniles had stolen a Toyota Corolla, then gone drinking at the Douglas Springs trailhead. Shortly before 4 a.m., they left the park at a speed of about 100 mph, went off the road, and struck a dirt embankment. One of the three was killed and a second was seriously injured. The park instituted a ban on alcohol at the Douglas Springs parking lot in July, 1994, due to increased underage drinking at that location. [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU]
Additional reports regarding the impacts of the three-week shutdown have been received. If the shutdown had significant consequences at your area, please send along a brief report: * Saguaro - The park was closed during the two busiest weeks of the year (Christmas and New Year's). About $8,000 in entrance fees were forfeited, and the park's natural history association lost an estimated $35,000 in sales. Two weddings and one filming permit were canceled, and ten commercial use licensees had to curtail their activities in the park. Rangers were unable to close the entire park to the public due to multiple access points and commuter roads. During the closure, rangers investigated nine serious motor vehicle accidents, made several resource damage cases, and made eight DUI arrests (a record high) and one major felony arrest. [Jon Shrum, AOD/WASO; Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU; Roberta D'Amico, PIO, EVER]
Off-duty ranger Brian Rutledge heard a loud explosion while hiking in a canyon in the Tucson Mountain District on December 17th. He investigated and determined that someone had packed an undetermined amount of black powder into a 25-foot saguaro and detonated it, causing severe damage to the cactus, including an 18-inch-wide crater in the trunk. Several small chunks of the saguaro were blown over 150 feet away. The investigation is continuing. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU]
Ranger Jon Hale stopped a man for driving 25 miles over the speed limit on Sandario Road on January 4th. A computer check revealed that a felony warrant was out against him for narcotics smuggling. Hale, backed up by two sheriff's deputies, made a felony arrest. A drug dog was employed to search the vehicle; traces of marijuana were found in the vehicle's trunk, indicating drugs may have been transported in it at some time. Hale seized 60 names and telephone numbers from the suspect's wallet. According to state officers, many of these names match other suspects involved in a drug ring. The suspect is under grand jury indictment as a result of a major drug investigation by the state. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU]
On the evening of Saturday, January 27th, ranger Jon Hale attempted to stop a Ford Bronco travelling at a high rate of speed through the park. When Hale activated his emergency lights and siren, the vehicle accelerated and the driver attempted to elude pursuit. Hale broke off the chase when he lost sight of the Bronco while on a dirt road adjacent to the park boundary. Moments later, however, he spotted the Bronco coming back at him at a high rate of speed; before he could react, the Bronco rammed his patrol vehicle almost head- on, then continued on back into the park. Hale was not injured and was able to crawl out of his vehicle and continue coordination of assistance from backup officers heading to the scene. The Bronco was found abandoned in the park a half mile away only minutes later. A search for the suspect(s) was conducted with the assistance of canine units and a state police helicopter, but proved fruitless. Two partially covered bodies were found in the rear of the Bronco during evidence processing several hours later. Investigation revealed that both men had been shot in the head in execution style and had been wrapped in plastic bags. The sheriff's office is leading the investigation for double homicide, aggravated assault, hit and run and criminal damage. Rangers are assisting homicide detectives in this effort and are also coordinating additional assistance from the FBI. Intense media coverage continues. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU]
Two off-duty trail workers came upon what they believed to be a squatters camp about five miles up a backcountry trail in a remote and high section of the Rincon Mountain district last month. Rangers conducted a preliminary inspection and discovered that the camp was associated with a marijuana cultivation site. The camp apparently was abandoned after the July, 1994, fire which burned through the area and over most of the gardens. Evidence found at the scene included a scanner, portable radio case, portable radio antennas, VCR, generator, propane tank, marijuana cultivation books, chicken wire, screening, potting soil, and a wheelbarrow. They also found indications that the operation was supported by horses or mules. The cultivation site is located over a one-square-mile area in two major drainages south of the trail, and contained about 100 marijuana plants. They were being grown in five-gallon plastic buckets which had gravity-fed irrigation systems with timers. Evidence indicates that the plants were worth at least $100,000. The park is leading the investigation, with assistance from DEA, the Forest Service and the local sheriff's department. There are no suspects yet. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU]
Ranger John Hale stopped a motorcycle with no license plates for speeding on Sandario Road in the Tucson Mountain District on August 24th. The driver and passenger appeared very nervous. Hale noticed that the motorcycle's ignition was hotwired; computer checks confirmed that it was stolen. Hale called for backup, and both were arrested. The two men repeatedly gave false names and dates of birth to the rangers, but were eventually identified as J.C. and S.P. J.C., who had recently been paroled after serving 45 months in state prison on drug charges, was charged with possession of stolen property, speeding, driving on a suspended license, driving without insurance or registration, and interfering with an agency function; S.P. was booked into county jail on three outstanding drug warrants. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU]
Ranger Brian Rutledge stopped a pickup truck on Sandario Road for a traffic violation on the afternoon of October 17th. The two occupants appeared to be very nervous. A warrants check was run on both, and the driver was taken into custody for an outstanding arrest warrant and secured in Rutledge's patrol vehicle. Rutledge searched the pickup truck while ranger Jon Hale and a deputy kept an eye on the second man. Rutledge found a large duffel bag containing 27 bricks of marijuana. The second man immediately fled into the desert, but was tackled by the rangers and the deputy. A violent struggle ensued in which Hale was struck twice in the abdomen. The man was finally subdued when the deputy sprayed him with pepper spray. During the struggle, the first man kicked out the left side window of the patrol car and fled on foot, his hands still handcuffed behind him. He was caught a half hour later by responding deputies. Felony charges of marijuana trafficking, aggravated assault and escape are pending. The two men each have over 15 pages of felony criminal history; one is also suspected in a homicide. The investigation continues. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU]
Rangers in the Tucson Mountain District successfully investigated and/or prosecuted three significant resource violation cases over the past month: o Investigation of a local resident's report of illegal dumping in the park led to the discovery of eight dead ostriches wrapped in plastic bags. Ranger Brian Rutledge focused on a single piece of evidence - a feed bag with a company name - and developed leads that lead to the one buyer in the Tucson area who used this type of feed. Rangers elicited an admission of responsibility from that buyer, S.G., who was cited for illegal disposal of refuse. o Ranger Dave Fox investigated a report of suspicious activity from another park neighbor who had observed R.M. carrying a large saguaro skeleton towards his vehicle. When R.M. discovered that he was being observed, he hid the skeleton and tried to act inconspicuously; when contacted by Fox, however, he confessed to cutting down two saguaro skeletons with a chainsaw. R.M. was cited for theft of natural resources. The skeletons - each over eight feet tall - are valued at more than $600 each on the black market. o Rangers served an arrest warrant on A.T. for a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident last September which resulted in significant natural resource damages. A.T. fled the scene and could not be found until recently. A.T. served an unprecedented 32 days in federal prison on these charges. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU, 4/7]
Ranger Andy Brinkley discovered an apparent homicide victim in a pullout two miles from the visitor center in the Tucson Mountain district just before midnight on July 18th. The unidentified female, who was between 14 and 16 years old, had been shot twice with a .380 caliber weapon. The county sheriff's office is leading the investigation. [Daniel Wirth, SA, SOAR, 7/21]
