Whiskeytown |  |
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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Monday, June 30, 1986 Initial Report Single fatality resulting from 2-vehicle head-on collision. 3 other injuries; one serious. CHP investigated. Fatality was operator of vehicle that crossed center line. Next of kin notified by coroner. Follow Up Report High speed was contributing cause of accident. Fatality apparently resulted from vehicle's collision with roadbank after colliding with other vehicle. Operator of second vehicle was arrested for DUI.
Location: Hwy #299 M.S. was attempting to cross the highway on foot, when he was struck by a truck which, when it swerved to miss M.S., hit a tractor-trailer truck in the other lane. Singleton died instantly. State highway patrol are still investigating.
Location: South Fork Mountain Lookout Road Two park visitors who were riding mountain bikes on the road discovered Mr. R.S.W. in his vehicle. They could see that he was dead, and called a 911 number to get help. Rangers were notified and responded to the scene. They found a drier hose leading from the manifold of the car into the passenger compartment, and have ruled the incident a probable suicide. R.S.W. had been reported missing after he left home in a despondent state on the evening of Friday, November 6th.
Location: Near Highway 299 Whiskeytown rangers and Shasta County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 56-year-old W.P. of Redding, California, for cultivation of marijuana within the park on the 8th. A total of 1,423 plants were confiscated within five gardens, each of which was supported by a highly sophisticated drip irrigation system. The potential value of the crop is above $5,000,000. W.P. is under felony arrest and was to be arraigned yesterday.
On the evening of the 4th, a group of six California State Parks and Recreation rangers were conducting a training exercise on a range in the park when ranger R.T. accidentally shot himself in the leg while drawing his weapon. R.T. was taken to the Redding Medical Center, where surgeons removed most of the fragments of the bullet from his leg. He is reported to be doing well. R.T. was participating in a drill which required the rangers to quickly draw and fire at a target three yards away. Preliminary investigation indicates that he was using a top draw holster with an unshielded trigger guard, and that he inserted his finger into the trigger while drawing and discharged the weapon before pointing it down range. No NPS rangers were on the range at the time. An investigation into the incident continues. (Ann Betus, RAD/WRO; supplemental information from Ray Faust, Superintendent, WHIS).
Despite the intensity of the earthquakes in California over the weekend, neither Redwood nor Whiskeytown, the two parks closest to the epicenter, suffered any damage whatsoever. Some minor damage reportedly occurred to Bureau of Reclamation facilities in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity complex. [Telephone report from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 4/27]
On July 7th, 1,150 pounds of dynamite were stolen from a Cal Trans magazine storage facility in the Crystal Creek area of the park. ATF is the lead agency in the investigation of the theft; rangers and county sheriff's deputies are assisting. [Paul Berkowitz, LES, WHIS, 7/8]
The body of an adult male was found by two maintenance workers at the government dock facility on Whiskeytown Lake early on the morning of October 1st. The cause of death and identity of the victim have not yet been determined. The county sheriff and coroner are investigating. [Ray Foust, Superintendent, WHIS, 10/1]
The body found near the government dock on Whiskeytown Lake on October 1st has been identified as that of G.K., 61, of Redding, California. The coroner has determined that he died of a heart attack while swimming. [Ray Foust, Superintendent, WHIS, 10/5]
On June 29th, rangers noticed a vehicle containing four individuals being driven on Kennedy Memorial Drive near the dam, and also noted that the driver could barely see over the steering wheel. They made contact with the occupants, and subsequently determined that the vehicle had been stolen earlier that day. The oldest of the four was a 14-year-old male; also in the vehicle were two female juveniles, aged 12 and 13. Rangers placed one male in custody and were attempting to place the second in custody when he bolted and ran into thick brush. Rangers, California Highway Patrol officers, and Shasta County deputies searched for him without success. The second male is known to be an escapee from a local group home, which had issued a warrant for his arrest. Another warrant was issued and will be served by local juvenile authorities. The 14-year-old who was arrested at the scene was also on probation; he was charged with auto theft and will be prosecuted by local juvenile authorities. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 7/2]
On the afternoon of August 19th, rangers received a report of two overdue hikers - R.P., 41, and C.B., 42 - who'd failed to return from a pre-deer season scouting trip in the Shasta Bally peak area. The reporting party told rangers that he knew that they were hurt and that he'd go out and find them if they'd give him a flashlight, radio and stretcher. His efforts to find them proved fruitless, however. Rangers, Shasta County and California Highway Patrol officers, CARDA dog teams, and Coast Guard representatives all participated in the subsequent search, which rapidly intensified in the wake of rain, lightning and snow throughout the area. R.P. and BoegC.B.geman managed to hike down the mountain to a parking lot, however, and were found there by searchers late the following afternoon. Both were in good health. [Larry Carr, WHIS, 8/23]
Rangers discovered a body tentatively identified as that of A.L. in the parking lot for the Whiskey Creek boat launch ramp on November 23rd. A suicide note was found on the dashboard of A.L.'s car stating that he was committing suicide because he had lost his job. A.L. died of a gunshot wound; a .22 Ruger magnum was found with him. [Ray Foust, Superintendent, WHIS, 11/23]
Sometime between midnight and noon on June 21st, 57-year-old D.T. of Redding, California, apparently lost control of his mountain bike while on a sharp turn on the Muletown Road and fell into the opposite bank. D.T. either had a heart attack as he was going into the turn or broke his neck when he fell. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. D.T.'s body has been turned over to the county coroner. State police officers are conducting the investigation. [Larry Carr, WHIS, 6/21]
Rangers at Whiskeytown had to employ CapStun to subdue four men who attempted to assault them while actively resisting arrest on July 9th. Although the pepper spray did not affect them as intended, it did make it possible for the rangers to take them to the ground and arrest them for resisting arrest and assault. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 7/11]
On the afternoon of May 22nd, rangers discovered that five 55-gallon drums of suspected hazardous material had been dumped in the Clear Creek area, about a quarter mile downstream from a dam on that river. The illegally- dumped waste contained beryllium and magnesium metal powders. On August 12th, P.G., 26, of Redding, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Sacramento on three counts of violations of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The indictment stemmed from a three-month investigation by the NPS, EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, and BLM. If convicted, P.G. faces up to five years in prison. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 8/12]
Several more initial and follow-up reports have been received from California parks regarding the storms that have been buffeting that state: * Whiskeytown - The park has received over 17 inches of rain since Monday. Winds are blowing at speeds around 40 mph, with gusts to 70 mph. All tributaries into the lake are flooded and filled with debris. Whiskeytown Lake has risen 7.4 feet, and was about go over the glory hole (drain) at the time of the report. All park roads are closed due to falling trees (thousands have fallen) and downed powerlines, and power has been out for two days; the park has accordingly been closed. Two visitors were evacuated yesterday from a camp. Two families have been evacuated from park residences because of flooding and the lack of power. One government vehicle has been damaged by a falling tree. Concessioner docks have broken loose from their moorings. Sewage pollution is a possibility because of the lack of power; at present, sewage is being pumped manually from the lift stations. Several more storms are forecast for the area through the balance of the week. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS; Acting Superintendent, PORE; Craig Dorman, Superintendent, LABE; Betty Knight, PAO, LAVO; Bob Andrew, CR, YOSE; all reports, 1/10]
More reports have been received from California parks regarding the storms that struck the area this week: * Whiskeytown - Although high winds have subsided, heavy rains continue to fall throughout the area. The park remains closed. Boat docks at Brandy Creek and Oak Bottom have been torn from their anchors; other docks are either partially or completely under water; launch ramps are clogged with debris. A 100-foot section of South Shore Drive was washed away yesterday, leaving a gaping hole about 50 feet deep. Remarkably, only two structures have been damaged by falling trees. Lake waters are about 18 inches over the rim of the drain. A significant storm is forecast for much of the state this weekend. [Superintendent, JOMU; Larry Carr, CR, WHIS; Betty Knight, PAO, LAVO - all reports, 1/12]
The park has now received nearly 30 inches of rain since January 1st; the highest 24-hour amount was 7.24 inches, recorded at park headquarters. Although winds had subsided by last Friday, torrential rain was still falling. An 80 foot wide by 40 foot deep section of Southshore Drive has been washed out. Over 100 trees have fallen in the Whiskey Creek picnic area, damaging two structures. Several bridges in the park are threatened by high water flows. Powerlines and poles remain down across major roads. The entire park remains closed. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 1/13]
The park has received almost 24 inches of rain since the beginning of the month for a total of 86 inches since last July. Of this month's amount, 22 inches fell within the past eight days, with seven inches falling one day and three inches on each of two more days. As of March 16th, the lake level had risen to a point which was 18 inches over the spillway. A severe wind storm also struck the area last week, knocking down many more trees throughout the park. Many hiking trails have been closed since January's storm due to downed trees, and roads to some backcountry areas also remain closed. Powerlines in the area have fallen, causing numerous power outages and a number of small fires. The environmental camp was evacuated durring the storms due to the increase in flow of the creeks in and around the area. Drinking water is still being hauled to some park residences. Repairs will be required to water intakes to government quarters due to extensive debris and silt in the channels. Because of power outages, it's been necessary to manually haul sewage from the park on several occasions. Visitors to the area may be inconvenienced during coming months, as some roads may not be repaired before the summer and further tree falls, landslides and damage to culverts remain possible. [WHIS, 3/20]
Park dispatch received a report of two overdue persons on the morning of March 21st. The two men had reportedly left their home in Redding the previous day to go four-wheeling in the park; when they failed to return, one of their spouses became concerned and advised the county sheriff's office. Personnel from the park and Shasta County SAR immediately began a search for the men. Efforts were hampered by intense storm cells which produced snow, hail, heavy rain and winds up to 60 mph. The search was terminated at nightfall. On the following morning, park dispatch received a voice mail message stating that the two had been found and were in good shape. Investigation revealed that they were practicing four-wheeling behind one of the men's homes when they became stuck between two trees and could not extricate themselves. They ended up breaking one of the windows and crawling out; in the process, however, they somehow managed to roll their vehicle into a creek bottom. County detectives are continuing the investigation. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 3/22]
Early on the evening of April 11th, about two dozen members of the Southeast Crip gang were involved in a gang brawl in Lake Redding, 15 miles from the park. The fight was interrupted by Redding officers, who subsequently followed the gang members to Whiskeytown and thence toward Brandy Creek beach. Rangers, California Highway Patrol ground and air units, Shasta County deputies, Redding police and California fish and game officers converged on the area and were able to prevent any violence from taking place. The area was cleared without incident. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 4/17]
On the afternoon of June 18th, the park received a report of a motor vehicle accident just outside the park's boundary. Rangers were first on scene and found that three vehicles had been involved in the accident, with one having gone over an embankment. CPR was being performed on the driver of the latter vehicle, who was later pronounced dead. A total of five victims were airlifted to hospitals. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 6/19]
Park concession employees noticed heavy black smoke and flames issuing from the Oak Bottom bath house during the early morning hours of June 27th. They reported the fire to the area ranger, who found that the women's side of the facility was completely involved. Local fire companies and park staff contained and extinguished the fire before it could spread any further. Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire began in a trash can several hours several hours earlier. No evidence of an incendiary device was found, but white supremacist gang graffiti was discovered near the entrance to the building. Arson is strongly suspected. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 6/28]
Additional reports have been received from the Pacific West Field Area regarding the impact of the severe storm which struck the West coast earlier this week: * Whiskeytown - The park came through the storm fairly well, despite receiving over ten inches of rain during one 24-hour period. Power was out all day on Wednesday due to transformer failures. One backcountry road was washed out and closed. [J.R. Tomasovic, GOGA; Jane Sikoryak, REDW; John Krambrink, MORA; George Buckingham, CRLA; Larry Carr, WHIS; Pete Cowan, NOCA; Don Neubacher, PORE]