The victim of the homicide which occurred in the park on July 18th has been identified as R.B., a 16-year-old high school student from Marana, Arizona. She was shot with a .380 caliber firearm in a pullout just two-tenths of a mile from the visitor's center and ranger residences. Hikers in the area heard shots at 10:45 p.m. R.B. was last seen at her home at 7:30 p.m. that evening, and had planned to meet friends at a local youth center. Several leads are being pursued, including a possible drug connection. A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Local media coverage has been extensive. [Dan Wirth, SA, SOAR, 8/14]
A single-engine aircraft with four persons aboard disappeared on a night flight over the park 13 years ago. On August 30th, hikers found wreckage of the plane in rugged, steep terrain about a third of a mile west of Rincon Peak. Human remains were scattered about the crash site, and a bag full of moldy cash was found. Rangers and sheriff's deputies spent the next several days trying to reach the isolated crash site, but were stymied by weather and helicopter difficulties. Conditions finally moderated on the morning of September 4th, making it possible to reach the site. The remains and cash were removed. The park, county sheriff's office, NTSB, FAA, Customs and Secret Service are cooperating in the investigation. The wreckage will be removed by an air salvage company in the near future. [Bob Lineback, Acting CR, SAGU, 9/5]
R.B., 60, of Avra Valley, Arizona, was killed in a single vehicle, roll-over accident on Kinney Road west of the Red Hills visitor center on the afternoon of December 23rd. According to a witness who was nearly hit by R.B., the vehicle swerved off the roadway for no apparent reason and collided with several saguaros before rolling over. Ranger Brian Rutledge was first to arrive on-scene; he pulled R.B. from his vehicle and attempted resuscitation. A joint investigation is being conducted with the local sheriff's department. Autopsy results are pending. [Robert Stinson, Acting CR, SAGU, 12/26]
On June 21st, two backpackers reported a member of their party missing from a backpacking trip in a remote area of the Rincon Mountains. J.M., a 34-year-old diabetic, had been experiencing fatigue and told his companions to go ahead without him. He hadn't been seen in 24 hours. Rangers and sheriff's department personnel began a hasty air and ground search; by that afternoon, there were 15 searchers and two helicopters scouting the area for clues. Three ground searchers from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association found J.M. late in the afternoon about 300 yards off the trail. He was in fair condition, having been separated from his pack - and insulin - for nearly 32 hours. Due to both remoteness and the onset of darkness, J.M. was treated at the scene. Insulin was dropped to the site. He was flown out in the morning, then taken to a hospital and admitted in serious condition due to dehydration and a diabetic emergency. He was released from the hospital several days later. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU, 7/1]
On August 7th, homicide detectives arrested A.W., 21, of Tucson, for the murder of Rachel Boryczewski. Ranger Andy Brinkley found Boryczewski's body in a pullout near the visitor center in the Tucson Mountain District on July 18, 1997. Detectives received a break in the case when a man arrested on an unrelated charge told them that he'd loaned his weapon to A.W. at the time of the murder. Ballistics tests confirmed that the weapon was used in the slaying. A.W. is being held in jail without bail on suspicion of first degree murder. Additional arrests may be made. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 8/11]
A.W., 21, of Tucson has pled guilty to second degree murder in county superior court for the execution murder of 16-year-old Rachael Boryczewski in a pullout near the visitor center and housing area in the Tucson Mountain District late on the evening of July 18, 1997. He faces 16 to 22 years in state prison. A.W. agreed to testify against the other suspect, Kim Proud, whose trial on first degree murder charges is set for October. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 6/22]
Ranger Andy Brinkley made a traffic stop on a man suspected of driving under the influence on Picture Rocks Road on the afternoon of September 30th. The man - M.S., 38, of Avra Valley - resisted arrest, jumped back into his vehicle, and took off at a high rate of speed. The vehicle stalled about a mile down the road, at which point M.S. grabbed two cased long guns from the back seat and fled into the park. Rangers, a sheriff's department SWAT team and FBI agents conducted a full-scale search, employing dogs and a Customs helicopter. The road was closed for five hours during the search in order to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. M.S. was arrested at his home the following morning, charged with felony flight, and booked into jail on a $5,500 bond. Additional charges are pending, including interfering with agency functions, reckless driving, and possession of crack cocaine. There was extensive live coverage of the incident via a news helicopter, followed by numerous front-page newspaper stories. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU, 10/4]
P.N., 40, of Avra Valley, Arizona, died from injuries suffered in a single vehicle rollover accident that occurred on Picture Rocks Road on the evening of November 13th. P.N., who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, failed to negotiate a left-hand curve, rolled his car, and was ejected. He was thrown about 50 feet from the vehicle and suffered massive head injuries. P.N. died at a local hospital on November 18th. A joint investigation is being conducted with the local sheriff's department. Autopsy results are pending; alcohol and drugs were contributing factors. [Robert Stinson, Acting CR, SAGU, 11/22]
Last week, K.P., 20, of Tucson pled guilty in Pima County Superior Court to second degree murder just moments before her trial was to begin for first-degree murder in the execution of R.B. in a pullout area near the visitor center in the Tucson Mountain District on July 18, 1997. K.P. admitted that she was with Antonio Wilbert when they confronted R.B. during a drug deal, shot her at point blank range, then fled the scene. Wilbert originally pled guilty to second-degree murder in a plea agreement with prosecutors to testify against K.P.; if it is determined that Wilbert was lying, this agreement may be revoked in favor of first-degree murder charges against him. K.P. is expected to receive a sentence of 16 to 22 years in prison. [Robert E. Stinson, Acting CR, SAGU, 11/26]
On March 24th, rangers received a report from a distraught family that their 21-year-old son had hiked into the Rincon Mountain District to take his own life. They said that he was upset about failed personal relationships, had made previous threats to shoot himself, had given away all his possessions, and had left a note saying that he intended to throw himself off a cliff in the mountains. Rangers immediately responded, hiking and riding horseback up the Douglas Spring trail. Hikers provided the man's location, and a state police helicopter flew ranger John Williams and a deputy to a point five miles from the trailhead. The man was found to have no weapons in his possession and was persuaded to return in the helicopter. He was taken to a local hospital for medical examination and later committed to a psychological treatment facility. This was the fourth attempted suicide in the district in the past year. [Bob Lineback, DR, SAGU, 3/28]
On the evening of April 9th, Pima County deputies attempted to stop a vehicle that had run a stop sign west of the park. The driver took off and a high-speed pursuit ensued, ending when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it flipped and crashed on Picture Rocks Road within the park. One of the occupants was killed instantly; the other fled, prompting a shutdown of the road while rangers, FBI agents, canine units and a state police helicopter conducted a fruitless four-hour search. Both of the individuals in the vehicle were subsequently identified as suspects in two recent homicides. Additional details are being withheld until the second person is taken into custody. NPS special agent Dan Wirth and other park staff are assisting the FBI with the investigation. [Robert E. Stinson, ACR, SAGU, 4/11]
Since the beginning of the year, rangers have arrested more than 55 illegal aliens in six separate incidents in the Tucson Mountain District. Each incident began as a traffic stop for speeding but culminated in the discovery of illegal immigrants hidden in the vehicles. The drivers had been paid to transport the aliens from the border to points to the north. Although the border is 60 miles south of the park, smugglers are using park roads (and other local roads) to avoid being detected within city limits. According to the Border Patrol, the Tucson sector continues to lead the country in apprehensions of illegal aliens with more than a thousand arrests weekly. [Robert E. Stinson, ACR, SAGU, 4/11]
Yesterday's report on the pursuit and manhunt at Saguaro NP (00-135) erroneously reported that the FBI is leading the investigation in the case. It should have read that the NPS and FBI are assisting the Pima County Sheriff's Office in its investigation.