During the early afternoon of February 25th, 19-year-old C.K. was reported overdue from a hike that she'd taken near the park's boundary. A ground search was immediately begun and continued through the night. Rangers assisted county sheriff's office search teams the following day; at 3:30 p.m., ranger Bill Watkins found C.K., who was wet and cold but otherwise in good condition. C.K. had become separated from her companions the previous day. She became disoriented and ended up spending the night near Kanaka Peak, where temperatures dipped to near 18 degrees. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS]
On March 18th, a park maintenance employee discovered a car parked along Kennedy Memorial Drive with a length of plastic duct running from the exhaust to the passenger's window and the engine still running. The occupant of the car, R.R., 29, of Redding, California, was dead. The county coroner's office is investigating the circumstances of his death. [Alan Foster, WHIS]
During the early evening of Saturday, April 6th, ranger Bill Watkins was dispatched to Mercy Hospital to investigate a shooting incident that took place at Brandy Creek around 5 p.m. that afternoon. The victim, P.W., 31, of Modesto, California, said that he was walking at Brandy Creek beach with two other friends when they approached a picnic table where a group of men were sitting. One of them accosted P.W., and a shouting match ensued. This in turn led to a wrestling match, during which the man with whom P.W. was struggling pulled out a handgun. There was a struggle for the weapon, and P.W. was shot once in the left thigh. The assailant and his friends left the area immediately after the incident. P.W. has so far declined to press charges. The incident is under investigation. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS]
On April 2nd, B.Y., 36, of Anderson, California, was sentenced to a stipulated term of six years in prison for sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl in Oak Bottom campground on May 27, 1995. B.Y. had pled guilty to the charge. A joint investigation involving the park, the Shasta County sheriff's and DA's offices, and the Anderson police department revealed additional assaults on at least one other child, but outside the park. [Alan Foster, WHIS]
More than 30 car clouts have been reported in the park over the past 45 days - a number which may be significantly higher due to victim hesitancy to report these crimes. Six people were arrested and five others identified in car clouting cases between August 9th and 14th, but five more auto burglaries were reported on the 15th. On the 9th, criminal investigator Alan Foster interrupted 19-year-old S.N. while in the act of breaking into a car near East Beach. S.N. was arrested for tampering, use of a false name, and two no-bail felony warrants, one for auto theft and the other for possession of a controlled substance and a weapon. He pled guilty at his initial appearance in court and is now awaiting sentencing. Three other suspects were identified with S.N.; a fourth fled into the brush and was not located. On the 14th, a visitor caught M.B., 20, stealing tools from a truck at Brandy Creek. Foster and ranger Ron Nelson arrested M.B. and two companions on various felony and misdemeanor charges and warrants. Later that day, visitors R.D. and J.H. discovered J.C., 19, breaking into their car near Whiskeytown Dam. When they tried to apprehend him, J.C. got into his own car and attempted to run them down. R.D. was struck a glancing blow by the side of the car and was bruised. Herrera was thrown onto the hood of the car, breaking its windshield and a side window; he sustained bruises and lacerations. J.C. was apprehended by local officers and is custody on $50,000 bond for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one of burglary. His 15-year-old girlfriend was also arrested for conspiracy and for aiding and abetting. J.C. subsequently confessed to the assault, four burglaries, credit card fraud, check fraud and statutory rape of the girl. Information developed in this case cleared several other burglaries and property thefts. Additional charges are pending. [Alan Foster, CI, WHIS]
J.C., 19, was arrested on August 15th for trying to run down two visitors who found him breaking into their car. Based on interviews with J.C. and his female juvenile companion, the county district attorney subsequently issued a complaint charging them with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary. In a separate case, the district attorney issued an eleven felony count complaint charging J.C. with a variety of sexual offenses. The latter incidents occurred either while illegally camped in the park or in local motels rented with stolen credit cards. An investigation is on-going, part of which involves contacting local pawn shops and second-hand sporting good stores to find and return property to victims and clear other burglaries. [Alan Foster, CI, WHIS]
On October 10th, NPS special agents and members of Shasta county's marijuana eradication team seized 306 mature female and 90 male plants near Coggins Park. Street value is estimated at over $1 million. A suspect has been identified; the investigation continues. [Larry Carr, WHIS]
On three evenings during the recent big game gun season, the park positioned a deer decoy along a park road. Rangers, the park's criminal investigator and state fish and game wardens apprehended ten people on charges associated with the decoy. Six were charged with unlawful shooting and spotlighting, two were charged with felony firearms possession, one was charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, and the last was charged with driving off a designated road when he attempted to steal the decoy by loading it onto his truck. A family was contacted and quickly removed from the area after they set a small child on the decoy for photos. One of those arrested used the park entrance sign as a bench rest to shoot the decoy, and another used number six bird shot, hitting the decoy in the side of the face. The decoy was of an Eastern whitetail deer, which is not indigenous to California. It was quite successful until the last night of the operation, when word got out about it and incidents dropped off dramatically. [Alan Foster, CI, WHIS]
On Sunday, November 17th, C.T. and his nine-year-old son went out in the park for a planned hour-long trip in their four-wheel-drive vehicle. When they failed to return by evening, C.T.'s wife reported them as overdue. A search was begun immediately because of the relative inexperience of the T.s, the inclement weather and the hour of the day. Park personnel searched for the pair until 1 a.m. but without success. Severe weather hampered search efforts. The search resumed the next morning under a joint NPS-Shasta County sheriff's office command. Around 6 p.m., C.T. and his son were picked up on a state highway by neighbors, having walked some 15 miles in a constant driving rain. The father was taken to a local hospital, treated for hypothermia, and released; the son was fine. Investigation revealed that C.T. and has son had traveled about 15 miles outside the park in extremely steep and treacherous terrain until he wrecked his vehicle. [CRO, WHIS]
Early on the evening of December 30th, rangers were called to the Overlook visitor center to take a report of a missing person. When they arrived, they found C.T. in a near comatose condition. Further investigation revealed that a visitor heading up to a prominent lookout came upon C.T. and his friend, B.T., walking down the road, both completely soaked and hypothermic. Rangers immediately administered first aid to C.T. and retrieved and treated B.T. C.T. is the same person who was the subject of an exhaustive search on November 17th (96-681). At that time, C.T. wrecked his four-wheel-drive vehicle 15 miles from a highway and had to walk out the entire distance with his nine-year-old son in a driving rain. C.T.'s son was fine, but C.T. was taken to a hospital and treated for hypothermia. It appears that C.T. traveled the same route this time, but managed to travel 16 miles past the point where he got lost the first time. His vehicle apparently broke down, and he elected to hike out the 20 or so miles to the visitor center, again in a driving rain and without any winter gear. [CRO, WHIS]
Several additional reports have been received regarding the impacts of the series of storms that have been striking the West Coast. Forecasters are predicting more rain in coming days, and U.S. Geological Service's Tacoma office reports that "there is potential for serious and widespread flooding in the next several days over all of western Washington." This is at least partly because of the potential runoff from melting snow. USGS hydrographers estimate that the water equivalent in the snowpack between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in Washington ranges from about 15 to more than 40 inches. o Whiskeytown NRA (California) - Almost 20 inches of rain fell on the park over a 24-hour period on December 31st and January 1st. Though access to the park is still possible via Highway 299 and Kennedy Memorial Drive, all backcountry roads have been closed. Portions of South Shore Drive have washed out, and it has also been closed. Access to the Brandy Creek picnic area and swimming beach is no longer possible, and the bridge crossing the creek to Sheep Camp has been destroyed. The bridge crossing to National Environmental Education Camp has also been destroyed by high water and debris. Lake levels rose nearly ten feet during the same period, and acres of debris are now clogging marinas and channels. The park has accordingly temporarily closed all lake access points. Hundreds of trees have either fallen or are leaning. The full extent of the damage has not yet been determined due to the weather conditions. [USGS Headquarters, Washington; Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE; Bob Andrew, CR, YOSE; Superintendent, WHIS; CRO, WHIS; Paul Ducasse, SA, PGBSSO; John Dell'Osso, Acting CI, PORE; Jim Hammett, Superintendent, JODA; Randy Brooks, Acting CR, MORA]
During the early afternoon of New Year's Day, rangers received a report of a capsized boat about two miles north of the Highway 299 bridge and found two people desperately clinging to the rigging of an overturned 18-foot Hobie Cat. It took half an hour to right the vessel in a driving rain and winds gusting to over 50 mph. Although slightly hypothermic, the occupants were okay and the vessel was safely taken to the nearest port. [CRO, WHIS]
Rangers received a report of a serious boating accident near the Whiskey Creek bridge early on the afternoon of June 1st. Rangers found R.U., 40, conscious and in the water; he was complaining of difficulty in breathing, but exhibited no external signs of injury. R.U. was prepared for evacuation, with necessary precautions taken for a possible C-spine injury. He was then transported by boat to a landing zone, where he was picked up and flown to Mercy Medical Center. R.U. died there that evening while undergoing surgery. According to witnesses, R.U. and his friend, R.Y., were traveling side by side about 20 feet apart and at a high rate of speed on their personal watercraft when R.U. suddenly veered into R.Y.'s path. R.Y. had no time to avoid a collision and ran over R.U. with his PWC. Alcohol was not a factor. The case is being investigated by the park's criminal investigator. [CRO, WHIS, 6/2]
During the period from September 3rd to the 9th, special agents and criminal investigators from the park, Yosemite NP, Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP, Death Valley NP, and Pacific Great Basin SSO, supported by Whiskeytown and BLM rangers and a criminal investigator from Lake Mead NRA, participated in "Operation Blackjack," which involved the issuance of drug-related warrants by the district court for offenses which occurred at Whiskeytown. As of October 1st, 34 of 64 federal warrants had been served. Six other people identified on warrants were identified as parolees and are to surrender. More than 22 misdemeanor and five felony state warrants were also served, with new drug charges pending against one person. A total of more than 90 warrants were executed. Operations extended from Boulder City, Nevada, to Medford, Oregon. Thirteen additional cases are currently active, with suspects in Nevada and in Fresno and Eureka, California. A single minor injury was sustained by special agent Paul Ducasse, who was bit by a pit bull while approaching a residence. Fortunately, the brunt of the force of the bite was deflected by Ducasse's credentials case, which he kept in his rear trousers pocket. [Alan Foster, CI, WHIS, 10/1]
A park maintenance worker discovered a body slumped over a berm near the Davis Gulch nature trail parking lot during the early morning hours of Monday, December 22nd. She notified park dispatch immediately; rangers responded and found the body of an adult male. The only obvious sign of foul play was a small tear in his left rear pocket, above which was dried blood. The area was secured and the sheriff's office's major crimes unit summoned. A lengthy investigation revealed that the man, who was about 35 years old, had been shot five times with an AK-47 assault rifle. None of the wounds was immediately fatal. The exact time of death has not been determined, but estimates suggest that the homicide took place some time during the previous night. No identification was found on the victim. A joint investigation is underway. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 12/29]
In July, 1997, the park's criminal investigator stopped a truck after one of the occupants through a beer can from it. A search of the truck led to the discovery of marijuana and a 12 gauge, pump action, police-type shotgun. The driver, G.I., 24, was arrested; a juvenile was also arrested and later convicted of drug possession. G.I.'s case was to go to trial, but he pled guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon immediately before the trial was to begin. G.I. also admitted to felony burglary and drug possession charges made by Redding police, and agreed to a two-year sentence on the weapons charge. Samantha Ross, 19, another passenger in G.I.'s truck, was arrested in January on a warrant from federal district court after an investigation revealed that she had provided false information as an alibi for G.I. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 1/26]
Additional reports on the effects of recent severe storms on parks have been received: Whiskeytown NRA (CA) - The effects of the most recent storm to hit the park were not as severe as predicted, but flooding occurred because the ground was already saturated from previous storms. The main road going into the National Environmental Education Camp was covered with water and severely undercut, forcing the closure of the camp. A mud slide closed Kennedy Memorial Drive. Many trees have fallen as a result of saturated soils. The northern portion of the park is closed due to the potential for further sliding. Water continues to spill over the Glory Hole spillway. Reports from other parks that have also been significantly affected by these storms would be appreciated. [Greg Stiles, SHEN, 2/9; CRO, BLRI, 2/9; Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 2/9]
The Outdoor Writers Association of America held a meeting at Dry Creek group campground on June 16th. Over 130 vendors displayed outdoor recreation products, ranging from barbecue sauce to Toyota's new four-cycle motorboat. The event was attended by over 1,500 outdoor writers and was managed by a contingent of 17 rangers, including five from Lassen Volcano NP, two from Lava Beds NM, and two from BLM. The neighboring parks provided the assistance at no cost to Whiskeytown. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 6/18]
On July 5th, an 18-year-old woman at Brandy Creek Beach who was six months into her first pregnancy reported that she was experiencing contractions. NPS lifeguards, rangers and firefighters treated her. She was then flown to a local hospital. On July 20th, she gave birth to a two-pound, eight-ounce boy. Both mother and baby are healthy. The child will remain in neo-natal care for at least another 30 days before being released. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 7/28]
Two men were arrested at a marijuana cultivation site on Merry Mountain immediately adjacent to the park's north boundary on July 10th. Over 100 plants, an SKS assault rifle and several handguns were seized. The men were in the process of building a two-story, indoor growing facility at the site. The only access routes to the privately-owned land are across park land. Two homes in the San Francisco area belonging to other suspects were searched with their owners' consent on the same day. The arrest culminated a nearly year-long investigation by the local narcotics task force, BLM, and NPS investigators. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 7/28]
Park dispatch received an incomplete 911 call on the afternoon of July 27th reporting that a drowning had occurred near the Spring Creek tunnel at the east end of Whiskeytown Lake. Rangers found two visitors performing CPR on 14-year-old S.P. They immediately took over and also began life support measures, but were unable to save him. [Lawrence Carr, CR, WHIS, 7/28]
H.L. of Redding, California, was seen operating a boat in excess of the speed limit in a no wake area near Oak Bottom marina on August 8th. H.L. refused to comply with signals and verbal directives to stop. A high- speed pursuit ensued which covered a large portion of the lake. H.L. then returned to Oak Bottom, abandoned his boat, ran from a ranger who was on shore, jumped into a pickup issued to him by his employer, and drove away at high speed with an empty boat trailer in tow. The second ranger pursued H.L. and was joined by her supervisor and the park investigator. H.L. continued into Redding, where a sheriff's deputy employed a tack strip to flatten the pickup's two front tires. H.L. continued for another 300 yards before stopping, then was taken into custody. Investigation revealed a high blood alcohol level and possible drug influence. H.L. refused to answer questions about why he ran from rangers. He remains in jail, with bail set at $25,000. [Alan Foster, WHIS, 8/10]
The body of a 48-year-old southern California man was found in Oak Bottom Channel in Whiskeytown Lake just after noon on August 15th. Visitors walking along the fitness trail near Oak Bottom campground spotted the body in the lake. The man's identity has been established, but his name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. [Alan Foster, WHIS, 8/15]
During the early evening hours of October 3rd, rangers received a relayed report of a rape that had reportedly occurred in the park. The caller said that she and the suspect were in a vehicle that broke down on Highway 299. When rangers arrived, the woman who had called immediately reported that her husband had just raped another woman. It appears that the two were engaged in sexual activity in the front seat of a pick-up truck when the man's wife caught them, at which point the other woman began screaming that she was being raped. An investigation into just what occurred is being conducted by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 10/5]
The victim of the alleged rape that occurred in the park on October 3rd was arrested last week on unrelated charges of lewd and lascivious behavior. Investigators found that she had an extensive criminal history, with one prior false rape report. It was also learned that her alleged assailant is a registered pedophile sex offender. Investigators took the case to the district attorney's office on Tuesday. It appears that the DA will decline prosecution. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 10/7]
Rangers and cooperating fire companies responded to a structural fire in a concession-owned mobile home at Brandy Creek Marina at 4:40 a.m. on January 11th. The fire was reported by a citizen who was driving down a highway across the lake from the marina. The structure was fully engulfed in flame when firefighters arrived and was a total loss. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The concession employee who resided in the trailer reported a burglary there to rangers 12 hours prior to the fire. [Alan Foster, SA, WHIS, 1/11]
On April 16th, a park visitor heard a splash near his rowing scull while passing under the Whiskey Creek Bridge. He looked about and found a pillow case containing medical waste, opened and unopened vials of controlled substances in a plastic bag, and syringes, needles and related items. He turned them in to rangers. Inspection of the items produced leads to a local hospital and a separate medical imaging facility. Investigators learned that there had been a burglary recently from the hospital's radiology department and that some of the items found in the pillow case had been stolen. A joint investigation with Redding police is underway. [Alan Foster, Acting CR, WHIS, 4/22]
Rangers received a report of a man down on Paige Bar Road near the Whiskeytown cemetery around 8 p.m. on May 9th. They discovered a pickup truck parked in front of the cemetery, but found nobody in the area. Ranger Bill Watkins approached the vehicle on the driver's side and saw a man lying on the front seat with a fatal wound to the left side of the head. Further investigation revealed a suicide note attached to the steering wheel column and a written note on a $50 bill which read "Please bury me here." A Colt .357 was later discovered near the victim's head. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 5/10]
Two more parks have reported Fourth of July events or incidents: o Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA (CA) - On July 2nd, rangers received a report of a despondent person who was coming to the park to commit suicide. A search was immediately begun. The body of Jerry Eidenburn, 50, was found at the bottom of the Shasta Divide nature trail with a single gunshot wound to the head. Twenty-three park employees participated in the search. On that same day, a prescribed fire outside the park near Lewiston got out of control. All available resources were committed to the fire because of threats to the town. Highway 299, which bisects the park, was closed, stranding hundreds of motorists near Overlook Visitor Center. Traffic was backed up for miles. The day also featured a one-acre arson fire near Whiskey Creek, a successful search for a four-year-old boy who became lost near Brandy Creek swim beach, and the rescue of two people from a paddle boat that was taking on water and sinking in high winds and waves. On the 3rd, rangers responded to a concession boat accident, with property damage only. On the 4th, rangers and park staff responded to a gasoline tanker explosion on Highway 299 which forced the closure of the road for about four hours. Two people were burned and are in the hospital in critical condition. A pair of dual tires on the trailer blew out and the trailer overturned and slid down the highway sideways, engulfed in flames. The tanker fire started a vegetation fire that was put out almost immediately by four helicopters equipped with water buckets. [Phil Sheridan, PAO, INDE, 7/8; Lawrence Carr, WHIS, 7/6]
On July 4th, rangers and park staff responded to a gasoline tanker explosion on Highway 299 which forced the closure of the road for about four hours. A pair of dual tires on the trailer blew out and the trailer overturned and slid down the highway sideways, engulfed in flames. The tanker fire started a vegetation fire that was put out almost immediately by four helicopters equipped with water buckets. The tanker was carrying 7,600 gallons of diesel fuel. The fuel was allowed to burn out, but an unknown quantity got into the soil and ultimately reached Clear Creek. That creek is the major natural drainage entering Whiskeytown Lake, which in turn serves as the municipal water supply for much of the Redding metropolitan area. Over 100 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed from the site by the end of July, with another several hundred yards of uncontaminated overburden scheduled for removal to gain access to the contaminated soil beneath. The contamination plume had also entered a highly fractured bedrock layer which couldn't be reached by conventional equipment. The incident was being managed under a unified command, with the California Highway Patrol in the lead. Violations of the Clean Water Act were underway. [Alan Foster, SA and NPS IC, WHIS, 7/28]
R.N., 24, of Red Bluff, California, was wounded by a single .300 magnum rifle round while bear hunting in the Whiskey Creek area of the park on November 14th (hunting is permitted in the park). R.N. and a companion reportedly had returned to their truck late in the day; he was attempting to unload his weapon when it discharged. The bullet struck R.N.'s upper right leg, breaking the femur, then exited through a sizable wound in the gluteal region. He was driven out of the park to a convenience store, where medical aid was summoned. At the time of the report, he was in stable condition in a local hospital's intensive care unit. [Alan Foster, SA, WHIS, 11/15]
On July 4th, a tanker truck overturned on SR 299 within the park. The driver and passenger were badly burned and are still undergoing treatment for their injuries. The tanks, which contained 7,600 gallons of gasoline and 900 gallons of diesel fuel, ruptured and burned, but much of the petroleum flowed into the ground. The crash site was immediately over a fault where the bedrock is highly fractured and therefore able to absorb the spilled petroleum. Over 50 cubic yards of soil and rock were excavated and hauled away for treatment. Native material from the surrounding area was used to refill the hole. The work was done by a private contractor hired by the trucking company and was supervised by the California Department of Transportation and the NPS. Native seed stock has been distributed on the site to restore the natural cover. The site will be monitored for at least another year to determine if additional petroleum remains in the ground. Documentation of the incident is ongoing and will be submitted to the solicitor and an environmental prosecutor after the first of the year. [Alan Foster, SA, WHIS, 11/22]
A Kawasaki jet ski collided with a 20-foot Bayliner in the Whiskey Creek arm of Whiskeytown Lake around 7:30 p.m. on July 15th, seriously injuring PWC operator G.M., 48, and his five-year-old daughter. G.M. was thrown onto the Bayliner and ultimately fell over its stern. He suffered a fractured pelvis, right femur, right tibia and right arm. The girl suffered a fractured wrist, lacerated liver and a concussion. She was found floating face down in the water by her father but was recovered without the need for resuscitation. She was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Both are currently in serious condition in intensive care. Jim Jacobs, 30, a passenger in the Bayliner, was also taken to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries sustained when G.M.'s body fell on him through the Bayliner's "Bimini top." M.L., 52, also on the Bayliner, suffered a back injury when she turned quickly to shield a child who was in the boat. Both were treated and released. The incident is under investigation. The park's boating ranger is working with the county sheriff's boating collision reconstruction team to determine cause and responsibility. [Alan Foster, SA/Acting CR, WHIS, 7/18]
The third reported personal watercraft accident on Whiskeytown Lake this year occurred on the evening of July 30th. Preliminary investigation indicates that two PWC's were on a parallel course when the lead vessel abruptly turned into the path of the second PWC. Witnesses report that the operator of the second PWC was looking backward at the time. G.B., 22, was flown by helicopter to Redding Medical Center with abdominal injuries. He was treated there and subsequently released. His mother C.B., 42, who was operating the second PWC, was not injured, but her PWC suffered major damage and was in danger of sinking when recovered from the lake. [Alan Foster, CR, WHIS, 7/31]
A Kawasaki jet ski collided with a 20-foot Bayliner in the Whiskey Creek arm of Whiskeytown Lake around 7:30 p.m. on July 15th, seriously injuring PWC operator G.M., 48, and his five-year-old daughter. G.M. remains hospitalized. The girl suffered a lacerated liver, two fractured arms, a head wound, and various contusions. Occupants of the Bayliner received only minor injuries. Investigators have determined that G.M. was traveling at high speed and jumping the wake of a third vessel when he collided with the Bayliner, which was traveling at less than 10 mph. The local DA issued a criminal complaint on August 18th, charging G.M. with one count of felony child endangerment and one count of reckless and negligent operation of a vessel. This was the first of three PWC accidents with injuries on the lake over the past 30 day. [Alan Foster, SA, WHIS, 8/18]
On the afternoon of August 6th, 13-year-old C.A. dove off a swim platform at the Brandy Creek beach and went under shortly thereafter. He was under for about five seconds before NPS lifeguard Jessica Lauppe pulled him back to the surface and brought him safely to shore. C.A. was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. [CRO, WHIS, 8/7]
A Kawasaki jet ski collided with a 20-foot Bayliner in the Whiskey Creek arm of Whiskeytown Lake on the evening of July 15, 2000, seriously injuring PWC operator G.M. and his five-year-old daughter. G.M.'s right femur, lower right leg and upper right arm were fractured. The girl suffered a lacerated liver, two fractured arms, a head wound, and had glass and fiberglass embedded in her head and parts of her body. The girl has fully recovered, but her father had part of his lower right leg amputated and is still undergoing medical treatment. Investigators determined that G.M. was traveling at high speed and jumping the wake of a third vessel when he collided with the Bayliner, which was traveling at less than 10 mph. G.M. was prosecuted in Shasta County Superior Court on charges of felony child endangerment and reckless and negligent operation of a vessel. The child endangerment charge was dismissed after a preliminary hearing. On April 17th, immediately prior to jury trial, G.M. plead no contest to misdemeanor reckless and negligent operation and was sentenced to one year summary probation and fines and penalties totaling $488. In rendering sentence, the court took into account his physical condition, his reported rescue of his daughter, and ongoing civil and child custody cases. [Alan Foster, SA, WHIS, 4/17]