On April 23rd, four Dutch citizens were returning from a hike on the Tanque Verde Ridge trail in the Rincon Mountain District when they were attacked by Africanized bees. They dropped their hats and sunglasses and ran down the trail to their car at the trailhead. One woman received five stings and the other members of the group received one or two stings each. Rangers and a local EMS unit responded, but none of the four needed treatment. When one of the rangers went up the trail to retrieve the hats and sunglasses, a large number of bees came after him. Rangers wearing protective suits then closed the trail and located the colony. The nest was approximately ten feet off the trail in a rocky outcropping that visitors use as a scenic overlook. In accordance with the park's bee management plan, resource management and visitor protection staff determined that the colony needed to be exterminated. The trail remained closed throughout the week while rangers and a professional exterminator made repeated trips to the site to eradicate approximately 50,000 bees. The bees were extremely aggressive, but the bee suits were effective in protecting the rangers. The trail was reopened on April 29th. [Bob Lineback, DR/Meg Weesner, CRM, SAGU, 5/4]
On the evening of April 23rd, J.D., 28, of Avra Valley turned himself in to authorities after a first degree murder warrant was issued for him. The warrant stemmed from the death of J.M., 27, also of Avra Valley, in an accident in the park on April 9th while the two men were fleeing from deputies. J.D. fled from the accident scene to avoid capture. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of stolen items and numerous weapons, including a sawed-off shotgun. Several of these linked J.D. to three other homicides in southeast Arizona. He has been indicted by a local grand jury on eight charges, including the first degree murder of J.M. and the first degree murder of a security guard. Other charges are pending. J.D. remains in jail on a $2 million bond. Media interest remains high. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 5/1]
On May 22nd, ranger John Williams checked out a visitor's report of a hiker who was out of water and contacted a 33-year-old male backpacker near a Rincon Mountain District trailhead. The man had backpacked six miles to the Douglas Spring campground with a heavy pack on May 21st, then made the return trip during the heat of the day (105 degrees) on the 22nd. He had begun his trip with six quarts of fluid, an insufficient amount for two days at this time of year, and ran out early on the way back. He refused Williams' offer of water and said he was in good condition, but Williams noticed that the man seemed confused and that he was not sweating. He soon collapsed and went into convulsions. The ranger recognized that he was suffering from heat stroke, quickly stripped him down, and doused him with canteen water. A local ambulance was dispatched to the scene and took the victim to a hospital. His core temperature upon arrival was 108 degrees, even though he'd been transported in an air-conditioned ambulance and had been cooled with cold packs. He's expected to recover, but has suffered kidney and liver damage. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU, 5/24]
A park resident received a cell phone call from a 23-year-old park researcher on May 28th. The researcher, who was in a remote area in the Rincon Mountain District, reported that she was extremely ill, possibly from food poisoning. Rangers John Williams and Rich Hayes ascertained her exact location and immediately summoned a local medivac helicopter. Meanwhile, rangers and volunteers at a backcountry cabin rode on horseback to the site. Karen Bradford, the first ranger to arrive, determined that the researcher was too weak and dehydrated to be transported out on horseback. Bradford, volunteers, and the researcher's mother carried her in two sleeping bags a half mile to a remote helispot. A flight crew arrived, began an IV, then airlifted her to a hospital. The researcher had suffered from both food poisoning and severe dehydration, but is expected to fully recover. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU, 5/24]
Two area residents spotted a gleaming object near Rincon Peak on August 30, 1997, investigated, and found the wreckage of a small aircraft. The park was notified and in turn contacted FAA. FAA advised that the twin-engine Cessna had been missing since August 29, 1984. Rangers and local deputies secured the crash scene and began an investigation. The FAA determined that the Cessna had flown into the side of the mountain under full power, probably during a low-level night flight in a thunderstorm. The aircraft exploded on impact, causing a small brush fire that evidently burned out without being witnessed. The remains of four victims were found in the initial search, along with a handgun and a bag containing moldy currency. Further investigation into archived DEA records revealed that the plane had been leased to people with reported drug smuggling connections and that there was potentially $1.5 million on board the aircraft. The money was probably going to be used to finance a drug deal that involved smuggling drugs from Mexico. The recovered bag with the moldy currency had been thrown clear of the plane; evidence at the site indicated that an undetermined amount of additional currency had been burned in the crash. The Treasury Department analyzed the currency, and determined that it contained at least $13,080 in U.S. bills. The local residents who discovered the wreckage and the relatives of the victims filed claims for the then unknown sum of money, but the local county attorney and sheriff's department were able to sustain a decision that the money be forfeited in accordance with state laws governing illegal drug activities. On May 30th, the Pima County Superior Court issued a ruling that granted $2,000 each to the two area residents. The balance was then equitably distributed to the county attorney's office and the sheriff's department's anti-racketeering fund. The park received $2,724. The aircraft insurer paid for the removal of the Cessna in 1998 after successful intervention by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The insurer had declined to respond to NPS demands to pay for the recovery of the wreckage and crash mitigation costs. Southern Arizona Group special agent Dan Wirth assisted in the investigation. [Bob Lineback, DR, SAGU, 9/27]
Rangers Bob Lineback and Bo Stone were dispatched to a potential suicide attempt at the Douglas Springs trailhead at 1:30 a.m. on September 21st. A 25-year-old man had been drinking at the trailhead with his roommate and began making despondent statements. He left a suicide note in their vehicle and hiked up the trail into the desert. The roommate contacted the local sheriff's department, which immediately dispatched a helicopter and dog team to the area. When the roommate returned home, he discovered that his loaded 9mm Ruger handgun was missing. The night search proved fruitless, so rangers sealed off the area and organized a renewed effort during the following day. An observer in the helicopter spotted the man lying still in a wash at 8:30 a.m. The helicopter returned to the trailhead and picked up a ranger and deputy. The man meanwhile got up and resumed hiking, but stopped when he met park staff on the trail and turned over his firearm to them. He was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Over 35 people participated in the search, including federal, state and local officers and park volunteers. This was the fifth suicide attempt in the park this year. [Bob Lineback, DR/Bo Stone, PR, SAGU, 9/26]
Each summer, the park coordinates an interagency operation to deter reptile-poaching activity in southern Arizona. Between June and September, rangers contacted and cited six different groups of reptile poachers. These incidents occurred during the summer monsoon season in both districts of the park. Members of three of the groups had a variety of reptiles in their possession, including a desert spiny lizard, a whiptail lizard, a long-nosed snake, a banded gecko, and a regal horned lizard. They also had other species not native to the park. All of them had collecting equipment in their possession, including snake sticks, pillowcases, plastic tubes and tubs, flashlights, transceiver radios, snakebite kits, butterfly nets, spotlights, coolers, and fishing poles without reels or monofilament lines. These reptile poachers were from five states and were all practiced in the art of collecting. (Paula Nasiatka, CR/Carin Harvey, PR, SAGU, 10/13)
Ranger Bo Stone came upon a vehicle at the end of Broadway Boulevard in the Rincon Mountain District on January 1st. The driver was unresponsive but had a pulse and was breathing. Stone turned the vehicle's engine off and removed the keys from the ignition after seeing alcohol and drug paraphernalia in the car. He then woke the driver - later identified as K.W. - and ordered him to get out of the vehicle. As this was occurring, Stone received a call from dispatch advising that the vehicle was stolen. Stone ordered K.W. to get on the ground, but K.W. made repeated efforts to escape. Although Stone tackled him three separate times, K.W. was able to break free and escape before Stone could retrieve his pepper spray and subdue him. A major air and ground search was begun which involved rangers, deputies, a DPS helicopter, BLM personnel, and a dog team. The frontcountry area of the district was closed at all trailheads and access points in order to assure public safety. Hasty searchers found K.W.'s wallet (with ID) and coat nearby and determined a direction of travel. Local police checked K.W.'s house, but did not find him there. After five hours of fruitless searching, rangers again checked at his residence. This time his mother answered and reported that he was now home. But he fled again before rangers and police got to the house. Another air and ground search ensued until investigators found out that a friend of K.W.'s had given him a ride to a bus stop a mile away. He remains at large. A federal arrest warrant has been obtained. K.W. has a felony criminal history that includes assault with a deadly weapon, theft, and leaving the scene of a serious accident. He's been associated with car thefts in the area and had a Volkswagen master ignition key and burglary tools with him at the time he was contacted. He faces federal charges for assault on a federal officer; the county is pursuing multiple charges for vehicle theft and drug possession. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU, 1/2]
Two colonies of Africanized bees were eradicated from the park's Rincon Mountain District in December after they stung a number of visitors. One of the nests was located next to Cactus Loop Drive, a scenic road frequented by bicyclists, walkers and runners; the second colony was adjacent to a trail that is heavily used by horseback riders and hikers. Bee stings were reported at both sites, probably due to people accidentally walking into the bees' "flight path." Fortunately, there were no incidents of multiple stings, as occurred during incidents earlier in the year. The park's Africanized bee management plan calls for elimination of colonies in frequently visited areas, especially after stinging incidents have been reported. A local exterminator applied an approved insecticide and sealed entries to the colonies. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, and Meg Weesner, CRM, SAGU, 1/2]
Some time during the night of December 22nd, a stolen Jeep left the end of Broadway Boulevard in the Rincon Mountain District at a high rate of speed and collided with a 150-year-old saguaro, splitting it into several pieces. The driver then continued cross-country through the park for another quarter mile before abandoning the totaled vehicle. A total of 195 trees, shrubs and cacti were damaged or destroyed. The replacement value has been estimated at just under $16,000. Ranger John Williams and NPS special agent Dan Wirth are following up on investigative leads, but there was little physical evidence found in the vehicle. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU, 1/7]
On January 6th, a park biologist on a game census helicopter flight spotted the body of an apparently deceased man lying in a canyon bottom in the Saguaro Wilderness in the Rincon Mountain District. The body was adjacent to but out of sight of a main trail and about an hour's hike from the nearest trailhead. Rangers Bo Stone and John Williams, NPS special agent Dan Wirth and county deputies were flown to the scene and began an investigation. Due to the canyon terrain, the body had to be flown out. The victim's identification has not yet been established, but the cause of death appears to be natural. An autopsy has been conducted. No missing persons have been reported who match the victim's description. The investigation continues. [Bob Lineback, DR, SAGU, 1/7]
On January 13th, rangers came upon a "paintball war" in progress in the park. Eleven men dressed in camouflage and armed with CO2 powered paintball rifles were found in a full-blown engagement near the Broadway trailhead in the East District. Thousands of rounds of paintball ammunition were exchanged. Although there were several visitors on foot and horseback in the area, none of them were hit. Over a square mile of desert vegetation, saguaro cacti and signs were hit with paintballs in a multitude of colors. Fortunately, the paint was water-based and biodegradable and most visible effects were gone by the next day. Rangers caught and detained the eleven and confiscated their rifles and about 5,000 rounds of paintballs. Each of the men was cited for possession of a weapon. [Bob Lineback, Acting CR, SAGU, 1/22]
On January 21st, rangers saw a man on lower Tanque Verde Ridge, an area of the Rincon Mountain District that is closed to off-trail travel and rich in archeological resources. They intercepted the man and his juvenile son on their way out of the park. They had a dog off leash and also had wildflowers in their possession. When asked if he had anything else that he'd gathered from the park, the man pulled some rock chunks with petroglyphs on them from his fanny pack along with a hammer and a large screwdriver. All were confiscated. The man showed the rangers where he'd gotten the petroglyph. A section of a petroglyph panel measuring a foot square had been removed, breaking into several pieces in the process. A consent search of his vehicle was conducted, but no further evidence was found. Rangers are working closely with an NPS archeologist at the Western Archeological Conservation Center, special agents, and the U.S. Attorney's Office on an ARPA complaint against the father. [Chuck Scott, Acting CR, SAGU, 1/30]
On February 1st, K.W., 25, was captured by Tucson PD officers after 30 days on the run, eluding Fugitive Investigative Strike Team (FIST) officers led by federal marshals. A federal arrest warrant was issued on K.W. after a January 1st incident in which ranger Bo Stone attempted to arrest him for being in possession of a stolen vehicle. Although Stone tackled him and took him to the ground three times, K.W. resisted and was able to flee. A major air and ground search followed, but without results. K.W. is being held in county jail on multiple state felony counts, including possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of drugs, aggravated assault, and failure to appear on charges on other active cases. On February 14th, a federal grand jury indicted K.W. for assault on a federal officer. A detainer has been placed on K.W. for this charge. [Robert Stinson, DR, SAGU, 2/26]
On the afternoon of June 14th, M.L., 46, of Golden Valley, was heading southbound on Sandario Road on his motorcycle when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road, crossed the center line, and slammed into a tractor-trailer. M.L. was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, J.J., 40, of Bullhead City, was transported to University Medical Center by an AirLife helicopter, where she remains in critical condition. Alcohol and speed are suspected to be contributing factors. Toxicology results are pending; the investigation continues. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 6/16]
On May 31st, R.B., 41, of Tucson drove his Ford Explorer approximately one mile cross-country through the park, causing over $60,000 in natural resource damages in the Rincon Mountain District. The vehicle was discovered stuck, with its engine running and doors locked. R.B. was located a short distance away, sitting naked under a bush. He refused to cooperate and resisted arrest before being pepper-sprayed by BLM and NPS rangers and safely handcuffed. Further investigation revealed that R.B. had driven through BLM and private property, causing additional resource damage, before heading into the park. Drugs and paraphernalia were located in the vehicle in addition to over $250 in cash strewn around the cab. Evidence indicates R.B. attempted to set his vehicle on fire. R.B. has an extensive criminal history, including numerous assaults, resisting arrest, and narcotics violations. He was recently unconditionally released from a state mental hospital after serving two years of a five-year sentence in which he was found guilty but insane of aggravated assault on a police officer. R.B. was booked into federal prison on initial charge of violation of resisting/ impeding/interfering with a federal officer (18 USC 111). A federal grand jury convened this week for additional indictment charges. [Bo Stone, PR, SAGU, 06/18]
On August 26th, 52-year-old G.P. of Ottawa, Ontario, set out on a day hike in the Rincon Mountain District. Temperatures reached a record-breaking 107 degrees by mid-afternoon. Late that afternoon, a visitor found a cellular phone, camera, fanny pack and empty water bottles by a trail junction and contacted ranger John Williams. Using the cell phone memory functions to call phone numbers listed, Williams determined that the phone was owned by G.P. G.P. was said to be driving a rental vehicle, which was soon located. Due to the extreme heat, a search was immediately begun. Approximately 20 searchers participated in the nighttime search, including ranger Carin Harvey, park volunteers, and members of the Southern Arizona Rescue Association and Pima County Sheriff's Department Mounted Posse. A Tucson Police Department helicopter was also utilized. At approximately 10 p.m., G.P.'s body was found 20 feet off-trail in the desert, about a mile from his rental vehicle. Although the medical examiner's office has not officially determined the cause of death, it appears to be heat-related. According to family, G.P. was an avid hiker, but had experienced jet lag after arriving in Tucson on the evening of August 25th. The investigation is continuing. [John Williams, IC, SAGU, 8/27]
On the evening of Friday, September 14th, ranger Brian Rutledge attempted to stop a vehicle for driving at a high rate of speed (confirmed by radar as 79 mph in a 50 mph zone) in the Tucson Mountain District. The driver pulled over near the park's boundary after a short pursuit, but took off again as Rutledge approached him. The chase resumed and continued until the driver swung into the front yard of a neighborhood residence, bailed out, and fled on foot. Rangers and Pima County Sheriff's Department officers closed off the area. An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter was launched and provided air support in the subsequent search. The operation was about to be called off after several hours of fruitless efforts when a citizen called police and reported a person hiding in a residence about two miles north of the point where the driver had abandoned his vehicle. Deputies found and arrested him and confirmed that he was the driver. The vehicle had been stolen in Phoenix the previous week; the license plate had been stolen from another vehicle that day. Rangers took the man into federal custody and he was booked on several felony charges, including vehicle theft and felony flight from law enforcement. He was identified as a Mexican national who had illegally entered the country. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 9/21]
A.B. passed away on November 9th at her home in Sierra Vista, Arizona, after a long illness. She was married to J.B., superintendent of Coronado NM and acting superintendent of Saguaro NP, for 24 years. A.B. was a registered nurse, expert birder, tour guide and artist. She served as a park naturalist at Big Bend NP and as a research assistant in seabird ecology at Channel Islands NP. A.B. worked as an RN most recently at the Grand Canyon NP clinic. An outdoor memorial service was held on November 13th in Saguaro NP; other ceremonies were held the same day in Big Bend and Great Basin. Donations in memory of Anne can be made to the Friends of Saguaro NP, P.O. Box 18998, Tucson, AZ 85731-998, with a notation that it is in memory of A.B.. Cards can be sent to J.B. [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU, 11/20]
On the evening of April 9, 2000, Pima County deputies attempted to stop a vehicle that had run a stop sign west of the park. The driver, J.D., took off and a high-speed pursuit ensued, ending when J.D. lost control of the vehicle and it flipped and crashed on Picture Rocks Road within the park. J.M., who was in the vehicle with J.D., was killed instantly. J.M. fled, but was eventually found and arrested. J.D. was recently convicted in the murder of Grady Towers, a security guard at Tohono Chul Park, and faces murder charges in the killing of Robin Hay, an assistant manager at Egees in Tucson. J.D. is also to be tried for murder in the death of J.M.. He has sought a change of venue, but the court has denied the request. All three homicide charges are being handled by the Pima County attorney's office. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 2/25]