During the early morning hours of Sunday, April 29th, park dispatch was advised of a green substance floating on the waters of the upper section of Clear Creek, a major tributary of Whiskeytown Lake. Rangers found what was described as a large floating "blob" of green liquid in the creek. The spill was originally discovered by a fisherman about two miles upstream from the park boundary. Personnel form California Fish and Game, California Department of Forestry, Shasta County Sheriff's Office, BOR and a host of other local, state and federal agencies were involved in response and investigation. By the time the substance reached the park, it was undetectable to the naked eye. California Fish and Game took water samples for analysis. Results are still pending. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 4/30]
On Saturday, May 5th, rangers discovered that the VenTek automated fee machine at the entrance to the Brandy Creek swim area was missing. There are five such machines throughout the park; the one at Brandy Creek was the most isolated, but also the most heavily used. The thieves evidently drove a large pickup truck to the machine, attached a chain to its base, then literally yanked it out of the ground. The machine was mounted on a quarter-inch steel pedestal that was filled with concrete and surrounded by another 24 inches of concrete. The total weight was about 500 pounds. The estimated loss to the government has been placed at over $25,000, which doesn't include the unknown amount of money in the machine. [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 5/14]
National Park Service personnel systemwide are responding in many ways to the terrorist attacks yesterday on Washington and New York. Here's a summary, as of 11 a.m. today: o Pacific West Region - The USS Arizona and Cabrillo have been closed due to the closures of immediately adjacent naval bases. Lake Mead, Lake Roosevelt, Ross Lake and Whiskeytown remain open, but the dams at all four areas have been closed. Ditto for Hetch-Hetchy in Yosemite. [Bob Martin, RCR, NER, 9/12; Einar Olsen, RCR, NCR, 9/12; Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 9/12; Dennis McGinnis, Type 1 team, SHEN, 9/12; Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO, 9/12]
Further updates have been received on the status of NPS areas and/or staff responses to Tuesday's terrorist attacks: o Whiskeytown NRA (CA) - The lake has been partially closed. Dam closures have been conducted in cooperation with BOR, but it was likely that some closures would be lifted today. Other closures and operations are essentially as noted yesterday. [Russ Wilson, GATE/SHU, 9/12; Clayton Jordan, IC, Type 3 IMT, SHEN, 9/13; Karl Merchant, Plans, Type 2 IMT, NERO, 9/13]
The following changes in the status of National Park Service areas and offices were reported yesterday: o Whiskeytown NRA (CA) - Whiskeytown Dam is open; Shasta Dam is closed. [Pat Buccello, CISM Team, STLI, 9/19; Dennis McGinnis, Type 1 IMT, WASO, 9/19; Sue Masica, Administration, WASO, 9/19; SHEN EICC, 9/18]
The National Park Service continues to provide support to its parks and employees, gather information on the status of field areas for DOI, and deal with security issues throughout the country, including the brokering of numerous requests for operational support. The Service's Type 1 IMT (Eddie Lopez, IC) continues its operations from the South Interior Building; the Type 2 East Team (Bob Panko, IC) is overseeing the NPS expanded dispatch operation at Shenandoah NP. Here's a current report on the status of parks affected by this incident: o Whiskeytown - Tours of Shasta Dam have been suspended. The visitor center is open. [EICC/Type 2 IMT, SHEN, 9/27; Kris Fister, NPS Type 1 IMT, WASO, 9/28; Pat Buccello, CISM Team, 9/28; Billy Garrett, Superintendent, Jamaica Bay Unit, GATE, 9/27]
Over the past several weeks, park law enforcement personnel have worked with the Shasta County Sheriff Department's marijuana eradication team investigating two cultivation sites on Grizzly Gulch on the north boundary - one in the park, one immediately adjacent to the park's boundary. On September 20th and 21st, over 2,100 plants weighing 1400 pounds were eradicated. The site within the park contained 900 plants. The sites were related, and the investigation has revealed that its highly likely that they were being cultivated by Mexican nationals, as has been the case at other locations on public lands in the area. No suspects were located, possibly due to a recent and unexpected influx of park staff engaged in research and maintenance operations in the area. Evidence that may help identify the identities of the growers was found at the sites. [Alan Foster, SA/Acting CR, WHIS, 9/24]
Rangers and members of Shasta County's marijuana eradication team investigated a large marijuana plantation on Whiskey Creek on October 16th. As they approached the main site, they saw five Hispanic men processing marijuana near a campsite. All five ran into the brush. An extensive search was conducted by California Highway Patrol helicopters and aircraft and by interagency narcotics task force units on the ground, but without immediate success. Over 1,000 plants were seized from five patches; together, they had an estimated street value of more than $1 million. This is the third cultivation complex found in or immediately adjacent to the park this year. [Alan Foster, SA/Acting CR, WHIS, 10/18]
The number of plants seized in last Tuesday's operation on Whiskey Creek has been revised from about 1,000 plants to 2,115 plants. Given the quality of the plants, the street value is now estimated to be in excess of $9 million. The overall estimated street value of all the marijuana seized in the three garden complexes found this year in the park has been placed at more than $14 million. The seized plants were disposed of at a local co-generation power plant to assist in providing environmentally friendly electrical power to California. [Alan Foster, SA/Acting CR, WHIS, 10/19]
On March 14th, ranger Bill Watkins was nearly forced off the road by a pickup truck on Highway 299 within park boundaries. Watkins immediately radioed a description of the speeding truck and driver and pursued. Minutes later, the pickup struck another vehicle, causing moderate body damage, then continued down the road. Watkins continued to follow and maintained close contact with other pursuing officers. Ranger Gary Panich was able to determine an approximate location of the suspect based on numerous tips from alarmed pedestrians and communicated it to the other units. Whiskeytown special agent Alan Foster served as incident commander and coordinated the search for the suspect with units from the Shasta County Sheriffs Office and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. Watkins found the driver of the pickup truck walking along a remote road about an hour later and placed him under arrest. He was subsequently charged with reckless driving, hit and run and evading law enforcement officers, then jailed. The truck was impounded. According to witnesses, the driver exceeded speeds of 80 mph and repeatedly crossed over the double yellow line prior to his arrest. [Steve Prokop, CR, WHIS, 3/14]
The park put a ban on personal watercraft (PWC's) into effect on April 20th. Regulatory signs were installed at the park's three boat launches and at two boat marinas on Whiskeytown Lake. PWC operators used the lake on April 19th, but did not reappear thereafter. One of the PWC signs was vandalized during the first week of the ban, but park maintenance has found a way to strengthen the signs. Overall, there has been wide public support for the ban. Television and newspaper coverage has been positive, with editorial writers expressing a sense of relief that the ban was in effect. The park is noticeably quieter and more tranquil, and the number of permit requests for kayak and sailboat events has already increased. [Stephen Prokop, CR, WHIS, 5/1]
Dispatch received a report of a possible drowning in the Whiskey Creek arm of the lake on the afternoon of June 6th. Rangers and firefighters were on scene within five minutes. Chief ranger Steve Prokop swam out 100 yards to the area where the victim was last seen and made several dives, finding the 21-year-old man within about 10 minutes in 10 to 15 feet of water. CPR was begun, but suspended when Shasta County paramedics arrived five minutes later and pronounced him dead. The victim had been swimming in the area on and off for several hours with friends. They were attempting to swim to islands and buoys along the western shore of Whiskey Creek arm when the drowning occurred. The park and county coroner's office are investigating. A post-traumatic critical incident debriefing was held for park employees following the incident. [Steve Prokop, CR, WHIS, 6/11]
On Thursday, June 20th, rangers Billy Watkins, Gary Panich and Aaron Scott participated in an interagency raid on a large marijuana plantation on BLM lands within a few hundred feet of the park's boundary. Shasta County deputies and BLM law enforcement officers helped conduct the raid. A fully loaded AK-47 assault rifle was seized and one person was taken into custody. All 2,300 marijuana plants found at the site were removed along with a processing plant, camping equipment and irrigation systems. Rangers will continue to monitor nearby drainages and undeveloped areas of the park for suspicious activity. [Steve Prokop, CR, WHIS, 6/21)
On Thursday, June 20th, firefighters Jim Price, Bruce Melairei, Juan Martinez, Carol Jandrall, and Mary Pitman and rangers Colleen Boes, Phyllis Swanson, Steve Prokop, and Nikola Escobar responded to a motor vehicle accident on Highway 299 in the park. The victim was trapped inside her auto with her left arm sheared off near the shoulder. Boes applied direct pressure to the massive wound while Escobar placed a high flow oxygen mask on the victim. NPS firefighters set up a landing zone for a medical helicopter and closed down the highway. The woman was close to death when she was rapidly removed from the vehicle and loaded into the helicopter. Pitman happened to pass by the accident scene seconds after it happened and was able to effectively direct rescuers and resources. The victim remains in critical condition but is expected to survive. [Steve Prokop, CR, WHIS, 6/21]
Rangers and NPS firefighters were first to respond to a two-vehicle traffic accident with four fatalities and multiple injuries that occurred within the park on Highway 299 two miles west of the visitor center just before noon on June 23rd. A car filled with teenagers that was traveling eastbound collided with a pickup truck driven by a father and his 17-year-old son. The driver of the car, a 19-year-old female, was heading east at approximately 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. She lost control of the car and veered into the westbound lane of traffic, colliding with the pickup. The impact smashed the left rear of the car, instantly killing one of the teens who was wearing his seat belt. The impact also caused two other teens in the vehicle to be ejected. One went down a steep rock embankment next to the highway and landed about 40 feet below, while the other landed about 100 feet away. Three of the teens were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth critically injured victim was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, but succumbed to his injuries later that night. The female driver of the car and a front seat passenger, along with the two occupants of the pick-up, were transported to Mercy Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. NPS fire captains Dave Hight and Mark Middy and ranger Billy Watkins triaged the overall accident scene and directed rangers and firefighters to specific victims and to road closure and helicopter landing zone assignments. Also involved were rangers Nikola Flesuras, Billy Watkins, Colleen Boes and NPS firefighters Carol Jandrall, Damon McNeill, and Jessica Boes. Two post traumatic critical incident stress debriefings have been held for NPS employees who responded to this horrific accident scene. The driver of the car was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of four counts of vehicular manslaughter. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. [Steve Prokop, CR, WHIS, 6/26]
Shasta County deputies and five park resource protection rangers conducted a raid on a marijuana plantation near Crystal Creek on September 26. Over 3,000 mature plants were cut down, then removed by helicopter due to the rugged terrain. Two other marijuana gardens of similar size were raided in the park earlier this summer. Efforts to cleanup and restore the sites will require major investments of labor and long-term site monitoring. Illegal growers routinely cut down native trees and vegetation, utilize large quantities of herbicides and pesticides that contaminate creeks and drainages, and leave behind literally tons of personal garbage and irrigation pipes. Rangers will continue to patrol undeveloped areas in the park that may be prone to marijuana farming. [Submitted by Steve Prokop, Chief Ranger, Whiskeytown NRA]
On October 3, the park got a call from a local police dispatcher who said that a woman had phoned them and reported that she'd received a call from a 39-year-old family member who was at the park's Oak Bottom Campground, threatening suicide. A few minutes later, the man's mental health counselor also called and said that he believed that the man was quite serious. A seasonal ranger and the park's special agent found him sitting in his car with a section of tubing taped over an open window and connected to the car's exhaust. He refused to get out of the car, so was forcibly removed and placed in protective custody. He was taken to a local mental health facility without further incident. [Submitted by Alan Foster, Special Agent]
While on patrol on July 18th, ranger Craig Cavanna came upon two men
standing near parked vehicles at a location where there had been several
previous car clouts. Cavanna contacted them. One man gave Cavanna false
identification, but was subsequently identified and arrested on an
active warrant for a prior theft conviction. Ranger Mike Martin arrived
on scene and began interviewing the second man while Cavanna transported
his companion to jail. While en route, the man told Cavanna that his
partner had given Martin false identification. Cavanna radioed Martin
the man's real name; at about the same time, the man fled into nearby
woods. Park dispatch notified Martin that the man he was chasing was on
parole for theft, writing bad checks and obstructing a police officer,
and that he'd recently been charged with cruelty to children. A search
was begun that included county deputies and police dogs, an airplane,
and chief ranger Steve Prokop in the park's patrol boat. It was called
off an hour later. Several hours later, ranger Dave Falzetti saw the man
walking on the shoulder of Highway 299 about five miles from the park
boundary. Cavanna and Prokop responded to assist CHP in the search for
the man, but he again escaped into the woods.
On July 19th, ranger Mike Martin received and investigated a report
of a possible drunk driver on Highway 299W within the park. Before he
could find the vehicle, dispatch received a report of a head-on
collision. One of the vehicles involved in the accident matched the
description of the vehicle that Martin was attempting to locate.
Rangers, park firefighters and CDF firefighters responded; ranger Craig
Cavanna was IC. Both drivers and one of the passengers were trapped in
the two vehicles. The driver of the first car suffered broken legs and
may have to have a foot amputated; one passenger in his vehicle was
dead, another went into respiratory arrest at the scene and eventually
into cardiac arrest. Rangers and firefighters administered oxygen and
CPR until she could be airlifted to a local hospital. A third passenger
suffered a broken wrist and multiple lacerations and bruising. The
suspected DUI driver of the other car was extricated and treated for
severe head and chest trauma. She died several hours later at a local
hospital. The highway, which is the main road through the park, was
blocked for almost two hours in the middle of the afternoon, with
temperatures near 110 degrees. CHP is investigating the accident.
Shortly after this incident, rangers responded to a diving accident in
which a young man suffered head and spinal injuries from diving into
shallow water in the lake. He was medevaced to a hospital with fractures
to his cervical vertebrae and is partially paralyzed from the waist
down. The next morning, a CISD team was brought in to work with people
who had been involved in these incidents. Ranger Steve Thede, a peer
support counselor, and CDF counselors and a psychologist managed the
session.
Park firefighters and CCC crew members discovered the body of a man
near the Shasta Divide access road on the afternoon of October 21st. A
pistol was found beside his body. County detectives are investigating
along with the park's special agent.
Rangers arrested a 40-year-old man late on the evening on October 17th after observing him fishing for day use fee payment envelopes from a fee collection station (known as an 'iron ranger'). During the search incident to the arrest, rangers found four Whiskeytown day use fee payment envelopes in the man's possession. Ranger Mike Martin was conducting surveillance of the fee collection station when the theft took place. Rangers Gary Panich and Billy Watkins assisted with the arrest and booking at the Shasta County jail. Visitor use assistants had been reporting that they were occasionally finding that day use fee payment envelopes were missing during their routine collections (each envelope has a serial number used for tracking purposes). In one instance, a bent fishing hook had been found at the bottom of an iron ranger. Visitor use assistants and rangers worked together on the investigation and determined the most likely time when these incidents were occurring. Efforts were then begun to catch the thief. The man who was arrested had a southern California mailing address and apparently lived out of his vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in federal district court on November 2nd.
On the afternoon of Sunday, July 17th, park dispatch received a report
of a head-on collision between a passenger vehicle and a pick-up truck
on California State Highway 299. This highway bisects the park and is a
main travel route from Redding to the coastal cities of northern
California. Park LE rangers, fire crew members and volunteer
emergency team members responded along with the California Department of
Forestry, California Highway Patrol, ALS ambulances, and two life flight
helicopters. Two of the three people in the passenger vehicle - the
driver and a small child - died as a result of their injuries, and
the third person was flown to a local trauma center and was last
reported in critical condition. The driver of the pickup was also taken
to the trauma center in Redding for treatment. Preliminary reports
indicate that the driver of the passenger vehicle was crossing over a
double yellow line when the collision occurred. Rangers provided
incident command. The highway was closed for several hours. CHP is
leading the accident investigation. Park employees were provided access
to CISD team members and attended operational debriefings with county
and state fire agencies.
On November 27th, Redding PD officers arrested an adult male and a juvenile female for the murder of a 35-year-old Redding woman within the park. The pair had kidnapped the woman from her home on November 26th with the object of robbing her. They eventually strangled her and left her body near Whiskeytown Cemetery, which is located within the park. They were charged with murder, robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, and kidnapping to commit robbery. Redding PD is the lead agency in the investigation. An NPS special agent and the park's chief ranger are serving as liaisons between the police and the park. [Andy Zavanelli, Chief Ranger]
During the period from January 17th to January 19th, protection rangers and officers from the NPS (Whiskeytown NRA and Lassen Volcanic NP), the U.S. Forest Service (Shasta-Trinity, Mendicino and Klamath National Forests) and the Bureau of Land Management (Redding, Ukiah, and Alturas Field Offices) conducted a warrant sweep in northern California and southern Oregon, issuing outstanding federal warrants from the U.S. District Court in Redding, California. A total of nine two-person teams fanned out through the surrounding counties to serve over 150 warrants. More than 40 people were brought into court for appearance in front of the magistrate judge; several others, after receiving notice that law enforcement rangers were looking for them, either voluntarily came down to the court building or contacted the court clerk's office to make arrangements to appear before the judge. The federal magistrate cleared his court calendar for the three-day operation and was available to hear the cases as they came in. Additional assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshal's court officer, who served as an intake officer at the holding facility located at the district courthouse and assisted with the escort of persons who were in custody from the holding cells to the courtroom The operation also served to strengthen the inter-agency cooperation and professional working relationships among the three land management agencies, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. District Court. [Andy Zavanelli, Chief Ranger]
Over the past few weeks, raids conducted on marijuana plantations within the park resulted in the seizure of over 13,000 plants, arrests of three people, and the discovery of a small greenhouse constructed on park land for the purpose of marijuana cultivation. In early June, rangers and officers from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, the North State Initiative California Multi-Agency Methamphetamine Enforcement Task Force (NSI-CALMMET) and the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE) raided a marijuana plant nursery and seized over 2,300 plants. This plantation was discovered after a park visitor reported seeing individuals running away from her as she was taking a break from a hike to one of the park's waterfalls. Further investigation revealed that the growers were tapping into the waterfall as a water supply for the nursery. On July 6th, a three-month-long interagency investigation involving the above organizations plus the California Highway Patrol and California National Guard culminated in a raid of another marijuana plantation. This time, 11,380 plants were seized and one person was arrested as he fled from the site. He's currently in federal custody and facing from 10 to 40 years in prison on one count of marijuana cultivation. Subsequent to this raid, two more men suspected of cultivating marijuana were detained pending further investigation into their activities. On July 7th, a team of rangers from Whiskeytown, Lassen Volcanic and Redwood reconnoitered a suspected growing site in another area of the park and discovered an abandoned greenhouse. Upon further investigation, they found that it had apparently been used to cultivate marijuana. Plans are in place to dismantle the structure. [Chief Ranger]
On July 5th, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter crew on a routine flight discovered a large marijuana cultivation complex within the park above the Whiskey Creek arm of Whiskeytown Lake. From July 25th to July 27th, Pacific West Region special agents, PWR's SETT 3 (US Park Police), rangers from Whiskeytown and Redwood, and personnel from several other federal, state and local law enforcement organizations conducted reconnaissance and raids on the adjoining complexes and provided for public safety in the area. Officers seized 26,214 plants (47,233 with male plants included) with an estimated street value of over $500 million, based on ONDCP figures. About 40% of the plants contained buds and were removed by helicopter, filling a ten yard dump truck. The remaining plants had not yet budded and were destroyed in the field. Two suspects were located in the complexes and pursued by helicopter and three field teams but were not captured. Investigations and directed patrols by Whiskeytown rangers, SETT 3 and NPS special agents are ongoing (as of July 28th) in an effort to capture the suspects. The three encampments found in the complexes contained large quantities of fertilizer and pesticides, car batteries, food, garbage, personal belongings and .380 caliber pistol ammunition. Nearly 10% of the park, including two main roads and a park office, were closed for three days for public and employee safety due to their close proximity to the cultivation sites. Also participating in this operation were personnel from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office marijuana eradication and SWAT teams, CHP's patrol aviation unit, CALMMET (a northern California drug task force), the California National Guard's counter-drug unit (Team Wolf), the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting). CAMP and SWAT personnel entered the area by helicopter short-haul while NPS and Team Wolf personnel hiked over five miles each day in rugged terrain into the sites to conduct security and eradication tasks. One officer in the operation sustained a minor knee injury while hiking, and two others were treated for early onset heat exhaustion due to high temperatures that reached 114 degrees. This is the largest seizure of cultivated marijuana this year on NPS lands. [Andy Zavanelli, Chief Ranger]
Following a five-week-long trial, D.L.Y., 50, of Redding, California, was convicted on June 14th on five felony burglary counts and four misdemeanor petty theft counts in superior court in Shasta County. Beginning in April, 2003, park visitors began finding obscene notes on the windshields of their vehicles, describing them engaged in sexual activity along the shoreline of Whiskeytown Lake. By August, several young women had reported thefts of beach bags from the shoreline, keyed entry into their locked vehicles parked nearby, and theft of purses, pocketbooks and undergarments. Shortly after each of the burglaries, many of the victims, several of them high school girls, received obscene phone calls to their homes, parents and friends, with the male caller describing them as they appeared in sexually explicit videos or photographs. Several parents responded to meetings with the caller with offers to recover the nonexistent images, but the caller never made himself known at the meeting locations. D.L.Y., at the time an employee of Redding Electric Utility, was found to frequent Whiskeytown in his personal and official vehicles without any regard to his official duties. He was terminated from his employment while awaiting trial. Several surveillance operations of the area were conducted by National Park Service Investigative Services Branch agents, Whiskeytown and Lassen rangers, Shasta County sheriff's detectives and California Highway Patrol investigators. They revealed that D.L.Y. repeatedly drove back and forth along park roadways, apparently looking for victims. He was seen by victims and officers in the immediate vicinity of several burglaries and placing notes on cars. On July 26, 2004, D.L.Y. was arrested on a warrant issued as a result of this investigation, and search warrants were served that day on his home, vehicles, office and storage unit. The searches revealed stolen property and surreptitiously taped videos of women sunbathing and many unidentified people engaged in sexual activities at Whiskeytown. Initially released on $50,000 bail, D.L.Y. is back in custody and being held without bail pending sentencing. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender. [Alan Foster, Special Agent]
Acting on information received from a California National Guard drug interdiction helicopter pilot returning from a reconnaissance flight in an adjoining county, an NPS special agent and deputies from the Shasta County Sheriffs Office marijuana eradication team conducted a ground reconnaissance of a suspected cultivation site complex operated by Mexican nationals near the west boundary of the park on Willow Creek. Agents located and entered a 6,428-plant cultivation site and apprehended F.H.S. of Michoacan, Mexico, when he exited a living structure where he was cooking breakfast. F.H.S. was contacted from a distance of less than six feet and immediately surrendered. He was armed with a loaded .45 caliber Llama Model 1911 semiautomatic pistol. A .22 caliber revolver, a pellet gun and two 12 gauge shotgun rounds were also located at the site, but no shotgun was found. It's possible that a second grower fled the scene during the arrest of F.H.S. Prosecution is pending in federal court in the Eastern District of California. A significant portion of Whiskeytown NRA remains closed for visitor safety due to the possibility that a second grower armed with a shotgun is at large. [Alan Foster, Special Agent]
On August 29th, National Park Service and the Shasta County Sheriff's Office agents apprehended F.H.S., a Mexican national, in an active marijuana cultivation site on Willow Creek within Whiskeytown NRA. One additional suspect, who may have run from officers at the time of the arrest, was not located. Since there was a possibility that he was armed, part of the park was closed to visitor access. That closure has been lifted and the park has returned to normal operations. F.H.S. has been arraigned on one count of illegal marijuana cultivation (21 USC8 41(a)(1)) and one count of possession of a firearm by a person unlawfully present in the United States (18 USC 922(g)(5)). The investigation is ongoing. [Alan Foster, Special Agent]
Agents and rangers from the WASO Investigate Services Branch and the park, working with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office SWAT and marijuana eradication teams, DEA, state officers, and the California National Guard, raided a major drug plantation run by a Mexican drug trafficking organization on Crystal Creek on September 10th and seized 13,857 marijuana plants. The raid was part of a week-long operation on NPS, USFS and private lands in which a total of 29,686 plants were destroyed. The Crystal Creek site was less than a mile from the complex raided on August 29th. This plantation sprawled over more than two acres, which sustained significant environmental damage. An investigation into this operation is continuing. [Submitted by Alan Foster, Special Agent]
Agents and rangers from the WASO Investigate Services Branch and the park, working with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office SWAT and marijuana eradication teams, DEA, state officers, and the California National Guard, raided a major drug plantation run by a Mexican drug trafficking organization on Crystal Creek on September 10th and seized 13,857 marijuana plants. The raid was part of a week-long operation on NPS, USFS and private lands in which a total of 29,686 plants were destroyed. The Crystal Creek site was less than a mile from the complex raided on August 29th. This plantation sprawled over more than two acres, which sustained significant environmental damage. An investigation into this operation is continuing. [Alan Foster, Special Agent]
F.H.S., 26, of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for growing marijuana plants in the park. A National Park Service special agent and Shasta County sheriff's deputies arrested F.H.S. in the middle of a marijuana plantation last August 29th. He had a pistol in his possession at the time of the arrest. Agents subsequently seized over 6,000 marijuana plants. See the link below for the original report, filed last August. [Department of Justice]
Shasta County's public safety dispatch center received a 911 call from a Spanish-speaking man seeking assistance for a burn victim on Whiskey Creek Road on the afternoon of July 14th. The area was burning vigorously as part of a wildfire in the Motion Fire Complex and several fire engine strike teams, hand crews, bulldozers and other resources were staged along roadways and engaged in fire suppression in that area. The fire was advancing to the north, but no burnout activities had occurred due to adverse burning conditions. Four Hispanic males, wearing military surplus camouflage clothing bearing US Army and National Guard insignia, were located by firefighters a short time later. J.A.F., 25, was flown to Mercy Medical Center with third degree burns and was later transferred to the UC Davis burn unit. A second adult and a juvenile were transferred by ground ambulance, then treated for first and second degree burns and smoke inhalation and released. The juvenile male was treated and released for minor burns. The treated adult and a fourth adult male were arrested on federal charges of being present in a closed area. Investigation revealed that both were Mexican nationals unlawfully present in the United States and ICE holds have been placed on them for deportation. The men - S.C.A., 25, and M.C.A., 24, both of Michoacan - were interviewed and claimed to have been hunting in the park for the previous four or five days. They refused to say where their weapons were. A search of the vicinity by park rangers revealed no weapons. A marijuana cultivation site had been under investigation nearby and fire overhead and suppression personnel had repeatedly been formally and informally briefed over the previous few days as to the specific location of the site and the probability of armed suspects in the area. [Alan Foster, Chief Ranger]
A multi-agency task force raided a large marijuana cultivation plantation complex along Willow Creek last Wednesday, an area that overlaps the park's western boundary. The raid yielded 572 budding plants in a fourth and newly-discovered plot in the complex. Due to the number of plants, Whiskeytown rangers, who had walked into and secured the area, eradicated all plants, removed all trash from the plot, collected evidence relating to the identities of the growers, and catalogued resource damage to the area. The plants and trash were flown out by a CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) helicopter. A large amount of trash and resource damage remains in the western reaches of the complex from previous years' activities. A mission to recover this trash is planned for this coming fall. The other three large plots in this complex were not occupied this year. Two of those plots yielded 6,428 plants in 2007. Francisco Huato Sanchez, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested in the eastern end of the complex and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison this past May for cultivating marijuana and possessing a loaded firearm during the commission of a crime. A third plot in the complex was quickly harvested and abandoned in 2007 after the helicopter was unable to fly due to loss of daylight during the initial raid. This site remains unoccupied. Investigation into several suspects identified in the fourth cultivation site earlier this year continues. The National Park Service went on to support Shasta County Sheriff's Office and CAMP in a second marijuana raid in the vicinity later in the day. Also participating in the operation were officers with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and the California National Guard. [Alan Foster, Special Agent]
On August 30th, staff at the Whiskeytown Visitor Center received a call from a hiker who'd run down from the trail to Whiskeytown Falls to summon help for another hiker. D.P. and his wife, L.P., both of Shasta, California, were nearly to the falls when his chest began to hurt and he felt tingling in his extremities. EMT rangers and firefighters from Whiskeytown and Engine 10 from Redwood responded on the ground along with a CHP helicopter, a ground ambulance, and a REACH air ambulance. D.P. was stabilized on scene and hoisted out of the heavily-timbered area in a "screamer suit" by the CHP helicopter. He was transferred to the waiting air ambulance, which then delivered him to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Doctors confirmed that D.P. had suffered a heart attack. He was treated, then released on September 3rd. Doctors credited his quick transport to the hospital for his successful outcome. Park staff in turn cited the multi-agency cooperation and prompt response that is typical in the park. Ranger Gary Panich was incident commander. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
On Friday, May 22nd, rangers Leigh Guenther, Mike Doll, Gary Bias and EMT Carol Jandrall responded to a two-vehicle accident with a reported fatality on State Highway 299 west near the Whiskeytown visitor center. The driver of one of the vehicles, E.J. of Redding, received fatal injuries after she turned around to drive east on the highway and was struck by a Jeep Wrangler traveling westbound. Her passenger, S.K. of Redding, received major injuries and was transported to a local hospital, were she was initially in intensive care. The male driver of the Jeep received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital for an evaluation. The collision closed the highway for approximately 45 minutes for a helicopter landing to evacuate S.K. The incident was managed under ICS, with additional response by firefighters from Old Shasta Station 56, French Gulch Station 59, Cal Fire Station 58, paramedics from two local hospitals, and officers from the California Highway Patrol. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
Law enforcement rangers at Whiskeytown have been actively assisting Shasta County deputies with discovering and eradicating marijuana on public lands in and around the park. In late June, rangers assisted deputies in the eradication of over 90,000 plants. During the operation, which was primarily on Forest Service lands in Shasta County, two undocumented Mexican nationals were also arrested. In early August, rangers from Whiskeytown, Redwoods and Yosemite joined deputies and CAMP task force officers in the eradication of over 6,000 plants in the Crystal Creek drainage in Whiskeytown and another 1,700 plus plants on lands immediately adjacent to the park. During cleanup operations two weeks later, rangers found more plants in a complex not previously discovered. They returned to the area with task force members and removed more than 1,500 plants and 50 pounds of processed marijuana. Rangers utilized newly-approved helicopter short hauls to safely access these remote sites. All of the areas showed evidence of cultivation by highly organized Mexican drug cartels. Rangers continue to search for additional cultivation sites. Ranger Gary Bias was NPS lead for the operations. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Garrett Sarcinella was patrolling the Carr Powerhouse area on the evening of October 23rd when he heard two fishermen yelling for help from the Oak Bottom Channel of Whiskeytown Lake. Sarcinella used his spotlight to illuminate the two fishermen, who were using their overturned canoe to stay afloat. Ranger Gary Bias and firefighters from the California Department of Forestry (CAL Fire) responded by vessel to the scene. Whiskeytown Water Treatment employee Don Walker heard the call over the radio and obtained the assistance of a visitor with a vessel and responded to the scene as well. Sarcinella continued to illuminate and talk to the fishermen until Walker and the visitor arrived and were able to take the men on board. The fishermen were transferred to Bias' vessel and treated for hypothermia by the CAL Fire personnel. The men, both in their 40s, were transported to Oak Bottom Boat Launch, where treatment was continued by waiting advanced life support personnel. The two men were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, where they received care for severe hypothermia. Click on the link below for a short news video of the rescue. [Gary Bias, Acting Chief Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.redding.com/news/2009/oct/24/two-men-suffering-from-hypthermia-rescued-from/"
While checking a pickup parked near a visitor center in Whiskeytown NRA one night during the summer of 2007, field trainee Charles Mayer and field training ranger Mike Fakier saw a man and women in the front seat who appeared to be sleeping. The vehicle did not have a required day use permit. Mayer spoke with the driver, L.R., who said that he did not have any identification, then made furtive hand movements toward a fanny pack near his waist. L.R. was asked to get out of the truck and was patted down for weapons. A marijuana pipe was immediately recognized in the center console area of the truck. L.R. was detained and current park field training ranger Betsy Smith arrived to provide backup. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded .357 magnum handgun and drug residue and paraphernalia on the driver's side floorboard. A dispatch records check revealed that L.R. had a prior felony conviction for marijuana cultivation. He was arrested and transported to jail in Redding, California. NPS special agent Alan Foster, FBI special agent Michael Skeen and the US Attorney's Office in Sacramento assisted in the investigation, which culminated with the successful prosecution of L.R. on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm (18 USC 922(g)). L.R. was recently sentenced in federal court to five months incarceration followed by five months home confinement and three years supervised probation. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of May 29th, a spooked horse ran away from its owner and headed north in the park until it found an accessible spot to enter Clear Creek, where it proceeded to walk and mostly swim downstream to a canyon area with steep hillsides. Two fishermen there led the horse to shore and were able to connect with T.D., the horse's owner. She tried three times to lead the horse, named "Dakota," up the hillside, but it proved to be too steep. Rangers were called for assistance. When they arrived, they found the horse on a ledge about 40 feet below the trail along Clear Creek. The rangers constructed a haul line system and one attempt was made to raise the 1100-pound horse before dark, but the horse was too exhausted to climb during the raising attempt. Rescue efforts were discontinued until the next morning. T.D. tended the horse through the night. In the morning, rangers returned and rigged a haul system to haul the horse out. They were assisted on scene by a veterinarian, a county animal regulations supervisor, and a county officer. After onsite instruction, several bystanders and family members assisted with the haul team. At about 11 a.m., "Dakota" was successfully raised up the 50-60 degree, 40-foot-high slope. The horse was able to walk back to the trailhead without further assistance. IC for the operation was Chris Mengel, custom horse harness builder was Charles Hardy. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
On June 22nd, rangers and NPS special agents joined a multi-agency task force for three weeks of marijuana raids and investigations in Shasta County. These operations were conducted on Forest Service, NPS and private lands that had access through or included federal property. Over the three-week period, they eradicated 176,974 marijuana plants worth $707,896,000, made multiple arrests, and recovered many firearms and much ammunition. The three-week operation included two days of raids in Whiskeytown. In the first day of the Whiskeytown raids, rangers found two freshly abandoned sites and raided one additional site, eradicating a total of 4,718 plants. On the next day of raids, they eradicated 15,508 plants. The Whiskeytown plants alone represented seizure of $80,904,000 worth of marijuana. Also removed were hazardous materials, including fertilizer. Future cleanup missions will remove camping equipments, hoses, tools and discarded food along with other garbage. Evidence from the investigations suggest that the growers were from Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Most of these missions were conducted by helicopter short-haul, which has been shown to improve safety by improving officers' tactical advantage and greatly reducing sprains, heat injuries, poison oak exposure and other injuries that are common in this very challenging environment. Pacific West Region's SET Team 3, comprised of six US Park Police officers, participated fully in the Whiskeytown raids and in the ensuing investigations. The in-park raids and investigations were led by a resident NPS special agent and supported by the NPS Investigative Services Branch. Shasta County led the nation in marijuana eradication last year. Additional marijuana planting activity is under investigation at Whiskeytown. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
On November 6th, a park neighbor advised rangers that he'd discovered a tarp and some black hose on his property, located immediately adjacent to the park in French Gulch. Two rangers conducted a preliminary investigation, discovering from a distance what appeared to be a tarp with marijuana hanging under it. Four days later, rangers and Shasta County deputies conducted a raid on the location, creeping up to within 40 feet of the two growers there without being seen or heard. When the growers stood up, the officers identified themselves. One of them - M.S.M. - slipped and fell, while the other ran away. M.S.M. was found to have been carrying a loaded .25 caliber pistol, which was discovered on the ground during the arrest. Officers chased the second grower, who was running with his right hand in his pocket, possibly holding a gun, but lost him in the thick brush. Despite assistance from a local California Highway Patrol helicopter, he was not found. Officers searched the camping area and cultivation site for evidence and then packaged up the large amount of marijuana as evidence, being assisted in this by the resident special agent. The site had about 1,100 plants, with the processing of buds for sale in various stages. Several very large tarps were filled with drying buds several inches deep, while other plants with buds still intact were found drying under tarps. The seized marijuana weighed 340 pounds and is worth approximately $1.36 million. Later that night, rangers nearly caught the second grower when he placed a tree branch in the middle of Highway 299, hoping to flag down a ride from a growing partner. Rangers tracked the grower with the assistance of a USFS officer and his K-9, but the dog lost the scent on the highway. This second grower - J.M.G. - was arrested the following day as he walked along the highway towards Redding. J.M.G. had identification showing an address in Sacramento and another in Michoacan, Mexico. Both men are suspected of being part of a large Mexican drug trafficking organization that the agent, rangers and deputies have been investigating since early this year. Both M.S.M. and J.M.G. are being held in Shasta County jail on immigration charges. The NPS and county are working with the DEA to submit a package to the assistant US attorney for possible Federal prosecution. Rangers returned to the site on November 14th and collected additional evidence (49.17 pounds of marijuana) and mapped the entire site for case presentation. This is very late in the growing season for this activity. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
For more than a year, rangers from Whiskeytown planned a full-scale security exercise at Shasta Dam with Bureau of Reclamation staff and other partners from 22 agencies and organizations. That exercise occurred on November 17th and was centered around a simulated multi-faceted terrorist attack on the dam, staff, and visitors. A unified incident command was established, with people and resources assigned to a wide variety of functions. Simulated explosions, a hostage situation, and a simulated large water release were all successfully resolved. NPS rangers were given appropriate assignments by the incident commander, getting to work directly with every law enforcement agency in the Northern California area. Much of the exercise was designed around the successful full-scale exercise conducted at Hover Dam a couple of years ago in which Lake Mead rangers played a major role. Shasta Dam holds back the largest reservoir in California and is the second largest dam in the U.S. It was identified as a critical U.S. infrastructure after 9/11. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
Maintenance worker Cody Mee died in a traffic accident while on his way into work on the morning of December 2nd. The accident occurred on Highway 299 near Redding. Cody first worked at Whiskeytown for the resource management division as an intern with the park archeologist, cataloging resources and then treating resources during and after the 2008 fires. He continued working with the facility management division as a laborer and work leader for the YCC youth crew, supervising six local high school-age youth employees on numerous projects and maintenance activities. Cody was a very talented welder and his handiwork can be seen throughout the park, including the fabrication of a masterly crafted lumber rack, road gates, safety handrails at Whiskeytown Falls, and custom bat gates that protect abandoned mines. He's been described as "a bright young man headed for big time success. He had this incredible energy, enthusiasm, and genuine love for his work in the park." A memorial service will be held December 12th at the Intermountain Fairgrounds in McArthur, California, at 1 p.m. Cody will be remembered for his incredible smile, his great work ethic and infectious attitude. [Dave Larabee and Brian Rasmussen]
On April 22nd, park dispatch received a report of a man and woman with a dog along South Shore Drive. The reporting party thought that the pair might be homeless and camping in the area. Ranger Chris Mengel investigated and found E.R. and her dog along a roadside. Mengel ran law enforcement checks on her and determined that she was wanted on several warrants and that she was always accompanied by her husband, H.R., who was wanted on a warrant for assaulting a peace officer, plus six other warrants in three counties for drug and traffic violations. As chief ranger Jim Richardson was arriving to back him up, H.R. walked into the brush from the scene. Rather than pursuing him, rangers called for additional help from Shasta County deputies, who arrived shortly thereafter. A tactical team of deputies, SWAT team members and rangers began a search from South Shore Drive downhill, ending at Whiskeytown Lake. Richardson asked the operator of a Coast Guard auxiliary boat on safety patrol on the lake to take him out on the lake to search from there. The boat arrived on scene just as E.R. stepped out onto the lakeshore and was ordered by two Shasta County officers at gunpoint to lie on the ground. As these officers moved in to secure E.R., a Shasta County police dog bit her. The dog handler was trying to pull the dog off when a pistol discharged, striking Shasta County officer Nolan Guiducci in the face. Richardson landed in the boat and handcuffed and moved E.R. away from the injured officer. Additional officers and Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers rendered first aid to Guiducci and transported him by boat to a patrol car and eventually to an ambulance. E.R. was also transported by boat and taken to the Shasta County jail, where she remains. A large scale manhunt for H.R. continued with the help of California Highway Patrol officers, a CHP plane and helicopter, Redding police officers, California Fish and Game officers, and CALFIRE officers. Despite finding a campsite and multiple clues in the area, they were unable to locate H.R. Rangers closed and signed this area of the park. The closure came during the park's waterfall week, the busiest spring week of the year. Rangers and a special agent are continuing to patrol this area in an effort to find H.R. The tactical search was conducted under a joint command, with Shasta County leading the operation. The shooting investigation was led by Redding Police Department, which implemented a pre-planned officer-involved shooting protocol. Guiducci suffered non-life threatening wounds to his face and ear and is doing well at a local hospital. H.R. remains at large at this time. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
Rangers and the resident special agent at Whiskeytown have been investigating marijuana cultivation activity in and adjacent to the park for many months. Investigative information led to the identification of the growing sites which were raided by rangers, the NPS agent, and officers from the Shasta County Sheriff's Department and the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), with assistance from the California National Guard. The Grover 1 site was raided on August 10th, with officers eradicating 104 plants. The Tahiti and Monarch sites were raided on August 23rd, with officers seizing 5,716 plants, 42 pounds of processed marijuana, and a loaded 9mm pistol. Five suspects were seen but could not be caught when they ran from the area. On August 24th, officers seized 3,000 plants at the Mad Ox site, while others on a simultaneous raid of the Iron Mountain site confiscated 6,759 plants. Two suspects ran from the site but could not be caught by the officers. The total estimated value of the marijuana seized from all sites came to $46,863,000. At all sites there was evidence that the cultivation activity was being undertaken by a criminal drug trafficking organization from Mexico. Rangers and the NPS agent have also been assisting with drug raids on USFS property within Shasta County, which is one of the top producing counties in the nation. Additional marijuana cultivation activity is under investigation at Whiskeytown. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatcher Tracy Lange saw a hitchhiker on Highway 299 on April 12th and asked a ranger to check him out. Ranger Gary Panich contacted the hitchhiker near milepost 10.5 and identified him as one C.M. Ranger Stevon Culver joined Panich as backup. An NCIC check on C.M. revealed that there was a non-extraditable warrant out against him from Colorado. The rangers were about to release C.M. when a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOLO" BOLO for him suddenly came up in the system, ordering officers "to stop and hold" him for the disappearance of a one-year-old infant from Redding, California. Panich and Culver handcuffed and searched C.M., and Redding Police Department detectives came to the scene and took him into custody. A ranger was sent to the old Whiskeytown Store building to secure a possible crime scene where C.M. had stayed. Redding PD and the Shasta County Sheriff's Office launched a major search for the infant later in the day. A ranger and fire personnel checked the Whiskey Creek shoreline by boat, but found no clues. At 7:30 p.m., the body of the missing infant was found about seven miles east of the park boundary. C.M. has been charged with kidnapping and murder by the Shasta County District Attorney's Office. [Chris Mengel, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of May 12th, park dispatch received a 911 call from park visitors who had witnessed an auto burglary at the Brandy Creek Falls trailhead. These visitors saw the thieves jump into a white Nissan car and speed away from the scene. They followed and gave dispatch a partial license plate number. A ranger was able to follow the suspect vehicle, give dispatch the full license plate number, and determine that there were at least three people in the vehicle. The driver declined to stop when the ranger activated his emergency lighting, so a decision was made to conduct a high risk stop on the east end of the Whiskeytown Dam. This section of roadway has continuous guard railings on both sides, and a second ranger was able to block the roadway. The car was therefore boxed in. Two more rangers arrived on scene and the three people were removed from the vehicle and taken into custody. Two of the three had knives in their pockets, which were seized. One admitted to having a handgun in the trunk and another to having needles in the same location. The three suspects were identified as A.C.H., W.J.T. and K.D.G.. K.D.G. had been arrested three times since January in Shasta County and had two felony warrants out against him for drug violations - one for $250,000. Numerous stolen items, a handgun, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. All three were booked into the Shasta County jail on charges of auto burglary and possession of stolen property. K.D.G. had his bail set at $535,000 and Angela A.C.H.'s had hers set at $10,000. The threesome may have been involved in numerous other auto burglaries on nearby BLM sites and other areas in Shasta County. Since February, Whiskeytown has had over 19 reported auto burglaries. [Chris Mengel, Operations Supervisor]
M.A. and J.A. arrived in the park to go fishing early on the morning of September 4th. They chose an area with easy access to the lake, taking a turnoff off from the old Highway 299 to a lakeside spot they had visited before. They planned to go fishing at this area, which has a very gentle and regular slope leading down to the water. While J.A. began getting fishing gear from the car, M.A. walked down to the lakeshore. J.A. told responders that M.A. evidently tripped on something, either a root or a rock, causing her to fall face-first into the water, striking her face hard on rocks that were just underwater off the lakeshore. J.A. dropped his fishing gear and went to M.A.'s aid, finding that she was not responsive and was bleeding a lot from her face. He began calling for help, as M.A. was too large for him to pull her from the water. Two fishermen across the narrow lakeshore waved but continued fishing (they quickly departed the area when they later saw emergency vehicles arrive). The couple's son, J.M., and his wife M.M. arrived soon thereafter to join them for fishing. J.M. had a cell phone and called 911, and both helped J.A. pull M.A. up on the shore. The 911 call was dispatched to Shasta County Sheriffs Office deputies and CAL FIRE firefighters, who responded immediately, then to NPS rangers shortly thereafter. Although CPR was in progress when they arrived, it was stopped by emergency personnel because it was obvious that M.A. was deceased. The death investigation is being led by the Shasta County coroner and Shasta County deputies with assistance from NPS rangers. J.A. was transported to an area hospital for treatment of hypothermia. As of this time the fishermen witnesses have not been located. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
Rangers Stevon Culver and Steve Kay contacted a man and woman seated in their vehicle at the end of Old Highway 299 on September 12th for having a dog off leash and for not having a day use permit. During the contact, they smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a green duffel bag containing five labeled zip lock bags weighing a total of 2.2 pounds. The rangers also recovered several other containers of suspected marijuana, a glass pipe, and 3.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The man and woman were arrested and taken to the Shasta County jail. Further investigation revealed that they were in possession of stolen property and turned up evidence of possible check forgery. Rangers are working closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento and the Shasta County District Attorney's Office on the prosecution. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
A park employee contacted park dispatch on the afternoon of June 22nd and reported a vehicle being driven erratically on Kennedy Memorial Drive. Rangers soon located the vehicle and stopped it about 200 yards west of Brandy Creek Road, but the driver took off again after a passenger jumped out. Rangers detained the passenger and again attempted to stop the vehicle, which left the roadway several times and barely missed colliding with several vehicles as it passed them heading east on the drive. The driver lost control of his vehicle about three miles into the pursuit, slammed into a guardrail, and damaged about 300 feet of the barrier before coming to a stop. The front wheel was caught on the guardrail, which prevented the vehicle and occupants from a 250-foot fall to the base of the dam. Only minor injuries were sustained by the driver and passenger. The driver was arrested for DUI, with a number of additional charges pending. He was later found to be on early release from jail through California Assembly Bill 109 (also known as Criminal Justice Realignment or AB 109). The male passenger who exited the vehicle was arrested for public intoxication. [Chris Mengel, Acting Chief Ranger]
On October 12th, a ranger on patrol came upon a man with a disabled vehicle on the side of Highway 299 and turned around to provide assistance. The man told the ranger that a tow truck was en route and that no assistance was needed. Due to the man's position on the road, the ranger directed him to the shoulder of the highway and out of the line of traffic. While talking with the man, the ranger approached his vehicle; from a distance of about 15 feet, the ranger smelled an overpowering odor of marijuana emanating from its interior. Backup was summoned and the vehicle was searched. Rangers found 16 black plastic garbage bags containing more than 65 pounds of freshly cut marijuana. The marijuana was confiscated and the man was cited. [Jim Richardson, Chief Ranger]
While on patrol in the park on December 5th, a field training ranger and an FTEP ranger conducted a registration check on a Dodge 2500 pickup truck traveling through the park. The California registration came back as expired and in "non-operation" status since 2011, although the plate indicated a current registration. The rangers attempted a traffic stop, but the driver declined to stop. A pursuit that did not exceed the posted speed limit ensued for nearly seven miles into the nearby city of Redding. When the truck stopped in the roadway, a high risk stop was attempted by the rangers and a California Highway Patrol officer, but the driver took off again into a residential area. The truck then drove over a curb and into the front yard of a residence. The rangers conducted another high risk stop. The driver swiftly exited the vehicle, ripped off his shirt, balled his fists, and walked towards the rangers while yelling. After failing to comply with verbal commands, he was hit in the torso with one taser round. It was ineffective. The ranger then reloaded and hit the man again in the back, this time achieving neuromuscular incapacitation and permitting his arrest. The man showed numerous indications of being a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_citizen_movement" sovereign citizen who did not recognize any law enforcement authority. He was arrested and charged with nine federal counts. Upon further investigation, the license plate had evidently been altered to appear current. The man was also charged with possession of a concealed weapon and three other 2013 violations, for which he had an outstanding Whiskeytown NRA warrant for his arrest. No officers were injured. The assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Redding Police Department were greatly appreciated. [Chris Mengell, Chief Ranger]
Park staff were involved in the interagency management of a 25-mile-long funeral procession on June 7th for the former head of the United Bikers of Northern California, which culminated at Whisketown Cemetery, an inholding owned and operated by Shasta County. Early estimates indicated that between 300 and 1,000 bikers might participate in the funeral procession, including a large contingent of Hell's Angels. A truce among all of the involved motorcycle clubs was declared for the funeral. During the procession, about 200 bikers actually took part in the funeral procession. The 105 degree air temperature that day may have significantly limited participation. There were no incidents. The park received assistance from a total of 23 federal law enforcement rangers from Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The PWR SETT responded to serve as a quick reaction force in case of any needed officer rescue or tactical response. Allied agencies included the California Highway Patrol, Shasta County Sheriff's Office, Redding Police Department and Anderson Police Department. The California Highway Patrol had a dedicated aircraft deployed to the incident for aerial observation and to facilitate interagency communications. Extensive advanced interagency planning made the whole incident run smoothly. [Chris Mengel, Chief Ranger]
On June 30th, as a result of a long-term joint NPS and Shasta County Sheriff's Office investigation, an illegal marijuana cultivation site in the park was raided and eradicated. The interagency raid team was led by the sheriff's office and included wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and park rangers from Whiskeytown NRA. Operational support was also provided by staff from Whiskeytown's communications center and the facilities management and resources management divisions. Six citizens of Michoacán, Mexico, were arrested in connection with the illegal marijuana cultivation operation, located near Whiskeytown Lake, and officers found more than 4,700 marijuana plants. All six men were discovered near the site; two were apprehended with the aid of a K-9 unit. The plants were being grown on NPS administered lands. The six were arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, possessing marijuana for sale, resisting arrest and illegally diverting water. In addition to eradicating 4,702 marijuana plants, officers also discovered 450 pounds of processed marijuana, with an estimated street value of $1.8 million. During the raid, they also removed about 500 pounds of trash, pesticides and fertilizer. On July 8th, personnel on an interagency eradication mission at Whiskeytown NRA destroyed an additional 1,263 marijuana plants and removed over 1,100 pound of trash, pesticides, rodenticides and fertilizer. This site was in an adjacent drainage. The rugged terrain and high temperature (106°F) resulted in an extremely demanding operation. As a result of careful planning and extensive interagency cooperation, the raid and eradication was completed safely and with no injuries. The unusually high number of arrests on this mission was attributed to the use of a K-9 unit and the high skill level of all the officers involved. [Chris Mengel, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, July 4th, rangers were patrolling Highway 299 when they saw a vehicle traveling westbound at a very high rate of speed pass another vehicle in a no passing zone. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but the operator increased his speed to nearly 130 mph and led the rangers in a pursuit that covered nearly five miles. The driver passed about ten other vehicles during the pursuit, sometimes on the right side of the road and sometimes on the left, running drivers off the highway. Other agencies were called in to assist, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter joined in the chase. For reasons of public safety, the pursuit was terminated near the Oak Bottom developed area, but the operator continued on until he lost control of his car on one of the curves just west of the Oak Bottom Beach turnoff. He crossed the center line, collided with a second vehicle, flipped upside down, and then hit another vehicle head-on. The driver of the pursued vehicle was seriously injured, but those in the other vehicles were not hurt. Other motorists stopped at the scene and reported that the operator of the vehicle had exhibited reckless driving behavior for several miles before entering the park, prior to the pursuit. Alcohol is considered to have been a significant factor in this incident. The operator was transported to Mercy Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries. The California Highway Patrol agreed to conduct the accident investigation. Rangers are filing 13 criminal charges against the man with the Shasta County District Attorney's Office. [Chris Mengel, Chief Ranger]
The park has officially reopened, almost five weeks after one of the largest wildfires in California's history burned 39,000 of its 42,000 acres. "After enduring an extremely trying and overwhelming time," said Whiskeytown's spokesperson, "the park laid down one more brick in a new foundation." When the Carr Fire began within park boundaries on July 23rd, residents and staff in all operations were immediately impacted. By the time it was contained, thirteen park employees had lost their homes and more than half of park staff was displaced for periods from three to twenty-one days. Park law enforcement rangers were assisting with community evacuations while their own families were also being evacuated. Volunteers and colleagues in the cooperating association, friends group, and concessions were also facing hardships resulting from the fire. Long before the smoke settled, the Whiskeytown community stepped into action to provide assistance. Homes were opened to those displaced, donations collected, and meals shared with affected neighbors and response crews. Neighboring Lassen Volcanic National Park rearranged housing and took in five seasonals for several weeks. Despite personal challenges, park staff, and partners have largely returned to work, regularly going above and beyond and taking on unique tasks in the post-fire recovery efforts. The visitor center has reopened, as has day use at the Whiskey Creek boat ramp and picnic area, East Beach, and the Shasta Divide Nature Trail, but the rest of the park, including trails, parking areas and marinas, remain closed to public use due to hazard trees. The majority of the park remains closed as emergency repairs, cleanup, and stabilization continue. Two incident management teams were brought in to assist the park in the initial post-fire recovery. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team and park staff have been assessing infrastructure and natural and cultural resources impacted by the fire. Source: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Whiskeytown NRA — The Carr Powerhouse area of the park, devastated by the Carr Fire last summer, has reopened. Lakeshore access from the pullouts on the east side of Whiskey Creek Road have also reopened as part of the ongoing and phased effort to reopen the entire park. Source: Redding Record-Searchlight.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Whiskeytown NRA — The park continues to recover from the ravages of last summer's Carr Fire, which burned 39,000 of the park's 42,000 acres. Three trails on the east side of the park — the Guardian Rock, Buck Hollow and Mule Mountain Pass trails — were reopened to the public on December 1st. Other areas, particularly the Brandy Creek, Boulder Creek, Paige Boulder Creek, Mill Creek, and Crystal Creek watersheds, have been identified as areas with a high potential for hazardous debris flows and remain closed. The park's most recent press release on the recovery, including upcoming steps it will be taking, can be found in the following article. Source: News Café.com.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Whiskeytown NRA — Recovery continues from last year's Carr Fire, which burned 39,000 of the park's 42,000 acres and forced campground, inholding, local community and staff evacuations. Part of Peltier Bridge Campground has now reopened, though three sites remain closed indefinitely due to storm damage that occurred over the winter and because there are still hazard trees in that area. The Peltier Trail and those trails associated with nearby NEED Camp remain closed to the public. Source: Red Bluff Daily News.
Late on the afternoon of March 21st, a 22-year-old man who'd been hiking the Guardian Rock Trail was reported to have been swept down Clear Creek. He'd jumped in the creek after his dog fell into the water. The dog was able to make it to shore, but the man was swept around a bend in the river. His companion later called 911. A multi-agency search ensued and he was soon found by Shasta firefighters and NPS rangers. He has recovered from his immersion in the creek's cold waters. Source: Whiskeytown NRA Facebook page.
On June 3, a theft was committed at East Beach. Through NPS investigation, it was found that the suspect was also picked up by surveillance cameras making fraudulent transactions at a business in Redding, CA. The NPS has released images from those cameras and is asking the public for any information they might have in identifying the suspect. Source: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area August 24, 2022 On August 18, a car accident on Highway 299 resulted in a fatality, as well as a wildfire that precipitated the evacuation and closure of the eastern side of the park. Multiple agencies responded and were able to contain the Kennedy Fire on August 20 at 45 acres. Source: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Water quality monitoring has revealed elevated levels of E. coli in Clear Creek in the Tower House Historic District. The NPS has advised visitors to avoid contact with the water within and around the Tower House Historic District, Clear Creek Picnic Area, and Coggins Flat. Water quality monitoring is ongoing. Source: KRCR
On March 17, a visitor reported a purse and wallet stolen from their vehicle in the area of Clair A. Hill Whiskeytown Dam. Surveillance cameras later showed two suspects making fraudulent transactions at several businesses in Redding, California, utilizing credit cards from the theft. The park has released images of the two individuals and is seeking any information that the public may have. Source: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
On June 28, the park and Shasta County (CA) Environmental Health Division reported elevated levels of E. coli in Clear Creek within the Tower House Historic District. There have been no reports of illnesses yet. Visitors are advised to avoid contact with the water in Clear Creek, around the Tower House Historic District, and at Coggins Flat. The park's swim beaches have reported good water quality and are still considered safe for swimming. Source: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area | |