While patrolling in the Tucson Mountain District on the evening of May 10th, rangers Carin Harvey and Brian Rutledge heard a "Code 999" call (officer in trouble) on the Pima County Sheriff's Department radio. County park police officer John Hale, a former Saguaro seasonal ranger, then came on the air and broadcast a "Code 952" - an accident with injuries involving a patrol vehicle - at Gates Pass Road adjacent to the park. Rutledge and Harvey were first on scene at the two vehicle accident and provided EMS until paramedics arrived. Hale was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson, where he received more than 40 stitches to his forehead. He also suffered a broken ankle, bruised ribs and serious knee damage. The driver of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the other vehicle, so county officers placed the vehicle's passenger under arrest and obtained a search warrant for blood and urine tests. Both occupants of the vehicle tested positive for marijuana and are being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (a class two felony), felony criminal damage (over $20,000), felony endangerment, and DUI narcotics. [Patrick Hattaway, Acting CR, SAGU, 5/13]
During a routine check of a seismic sensor on January 21, 2001, rangers Carin Harvey and Rich Hayes spotted and contacted T.K.J. of Tucson and his son, who were hiking in an area that is closed to protect more than 500 rock art images dating to the Hohokam period (AD 700 - 1250). The rangers found a large carpenter hammer, two screwdrivers, and 14.5 pounds of fragmented rock with petroglyph markings during a consent search of T.K.J.'s pack. T.K.J. subsequently agreed to show rangers the petroglyphs' original location. The petroglyph panel had a hole that measured 14 by 15 inches, with an average depth of three inches and surface damage to petroglyphs nearby. Harvey worked closely with archeologists from the Western Archeological Center and a private conservator on a damage assessment, then with the park's court liaison and U. S. Attorney's Office to reach a plea agreement. T.K.J. pled guilty on January 30th to one misdemeanor count of violating the Archeological Resource Protection Act. He received eighteen months' probation and will pay restitution to the park in the amount of $7,637. Because the petroglyph is beyond actual repair, this money will be used in part to fund an educational display in the visitor center on archeological resources and in part to fund future resource protection efforts. The court also ordered T.K.J. to make a formal apology to the four southern tribes in Arizona and to perform 60 hours of community service. [Patrick W. Hattaway, Acting CR, SAGU, 5/20]
J.D., 30, was convicted of first degree murder last week in a jury trial in Pima County Superior Court for an incident that occurred in the Tucson Mountain District of the park two years ago. On April 9, 2000, Pima County deputies attempted to stop J.D.'s vehicle after he ran a stop sign west of the park. J.D. instead took off and a high-speed pursuit ensued, ending when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Passenger Joseph McDowell was killed instantly in the accident. J.D. fled the scene, but was eventually located and arrested. J.D. was also recently convicted in the murder of a security guard at T.C.P. Prosecutors will request a life sentence at his sentencing scheduled later. [Robert E. Stinson, DR, SAGU, 7/1]
The park was notified of a missing woman with a history of depression at 5 p.m. on July 9th. The woman's vehicle was found parked next to the Wildhorse trailhead in the Rincon Mountain District. Ranger Carin Harvey met with county deputies at the trailhead and immediately solicited assistance from Southern Arizona Search and Rescue Association (SARA) and a county helicopter. The 62-year-old woman had left the house earlier that day; she was reported to be under the care of a psychiatrist and in possession of prescription medications. Augmenting the search effort were volunteers and members of the sheriff's posse. The woman was spotted by helicopter on the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch property adjacent to the park at 6 p.m. Although unconscious, she was breathing and had a strong pulse and was responsive to painful stimuli. The helicopter landed nearby with paramedics. The woman's body was cooled with water and she received ALS support, then was flown to a hospital. It's believed that she would not have survived much longer due to the heat (103 degrees) and the numerous pills that she'd consumed. A suicide note was found next to her. [Carin Harvey, ADR, SAGU, 7/9]
On July 22nd, R.B., 42, of Tucson pled guilty in federal district court to felony assault on a federal officer (18 USC 111) and was sentenced to five months in federal prison and a year's supervised probation. R.B. also pled guilty to damaging government property (18 USC 1361) for the significant damage and destruction he inflicted on park natural resources and was ordered to pay criminal restitution in the amount of $61,611 - a record sum - to the park. R.B. was arrested by rangers in May, 2001, after he'd driven his vehicle cross-country through the park and resisted arrest before being pepper-spayed and safely handcuffed. [Submitted by Robert E. Stinson, District Ranger, Saguaro NP]
On January 1, 2001, ranger Bo Stone attempted to arrest K.W., 26, on outstanding warrants and for possession of a stolen vehicle. K.W. resisted arrest and fled. An intensive search was launched, but he wasn't found until a month later, when he was captured by local police. K.W. pled guilty in federal district court to felony assault on a federal officer (18 USC 111) and has been sentenced to twelve months in prison and three years of supervised probation. He will serve this sentence concurrently with sentences on a number of charges filed by the county for crimes committed outside the park. [Submitted by Robert E. Stinson, District Ranger, Saguaro NP]
On the afternoon of August 23, the Pima County Sheriff's Department asked the park for help in searching for two men who were involved in a carjacking and kidnapping incident near the park. The pair had bailed out of their vehicle and fled on foot into the desert to the west of the park. Ranger Brian Rutledge helped deputies setup a search for the men. Within five minutes, Rutledge spotted one of them and made a felony arrest with backup from a deputy who arrived on scene. The man was turned over to the sheriff's department and was subsequently charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. [Submitted by Robert E. Stinson, District Ranger, Saguaro NP]
On December 21, rangers checked out a vehicle that had been parked
all day at the Douglas Springs trailhead. Rangers John Williams and Todd
Seliga went to the address of the registered owner and found that the
49-year-old man had been suffering from long-term medical problems. The
man's family in Illinois was contacted, and permission was obtained to
enter his apartment, where a suicide note was found. In the note, the
man said that he'd attempted suicide with both pharmaceutical and
illegal drugs, but without luck; he therefore planned on shooting
himself. A hasty search was organized and conducted by park staff, local
sheriff's deputies, and DPS officers in a helicopter. The man's body was
found the next afternoon about a half mile from the trailhead and well
off the trail. He'd perished from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The
park is leading the investigation.
On January 28, rangers received a report that an armed robbery had
occurred near the Signal Hill picnic area. Rangers Jason Smith and Brian
Rutledge contacted 35-year-old R.L.B. R.L.B. reported
that she had been a passenger in a vehicle driving through the park;
along with her were unidentified male and female companions. Near the
picnic area, the woman produced a handgun, forced R.L.B. out of the
vehicle, and robbed her of her purse. R.L.B. was not injured during the
robbery and claims that there was little or no money in the purse.
Rangers and county deputies are jointly investigating the incident.
On February 13, ranger Brian Rutledge saw a pickup heading southbound
on Sandario Road at a speed over the posted limit. He ran a check on the
vehicle and found that it had been stolen in Phoenix. Rutledge followed
the truck, eventually outside the park, until another ranger and Pima
County deputies arrived. Efforts to stop it were begun, but the driver
of the pickup turned it onto a dirt road and accelerated. A brief,
high-speed pursuit ensued, ending when the truck crashed. A man in his
mid-30s was seen running from the pickup with a pistol in his hand.
Rangers, Border Patrol agents and deputies, supported by DPS and Border
Patrol helicopters, established containment around the area and searched
for the man for about two hours. The search was terminated due to
darkness. Evidence in the truck indicated that it had been used to
transport undocumented aliens. NPS and local law enforcement agencies
have seen an increasing number of incidents in which vehicles stolen
from the Phoenix metropolitan area are driven south to the border, then
used to transport illegal aliens or drugs northward. A joint
investigation is underway.
During the months of March and April, rangers in the park's Tucson
Mountain District apprehended 81 undocumented aliens and transferred
custody of them to the Border Patrol. During these contacts, two stolen
vehicles were recovered and another ten were seized. Five of the 81
people apprehended were identified as "coyotes;" that is, smugglers of
illegal aliens. Although the park is 60 miles north of the international
border, a county road that bisects the district is a heavily used
corridor for the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants. These
figures represent a significant increase, as the park has on average
arrested 98 undocumented aliens over each of the past three years.
On May 9th, a BLM law enforcement ranger assigned to Ironwood
National Monument was shot during a traffic stop on a reported stolen
vehicle. After being stopped, the lone occupant fired on the ranger, who
was struck twice. The BLM ranger returned fire, hitting the driver in
the head. Both the ranger and his assailant were flown to a hospital in
Tucson. The BLM ranger was treated and released, but the driver remains
hospitalized in critical condition. Saguaro rangers Jason Smith and
Brian Rutledge responded to the incident. Smith was one of the first on
scene and provided medical assistance to the BLM ranger. Ironwood NM is
25 miles northwest of Tucson. Although a link has yet to be established,
the monument is a heavily-used drug and illegal immigrant smuggling
corridor. The BLM and FBI are investigating the incident.
On the afternoon of May 9th, BLM ranger Kevin Andrews stopped an 80's
vintage GMC pickup in BLM's Ironwood Forest NM. Sometime during the
contact, the driver jumped out of his truck and fired a handgun at
Andrews. Andrews returned fire with his BLM issued .40 caliber Sig
handgun. During the exchange of gunfire, the driver fell to the ground
and crawled under his pickup so that most of his upper torso was
directly beneath the truck's cab. At the time, the seriousness of the
man's wound was unknown to Andrews, who had been also been hit in the
exchange. Andrews immediately returned to his vehicle and backed it up
about 40 yards, removed his shotgun from its locking rack, and covered
the suspect. Andrews then notified dispatch that he was hit and that the
driver of the pickup was down. BLM officers, NPS rangers and Pima County
SO deputies and EMS personnel responded immediately. While waiting for
backup to arrive, Andrews administered first aid to his wounds, directed
responding personnel to the incident scene via his radio, and continued
to cover the suspect. Andrews was hit twice. One bullet passed through
his left leg and another passed through the skin on the left side of his
body just above his duty belt. No organs or bones where hit. Andrews was
medevaced to a Tucson hospital via an Arizona Department of Public
Safety helicopter; his assailant was medevaced to a Tucson hospital via
a Flight for Life helicopter. Andrews was treated for his wounds and
released from the hospital that evening. Andrews' assailant, who was hit
in the left side of his forehead just above the left eye, underwent an
operation Friday night and is currently in critical condition. The
investigation of the incident is being conducted jointly by the FBI and
the Pima County Sheriff's Office. Andrews is currently at home with his
wife and four children, recovering from his wounds. Cards can be sent to
him via BLM's Tucson Field Office at the following address: Tucson Field
Office, 12661 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ 85748. Andrews has expressed a
desire to communicate with fellow officers, but would like communication
to occur via email. Email can be sent to him at Kevin_Andrews@BLM.gov.
A 42-year-old male motorcyclist traveling west on Picture Rocks Road
around midnight on Friday, May 16th, failed to negotiate a curve on the
two-lane road, slid through some desert vegetation, and struck a palo
verde tree. He died at the scene. Alcohol and excessive speed are
thought to have been contributing factors. The Pima County Sheriffs
Department and NPS are investigating the incident. A second motorcyclist
was arrested for DUI. During the subsequent field investigation, an
unrelated vehicle drove through traffic cones placed to protect the
scene. The female driver was eventually stopped before injuring anyone
or causing any property damage. She too was arrested for DUI.
On September 1st, a Tucson man and his 13-year-old son were attacked
by Africanized honeybees while climbing on a cliff face in the park's
Tucson Mountain District. During the climb, the boy reached for a
handhold above him. The rock he grabbed apparently dislodged a portion
of the beehive, which neither climber had observed previously. The bees
immediately began stinging the younger climber, who was on belay 50 feet
up the cliff face. His father quickly lowered him and assisted with
removal of his climbing harness. Both father and son were repeatedly
stung as they ran back to the trailhead and their parked car,
approximately 200 yards away. Other park visitors transported both
individuals from the trailhead to a nearby fire station; from there,
they were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The father had been
stung over 200 times and was hospitalized overnight. His son was stung
about 50 times and was treated and released. The park has contracted
with a local bee exterminator to treat and remove the bees. Africanized
honeybees (AHBs) are a hybrid between non-native domesticated strains of
European honeybees and an African strain and were accidentally released
in Brazil in 1957. AHBs were first detected in Arizona in 1993, and at
Saguaro in 1994. Although there have been several minor bee incidents
since 1994, this is the most significant attack ever recorded at
Saguaro. Aggressive behavior in AHBs is generally related to defense of
an established colony. AHBs attack swiftly and intensely, and are more
likely to sustain a prolonged attack, sometimes following victims up to
a mile. Attacking AHBs can deliver 400 to 500 stings in a short time;
the accumulated toxin from 500 stings can easily kill the average adult.
Rangers Jason Griswold and John Williams saw a man acting oddly at
the Douglas Springs trailhead on the evening of October 31st. They
stopped to talk with him and detected alcohol on his breath during the
conversation. While Griswold was questioning him, Williams saw a receipt
from a local gun shop in plain sight on the front seat of his vehicle.
When asked if he had a firearm, the man admitted that there was one
under the driver's seat. Williams retrieved a loaded .40 caliber
semi-automatic pistol, which had been purchased earlier that day. The
man eventually confessed that he'd planned to hike up the trail and
commit suicide prior to the rangers' arrival. He was placed in
protective custody and taken to a local hospital for psychiatric
evaluation. The 41-year-old man, a resident of Tucson, is married and
the father of five children. He said that he'd been involved in a
serious motor vehicle accident four months previously and had been
experiencing chronic headaches and other health problems.
On Friday July 23rd, ranger Brian Rutledge checked out a report of a
man "passed out" in a picnic area restroom. Rutledge found a 45-year old
man lying on the restroom floor; he was conscious, but appeared
agitated, disoriented and extremely intoxicated. Evidence at the
scene indicated he'd consumed numerous cans of beer and unknown portions
of a bag of hand sanitizer gel (containing isopropyl alcohol) which had
been removed from the restroom's hand-washing station. An ambulance was
quickly summoned and the man was transported to a local hospital in
Tucson, where he died the next day. An autopsy was performed on July
25th, the results of which were made available on September 27th. The
coroner's report cited complications of hyperthermia with acute and
chronic ethanol abuse as the cause of death, with hypertensive
cardiovascular disease and emphysema as contributory conditions. The
Pima County Sheriffs Department and the Pima County Medical Examiner's
Office conducted the death investigation.
On December 17th, a ranger conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle whose operator was suspected of having camped illegally at a trailhead parking area. During the course of the contact, the ranger determined that a 25-year old male passenger was a registered sexual offender who was in non-compliant status with the state of Minnesota, having failed to provide authorities with his address or general whereabouts. Two Pima County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to render assistance. While they were talking with the passenger, two small plastic bags dropped from his clothing to the ground, both containing suspected drug residue. As he bent down to pick them up, the ranger and a deputy told him to drop the bags. When he failed to comply, the ranger grabbed his right arm, which held the plastic bags. The man pushed the ranger away with his hand, then shoved the ranger with his shoulder. The ranger again grabbed him, but the man's shirt ripped away and he ran about 15 feet to a residential adobe wall. As he began to climb the wall, one of the deputies discharged her Taser but missed him. With the help of additional deputies and an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter, the man was found about a mile and a half north of the original scene. A sheriff's deputy had to use a Taser on him in order to safely take him into custody. The man was transferred to a federal detention facility and was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer (18 USC 111). Pima County may file additional charges. The ranger was not injured during the incident. [Chief Ranger's Office]
Trail crew member John "Jake" Quilter, 26, died yesterday while hiking to Manning Camp in the Rincon Mountains. The crew was beginning a project to rehabilitate a fire damaged trail. His death, which was not witnessed, is estimated to have occurred at around 12:15 p.m. on the Manning Camp Trail near the mountain's 6,700 foot elevation. Quilter had hiked out ahead of his group and was found by another crew member lying on the trail. CPR was begun and a cell phone call for assistance was made. A medical helicopter was able to land nearby, but Quilter was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:08 p.m. Quilter's body was evacuated by helicopter and transferred to the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner. An autopsy was expected to be performed on Thursday afternoon. Quilter was a first year seasonal at Saguaro and had worked trail crew assignments at Grand Teton, Grand Canyon and Olympic. He'd also performed volunteer work at Arches and Canyonlands. The park's superintendent, Sarah Craighead said: "We are deeply saddened by Jake's sudden death. He was a fine young man, with a positive outlook on life. He loved working for the National Park Service, and was very passionate about trail work." Jake's parents shared the following: "Jake was a very special young man. He lived life to the fullest. His love of the outdoors led him to the park system and the many friends he grew to know and respect along the many trails he blazed. Jake was a very independent young man who spent much of his time hiking and traveling and seeing more of this country than most people do during a long lifetime. His family and friends will always remember his mischievous grin and sense of humor. We appreciate those of you that became a part of Jake's life in the park system. He thought of you as his extended family. We will all miss him dearly." Memorial and funeral services are pending, as is a possible memorial fund. Cards and notes may be sent to Jake's parents, Ju.Q. and Jo.Q. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
A memorial service for John "Jake" Quilter was held on Monday, March 13th, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Quilter, a seasonal employee and member of the park's trail crew, died while on duty on March 8th. He was 26 years old. Over 150 people attended the memorial, including staff from several Virginia-area NPS units and staff from Saguaro National Park. A four-person contingent from the National Park Service's honor guard participated in the memorial service. An Arizona memorial service will be held on March 24th at 11 a.m. at Saguaro Buttes Community Church, 5825 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85747. In lieu of flowers, the Quilter family has established a memorial fund for Jake. Donations can be sent to Bennett's Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23111. The Quilter family will divide donations between the National Park Service and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. If you have a preference, please note it on your donation. [Bob Love, Chief ranger]
On Saturday, April 29th, motorists driving on Speedway Boulevard inside the park's Rincon Mountain District came upon a car stopped on the road's shoulder. The vehicle was smoking and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel. The motorists investigated and found that the woman was not breathing and had no pulse, so pulled her free from the car and started CPR. The vehicle eventually became fully engulfed in flame. When fire and EMS responders arrived, they determined that the woman had sustained an injury of unknown origin to her head. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The county medical examiner subsequently determined that the 50-year-old Tucson woman had shot herself and ruled the death a suicide. A handgun registered to her was found in the burned out vehicle. It appears that the fire was caused by the vehicle overheating. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On January 12th, the park received a report that several saguaros had been removed from an area adjacent to the park's boundary. Initial investigation at the scene revealed that numerous saguaros had been dug up and that several had been cached near a road for later removal. At least two saguaros had been poached from park lands. Rangers conducted surveillance of the area that night and contacted two people who were transporting four saguaros in the back of their pick-up truck. A criminal investigation is currently underway for a variety of offenses, including Lacey Act violations. The saguaros involved are between five and seven feet tall and estimated to be 40 to 60 years old. An active commercial market exists for saguaros, both in Arizona and southern California. The FBI, Arizona Department of Agriculture and Pima County Sheriff's Department are providing investigative assistance. This incident, along with another recent cactus theft case in the Tucson area, has generated significant local media interest. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
A Tucson area 911 dispatcher received an anonymous phone call around 6:30 p.m. on February 19th reporting a body at the trailhead for the Desert Discovery Trail. A Pima County deputy was first on scene and found a man's body with a gunshot wound to his head. A 9mm pistol was lying nearby and a suicide note was found on his person. The 911 call was later traced back to him. Although seriously wounded, he was still alive. EMS care was provided by local fire district paramedics and he was flown by life flight helicopter to a Tucson area hospital. He died there at 8 p.m. Although the case remains under investigation, all evidence supports suicide as the cause of death. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
Two horseback riders who were riding the Shantz trail in the park's Rincon District on the morning of May 30th came upon a man's body. He'd been riding a mountain bike on area trails and was found lying on part of his bike (mountain bikes are prohibited on these trails). Investigating rangers determined that he was R.K., 42, of Novi, Michigan. R.K.'s vehicle was found at a trailhead about two miles southwest from the point where his body was discovered. A ranger had seen it parked at the trailhead the previous afternoon and had run a computer check on it with negative results. The investigation also revealed that one of R.K.'s relatives had contacted Tucson PD on the night of May 29th and reported him missing. When found, R.K. was wearing a bicycle helmet and there was no sign of obvious significant trauma. The water bottle on his bike was found empty. The high temperature in Tucson on May 29th was 95 degrees and the overnight low temperature was 50 degrees. The temperature when his body was found was 80 degrees. The Pima County medical examiner conducted an autopsy. On June 23rd, the medical examiner advised the park that R.K.'s death had probably been caused by "hyperthermia due to exposure to the elements." Hyperthermia, also called heat stroke or sunstroke, is an acute condition which occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. It is usually caused by excessive exposure to heat. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of June 21st, a middle-aged man heading south in his Ford pickup on Old Spanish Trail, a two-lane road adjacent to and partially within the park's boundary, lost control of the truck about a mile-and-a-half south of the park's entrance and went off the road. The pickup rolled over, causing extensive damage to the cab and killing the driver. The driver's name is not yet known. Speed was a contributing factor. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is conducting the investigation. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On June 25th, a 24-year-old homeless man who had wandered into the park found a gila monster and picked it up because - as he later told rangers - "it wanted to be friends." The man then placed the gila on his shoulders, whereupon it promptly bit him on the neck. While trying to shed the animal, it bit him once more on the hand. He then picked it up and wrapped it in a piece of clothing. A park volunteer encountered the man walking on a roadway adjacent to the park and asked if he needed help. The man told the volunteer what had happened, then showed him the gila. Rangers were summoned; when they arrived, they found the man vomiting and complaining of difficulty breathing. He was transported by ambulance to a Tucson area hospital, where he was admitted for treatment of the bites, heat exhaustion and severe dehydration. The gila appeared uninjured, and was returned to the park. This was the park's second gila bite incident this year. Gila monsters are native to the American southwest and northern Mexico and are the only venomous lizard native to the United States. These heavy, slow-moving lizards can grow up to two feet long and can weigh up to three pounds. Because of their slowness, they rarely present a threat to humans. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On August 17th, P.G., 70, of Tucson was reported missing to the Tucson Police Department. Two days later, her vehicle was found at the Douglas Spring trailhead with a suicide note in the trunk. An interagency search of the area ensued that involved ground and horse-mounted searchers from a variety of agencies and helicopters from the Tucson Police Department and the U.S. Border Patrol. P.G.'s body was found by ground searchers at 4:30 p.m. about a half mile east of the trailhead. The cause of death has not yet been ascertained; results of the autopsy are pending. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On January 5th, D.E., 21, of Tucson, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to a felony charge of assault on a federal officer (18 USC 111(a)(1)) and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. He was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised probation upon release from prison and mandated to participate in 500 hours of a drug treatment program. On April 27, 2008, rangers John D. Williams and Scott Neumann approached a vehicle parked at a trailhead to conduct a welfare check on the driver and the passenger. While engaging the driver (D.E.) in conversation, Williams noticed a clear cellophane baggie of white powder (which later tested positive for cocaine) on the floorboard and ordered D.E. to exit the vehicle. D.E. instead started the vehicle, and Williams reached inside in an attempt to turn the engine off. D.E. shifted the vehicle into reverse, pulling Williams a short distance before he was able to disengage from the vehicle. Williams was not injured during the incident. D.E. then fled the scene at a high rate of speed but crashed his vehicle three miles from the trailhead. He fled the accident scene on foot, leaving behind his seriously injured passenger. D.E. turned himself in at the Tucson Police Department the following morning and was subsequently arrested by rangers. District ranger Robert E. Stinson was the lead case agent. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of March 3rd, a Tucson area 911 dispatcher received a phone call reporting a possible fatality in the park's Cam-Boh picnic area. A county deputy was first on scene, followed shortly thereafter by a ranger. They found the body of a 59-year-old Pittsburgh man inside a parked vehicle. Evidence at the scene revealed that the death was a suicide through helium inhalation and asphyxiation. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
A jogger found a body near the park's Passey loop trail early on the morning of Sunday, July 5th. Pima County deputies and rangers responded. They found the body of a man with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his head. A .357 revolver was found on the body, indicating a probable suicide. The man had been dead for five or six days when he was discovered. There was no identification on him and no abandoned vehicle in the area, so his identity remains unknown. The investigation continues. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
A single-vehicle accident occurred on Old Spanish Trail less than a quarter mile south of the park's entrance - but partially within the park's boundary - just after 2 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, August 1st. It appears that the driver of a Chevy Corvette was heading down the road at a high rate of speed when he lost control and hit a metal power/telephone pole. The 59-year-old man died at the scene. A passenger was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On June 6, 2007, ranger Fletcher Ogg conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation that resulted in the seizure of a loaded .22 pistol, 51 rounds of ammunition, and a pellet rifle. The ensuing investigation revealed that the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was a convicted felon. He was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm (18 USC §922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2)) and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury. After a court trial earlier this year, he was found guilty on both charges. On September 8th, P.S. was sentenced to six months in federal prison, 36 months of supervised release/probation, mandatory substance abuse testing, and a $2,000 fine. [Robert E. Stinson, District Ranger]
Two men have been found guilty of cactus poaching in the park in 2007 and have been sentenced in federal court. A federal judge in Tucson sentenced J.T., 50, to eight months in federal prison, and his co-defendant, G.J.M., 42, to six months of home confinement and 100 hours of community service. Upon release, both will be placed on supervised probation for a term of 36 months. The two men previously pled guilty to violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in plants and animals collected in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States, or in violation of any Indian tribal law. Saguaros are also protected under Arizona's native plants law. Saguaros are vulnerable to loss or damage from theft, vandalism, development, off-road vehicles and air pollution because of their slow reproduction and rate of growth, which makes nursery propagation difficult. On January 12, 2007, G.J.M. and J.T. removed two saguaro cacti from within the park's boundaries. On that day, rangers discovered several saguaros had been dug up and cached for later transport. A total of 17 mature saguaros had been dug up, two from within the park and 15 from adjacent private and public lands. The saguaros ranged from five to eight feet in height. As a result of the investigation, G.J.M. and J.T. were identified as having removed the saguaros from the park and transporting them in a truck owned by G.J.M.. "This activity will not be taken lightly," said Dennis Burke, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona. "This is one of the longest sentences ever for cactus rustling in this district." The case came to a successful conclusion due to outstanding investigative work and case management, along with a supportive U.S. Attorney's Office. Todd Austin (now at Lake Mead) was the original investigating ranger, and district ranger Robert E. Stinson was the case agent. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On April 28th, a two-vehicle accident occurred on Picture Rocks Road about a mile east of Golden Gate Road. One of the vehicles, a motorcycle, was operated by 59-year-old B.B. B.B. sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized at University Medical Center in Tucson. On May 23rd, he died of his injuries. The park was notified of B.B.'s death on June 1st. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of January 19th, a three car accident occurred on Picture Rocks Road, a two-lane roadway within the park boundary, near the Contzen Pass area. One person was killed and a second injured. An initial investigation revealed that the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe was driving westbound and drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with two other vehicles, causing extensive damage to the passenger compartment. The female driver and lone occupant of the Tahoe died at the scene. One of the drivers from another vehicle was taken to a hospital for minor injuries and released. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is conducting the investigation. [Paul Austin, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of February 10th, a Harley Davidson collided head-on with a pickup truck on Sandario Road, killing the motorcycle's operator, a 36-year-old airman from Davis Monthan Air Force Base. He was heading northbound on the road when he drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with the southbound pickup. Picture Rocks Fire Department paramedics conducted CPR at the scene before the man was flown by Lifenet helicopter to University Medical Center trauma unit, where he was pronounced dead. The elderly couple in the truck were taken by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries and later released. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is conducting the lead investigation. [Paul Austin, Acting Chief Ranger]
A 69-year-old Tucson woman was killed when her motorcycle ran head-on into another vehicle on Picture Rocks Road on the afternoon of February 25th. She was heading westbound when her Honda drifted into oncoming traffic and hit the other vehicle. CPR was conducted on scene by fire department paramedics before she was flown to University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Two people in the second vehicle were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries and later released. [Paul Austin, Acting Chief Ranger]
On Monday afternoon, a 35-year-old visitor from Germany was hiking on the Hugh Norris Trail with a partner, also from Germany, when she collapsed. Her partner attempted to revive her with water, but was unsuccessful. He then ran down the trail to his vehicle and drove to the visitor center to report the incident. A ranger and personnel from Picture Rocks Fire Department responded. When they got to the woman's location, they found that she had expired. Investigation revealed that the couple had headed out for Wesson Peak at 7 a.m. and reached the summit just before 11 a.m. While on the return trip, she told her partner that she was not feeling well. Shortly thereafter, she collapsed and became unconscious. Neither was carrying a cell phone and help was not readily available. The temperature high for Tucson that day was 105 Fahrenheit. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation. The cause of the fatality is under investigation. [Robert Stinson, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of June 30th, a 62-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle accident on Picture Rocks Road. Preliminary investigation indicates that he was traveling eastbound when he entered a curve and lost control, skidded into the opposing lane, and was struck by a westbound sports utility vehicle. CPR was begun at the scene and the man was airlifted to University Medical Center in Tucson, where he was pronounced dead. [Robert Stinson, District Ranger]
Pursuant to a joint investigation between the National Park Service and Tucson Police Department, a juvenile resident of Tucson was arrested on July 29th and charged with two felony counts of vandalism. These charges stem from damage that occurred in the park on May 11th and at numerous other locations throughout Tucson (about 140 instances overall). Rangers and investigators and officers from the Service's Investigative Services Branch, the Tucson Police Department, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety's HYPERLINK "http://www.azdps.gov/About/Task_Forces/GIITEM/" Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission worked together over the course of two months to identify, locate, and ultimately arrest the defendant. Tip line information from the local community also played an important role in this case. The park received reports of extensive vandalism along the Douglas Spring Trail on May 12th. Over 40 different objects were tagged with black spray paint, including more than 11 saguaro cacti. The incident received significant media interest, such as this June 4th 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" article in the New York Times. In June, the initial cleanup began, with Southwest Conservation Corps donating a crew to assist with the non-cactus objects (the June 14th edition of InsideNPS carried a HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id= 14027" report on this cleanup effort). Utilizing a product called "elephant snot," the crew was able to remove the paint from boulders, cliff faces, water bars and trail signs. Park staff continue to be challenged with the task of removing the graffiti from the saguaros, many of which are well over 100 years old. "We are attempting to find a solution to clean the cactus that doesn't further damage them," said Paul Austin, the park's chief ranger. Products initially tested to clean the saguaro cacti were at first promising, but NPS biologists who have been monitoring the results now plan to test other products they hope will prove as effective with less potential to damage the fragile cacti. "This has been a cooperative effort from the beginning," said Austin, "and we would like to thank all the agencies and community members who assisted with this investigation." The two felony charges are being brought through the Pima County Juvenile Court system. [Paul Austin, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 27th, B.H. of Geneva, Illinois, was found dead on the Gould Mine Trail within the park's Tucson Mountain District. Although the cause of death is not yet known, rangers found that B.H.'s hydration bladder was empty and that he had no other water with him when he was found. Heat or dehydration may have been a factor. High temperatures on Saturday were in the mid-90s, though it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach into the 100s during the months of May and June. The combination of very hot and very dry weather can quickly lead to dangerous situations. Source: Press Release, Andy Fisher/Ray O'Neil, Saguaro NP
Park staff are searching for information after eight saguaro cacti were found cut down in the park earlier this month. The public's help is being sought as they investigate the vandalism near the Scenic Trailhead area. The eight saguaros of various ages were cut down and left laying along the Scenic Trail. The saguaros ranged in height from one foot to 10 feet tall. The damage is believed to have occurred on or around October 3rd. Source: 12News.com.
On September 29, a body was found near Grass Shack Campground, located 10 miles into the wilderness in the Rincon Mountains. Authorities said there were obvious signs of trauma and the "death appears to be an accident." The investigation is ongoing and the campground is currently closed. Source: AZ Central, Saguaro National Park
On August 13, lightning ignited a fire on Rincon Mountain, northeast of Spud Rock. As of August 13, the fire was 0.1 acres in size. Due to the remote and rugged nature, as well as predictions of incoming rain, staff are only monitoring the fire at this time. Source: KOLD
On August 22, a large windstorm knocked down at least 100 large saguaro cacti in the park. Winds were calculated as high as 62 miles per hour. The park has stated that this wind damage does not pose a long-term threat to the area's saguaro or wildlife populations because there are more than 2 million saguaros in the park. Source: Tucson.com
On January 23, the park published a press release saying they have found several deceased foxes in the park, have received several reports of abnormal behavior in foxes and raccoons, and had one reported incident of a bobcat biting a visitor. No carcasses have yet been recovered for testing to determine the cause of illness. Rabies is a possible cause, and visitors are encouraged to maintain distance from all wildlife. Source: Saguaro National Park
On March 28, the park published a press release asking visitors and neighboring communities to be on the lookout for stinknet, a flowering plant that is an aggressive invasive species. The plant is currently flowering in other parts of southern Arizona and rapidly spreading around Tucson and Pima County. The park asks that any visitors report observations through Stinknet.org and take special care to not walk near or on the plant. Source: Saguaro National Park
On April 3 and 4, three hikers were attacked by a rabid gray fox on the Hugh Norris Trail. Two of them were able to fend off the fox with trekking poles, while the other was "potentially scratched" by the animal. All three hikers were treated for rabies. The trail was closed. On April 5, a ranger spotted the animal. It was euthanized and later tested positive for rabies. This is a continuation of rabies in bobcats and foxes in the park and in the surrounding Tucson, AZ, area (see 1/24/24 Coalition Report). Source: The Sacramento Bee
On March 20, the NPS was called to respond to two "elderly" hikers suffering from "severe dehydration" in the Tucson Mountains. Personnel from the NPS and Pima County (AZ) Search and Rescue responded, then requested support from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter. The helicopter was able to perform hoist operations to extract the two individuals and transport them to an area near "the trailhead" (unidentified in media reports). Personnel from Pima County and the NPS provided further medical care for the individuals. Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection | |