Monday, June 30, 1986
Glen Canyon - Drowning
Mr. C.S.R. (1/17/46) was observed by his 5 yr. old daughter to jumpinto the Lake from a rented house boat in Davis Gulch, Lake Powell. Dive team is being formed to search. Water depth 20-120 ft. C.S.R. isfrom Orange Co., Calif. Wife is on scene. Apparent drowning
Thursday, July 3, 1986
Glen Canyon - Boating Fatality
Boating fatality to P.M., white female, aged 26, DOB 4/2/60. She wasa passenger in a boat which hit the wake of another boat at a sharpangle. She was flipped out of the boat, which then ran over her.Received severe lacerations, near amputations, of an arm and leg. Incident occurred 23 miles up lake. Victim recovered alive. Rangersadministered IV and evacuated by air to hospital in Page. Died 7/5/86. Lost 9 units of blood. Victim was from Holland; boat operator was namedT.A.
Sunday, July 6, 1986
Glen Canyon - Drowning
Three brothers and their families were on a private house boat. Someof the family members slept on the boat's roof, which had no guard rail. Four-year- old boy (D.S., Draper, Utah, 12/5/81 DOB) rolled off; fatherdiscovered him missing at 0400; body found floating at 0430. Pronounceddead by father at Bull Frog.
Monday, July 7, 1986
Glen Canyon - Drowning
At about 8:30 pm, D.D., 24 yrs old, DOB unknown, from Brigham City,Utah, dove into the water at Gunsight Canyon and didn't resurface. NPSon scene at 10 p.m. Body not found. Next of kin notified. Searchcontinues.
Monday, August 4, 1986
Glen Canyon - Possible Drowning
Location: Near Mexican Hat on San Juan River (out of park)
Summary: D.F., previously reported as possible drowning victim, isstill missing. River at the time was high, swift and muddy. Searcheswere conducted 8/2-8/4 by both boat and aircraft but without results. Air searches continue.
Thursday, August 7, 1986
Glen Canyon - Follow-up: Possible Drowning
Location: Near Mexican Hat on San Juan River (out of park)
Summary: Probable employee fatality. Former co-op student atCabrillo, just hired by Grand Canyon as interpreter. He & severalother GRCA employes & friends went to Utah to float down San JuanRiver last weekend (8/1-3). Evening of 8/1: group went swimming, exceptD.F., who stayed at campsite. When they returned, he was missing.Speculation: he was caught in river undertow & drowned. 1 GRCA& 1 GLCA ranger using Zodiac to assist local Sheriff in search.
Monday, August 18, 1986
Glen Canyon - Drowning
Location: Lone Rock Beach
Summary: Mr. D.V.S. was with a group snorkeling about 35' from shoreand disappeared. Park divers were called in and recovered body at 3p.m. No one knows what happened to him.
Monday, August 18, 1986
Glen Canyon - Drowning
Location: Near Glen Canyon Dam
Summary: No further information
Friday, September 5, 1986
86-9 - Glen Canyon - Possible Drowning
Location: Near Dangling Rope Canyon
Mr. B.H. was boating with friends, and the entire party had beendrinking hard. They all decided to jump out of their boat to swim. Halljumped in but did not resurface. The boat was above a very shallow partof the lake. All attempts to recover the body have failed, and no futurerecovery appears likely.
Monday, September 15, 1986
86-15 - Glen Canyon - Fatality
Location: Forgotten Canyon
Ms. S.K.I. was water skiing in the canyon. She let go of her rope,and the boat, driven by her cousin, came around to pick her up. The boatovershot her, then backed up and inadvertently ran over her. One leg waslargely severed. CPR was begun by people on the boat, and advanced lifesupport was provided by rangers at Bull Frog and by the medical facilitythere. She was pronounced dead at 7:50 pm.
May 6, 1987
87-67 - Glen Canyon - Drowning
Location: Dungeon Canyon
H.B. was swimming in the lake, taking a break from a nearby sheepherdercamp. Two friends observed him to be in trouble, but were unable to helphim in time to prevent him from drowning. His body was recovered about onehour after the incident, prior to the arrival of the NPS dive team.Communications were poor due to the remoteness of the area in which thedrowning occurred. Next of kin notified.
June 29, 1987
87-125 - Glen Canyon - Drowning
Location: Chains area above clam
Child was with a group of people and evidently strayed away without beingnoticed by the others. A park ranger was notified and a search was started.Three hours later her body was found. Death clue to drowning. Coconinosheriff's office is investigating.
August 7, 1987
87-188 - Glen Canyon - Fatality
Location: Dungeon Canyon
P.C. was boating with his wife and children. They beached the boat toexplore the low cliffs in the Dungeon Canyon area. P.C. had gone alone.When he did not return his wife began to search for him. He was found dead,an apparent victim of a fall from the cliff area.
September 30, 1987
87-239 - Glen Canyon - Fatality - Two Drownings
Location: 3 miles above Lees Ferry
Victims were fly fishing with 2 others. All were wearing waders and werestanding in water. One member of the group suddenly stepped into deep waterand started to sink. G.P. went to help him and became water-logged. D.D.stepped out to help them and the same happened to her. The remainingmember of the group tossed a line to the three and began to pull them to shorewhen the line broke. G.P. and D.D. disappeared from sight, the otherperson was able to get to shore. The fourth fisherman ran downstream in anattempt to find his companions but was unsuccessful. A helicopter search wasinitiated by Maricopa and Coconino Counties. NPS divers searched until 6pmthat evening. The search was resumed the next morning at 7:30am and G.P.body was recovered. The water level has been lowered to aid the divers whoare still searching for the body of D.D.. Next of kin have been notified.
November 9, 1987
87-260 - Glen Canyon - Drowning
Location: Hall's Crossing
Mr. J.L., a concessions employee who worked at Hall's Crossing, wasattempting to teach a female friend how to operate a boat in the small harborlocated at the crossing. J.L. was reported to have had 11 beers beforelunch and a number of others thereafter. The occupants of the boat werealso drinking. J.L. stood up in the boat and fell overboard. Althoughhis companions threw life preservers to him, J.L. made no attempt to getto them and sank under the surface. Since the depth of the lake at thispoint is between 150' and 180', there will probably be no attempts madeto recover the body.
December 7, 1987
87-270 - Glen Canyon - NPS Assistance on Double Homicide
Location: Outside of park
Ranger Irv Francisco received a report of a vehicle fire in Copper Canyon,about 20 miles west of Piute Farms Marina in Glen Canyon, and investigated.He discovered the burned remains of two Navajo tribal police vehicles, and thebodies of two Navajo policemen locked in the back of one of the vehicles.Both officers' guns were missing. Investigators believe that the two wereshot, then placed in the back of the vehicle. The assailants then drove downa road toward Glen Canyon with the intention of dumping the vehicles in LakePowell. One became stuck, however, so both were instead burned. The FBI, BIAand local sheriff's office are investigating.
May 31, 1988
88-92 - Glen Canyon - Windstorm Related Rescues
Location: Parkwide
A windstorm with winds between 50 and 60 mph dropped air temperatures frombetween 80-90 degrees to near 50 degrees. The high winds swamped and/orbeached some 60 boats and sank 8 others (5 were house boats).
NPS staff, Coconino County Officers, Utah State Patrol Officers and Del Webbstaff, combined efforts to transport, feed and care for the numerousstranded Memorial Weekend visitors. Approximately 80 persons, unpreparedfor the cold conditions, were treated for minor cases of hypothermia.Several persons were hospitalized with more sever cases of hypothermia, 1with a broken back and a 3 year old after nearly drowning.
The change in weather conditions had been predicted 24 hours in advance, andthe subsequent warnings were largely ignored by the public.
July 5, 1988
88-128 - Glen Canyon - Fatality
Location: Lone Rock Beach
M.S.M., 27, of Page, Arizona, was killed when the boat he was apassenger in was struck broadside by another boat. The two boats wereracing and had reached approximately 75 mile per hour. M.S.M. was in a boatwhich was operated by J.S., 25, also of Page. Thinking that therace was over, J.S. turned to the left into the path of the secondboat, which hit him amidships. J.S. had not seen the second boat dueto the large "rooster tail" of spray sent up by his boat. A passenger inthe second boat sustained minor abrasions and lacerations. J.S. hadbeen drinking and a blood alcohol test was given; the results have not yetreturned. No charges have been filed at this time.
July 25, 1988
88-154 - Glen Canyon - Drowning
Location: Lees Ferry
R.L.W., 50, of Phoenix, Arizona, was fly fishing in the ColoradoRiver at Lees Ferry, on Sunday the 24th, when he fell into the river. R.L.W.was wearing chest waders which filled with water and he was swept downstream by the strong current. The park dive team recovered his body 150-200yards down stream later that same day.
Thursday, June 1, 1989
89-110 - Glen Canyon - Diving Fatality
On May 29th, T.N., 22, of Salt Lake City, was on a University of UtahKappa Sigma fraternity houseboat outing on Lake Powell 12 miles north ofBullfrog when he, his girlfriend and another couple decided to go divingfrom a nearby 70-foot cliff. T.N. was an experienced diver and swimmerwho had considerable experience diving from Lake Powell cliffs in the past.According to his girlfriend, however, T.N. over-rotated during his dive,struck the water improperly, and failed to surface. Although she could seehim underwater, she was unable to reach him because she had previouslyinjured herself in a dive. NPS divers responded to the scene and searchedthe lake, which is 240 feet deep at that point. They were unable to findhis body. An underwater television camera with hooking capability was to bebrought to the area by the K.C. Foundation, a non-profit organization, in aneffort to find T.N.. T.N.'s girlfriend was treated and released fromBullfrog clinic. Alcohol was a factor in the incident. (CompuServe messagefrom Larry Clark, CLCA, to RAD/WASO).
Monday, June 5, 1989
89-110 - Glen Canyon - Follow-up on Diving Fatality
On the afternoon of June 1st, divers found the body of T.N. locatedon a shelf 119 feet under the lake's surface after only 30 minutes ofsearching. The body was directly below the point where T.N. entered thewater after his dive from the 70-foot-high cliff above the lake on May 29th.The body was located by a Phantom 500 remote control submersible vehicleequipped with a video camera. The vehicle and divers were from the MaricopaCounty sheriff's office; the operation was funded by the K.C. JohnsonFoundation of Phoenix, which was established by the parents of a boy whodrowned in Lake Powell and who was recovered only after an extensive,week-long search. (John Benjamin, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO andRAD/RMRO).
Thursday, June 8, 1989
89-122 - Glen Canyon - Climbing Fatality
Just before noon on the 6th, B.A., 30, of Meridian, Idaho, left hisboat camp at Warm Creek near the lower end of Lake Powell to go jogging.When he failed to return by 2:30, his girlfriend reported him missing to thepark by marine band radio. An extensive land, water and air search wasconducted until the evening, then was called off due to darkness. AlthoughB.A. was not found, NPS rangers and a search dog from Utah Parks hadfollowed his tracks several miles up-canyon to a point where he had starteda climb up the rocks to the rim. Trackers were flown to the rim byhelicopter at first light on the 7th. They followed B.A.'s tracks forabout a mile along the rim. Ranger Bill Briggs, who served as searchleader, spotted the victim's body from the helicopter, which was scoutingahead of the trackers. B.A. had fallen about 200 feet to a talus slopebelow the cliff rim and had died on impact of massive head injuries. (JohnBenjamin, GLCA, via CompuServe to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
Wednesday, July 5, 1989
89-165 - Glen Canyon - Assault on Ranger
At approximately 10 p.m. on the 2nd, ranger Jon Crichfield was working LoneRock Beach when he heard loud voices and saw what appeared to be severalpersons holding a young man back from chasing another person. Crichfieldseparated the young man - later identified as 19-year-old L.H. ofSt. George, Utah - from the group. Although he appeared to be intoxicated,L.H. was initially calm and cooperative; within moments, though, hebecame violent, told Crichfield that he was going to kill him, and yankedCrichfield's service revolver from its holster. Crichfield regained controlof his weapon by grasping the cylinder of the revolver, pivoting to the sideand striking L.H.'s forearm with his fist. L.H. then fled down thebeach. Crichfield pursued him, knocked him down, then was able to controland restrain L.H. when L.H. again lunged at him. L.H. was placedunder arrest, and charges are now pending against him. It appears thatL.H. was able to gain control of the weapon by unintentionally releasingthe thumblatch on Crichfield's breakfront holster as he grabbed therevolver's stock. Tests of the Bianchi holster (model #2800, "The Judge")indicate that the weapon could not have been pulled free without priorrelease of the thumblatch. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe messageto RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
Thursday, July 13, 1989
89-182 - Glen Canyon - Near Drowning
On the evening of July 10th, four-year-old N.P. of Woods Cross,Utah, fell into Lake Powell from his grandfather's houseboat while the boatwas beached between Bullfrog Marina and Stanton Creek. N.P. waslocated on the bottom of the lake in about four feet of water. The familybegan CPR and transported him to Bullfrog Clinic, where life support wascontinued by rangers and personnel from Samaritan Health. AlthoughN.P. was in full cardiac arrest, his heart began beating on its ownwhile being transported to Page Hospital by helicopter. He was flown toPrimary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where he remainscomatose and in very critical condition. (Larry Clark, CR, BLCA, viaCompuServe message to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
Tuesday, July 18, 1989
89-182 - Glen Canyon - Follow up on Near Drowning
On the evening of July 10th, three-year-old N.P. fell into LakePowell from his grandfather's houseboat. Although he was located at thebottom of the lake in about four feet of water, life support was begun byrangers and personnel from Samaritan Health and the boy's heart beganbeating again while being transported to Children's Hospital in Salt LakeCity. On July 11th, N.P. died at the hospital. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA,via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
Tuesday, July 18, 1989
89-189 - Glen Canyon - Drowning
On the afternoon of the 14th, five-year-old N.R. of Alpine, Utah,drowned in Halls Creek Bay in Lake Powell. She and her family were guestson a private houseboat which was beached in a cove in the bay, which isabout five miles west of the ranger station at Bullfrog. She was last seenin a bedroom of the houseboat playing with another child. Rangers searchedfor her on land and in the water. Park divers were flown in from Wahweap,and they discovered her body in 20 feet of water near the houseboat. N.R.was the second child to drown from falling into Lake Powell from a beachedhouseboat in five days. Neither child was wearing a life jacket, andneither had immediate adult supervision (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, viaCompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
Tuesday, July 25, 1989
89-195 - Glen Canyon - MVA with Fatality
Shortly after noon on the 23rd, a Ford Bronco driven by M.S. ofCypress, California, failed to negotiate a curve on the Burr Trail sevenmiles west of the Bullfrog ranger station, crossed the on-coming trafficlane, left the gravel road and rammed a large sandstone outcropping.Although M.S. was uninjured and his wife G. and one passenger, D.D.,received minor injuries, 26-year-old M.E. of HuntingtonBeach, California, sustained severe head and neck injuries and died in PageHospital later that day. The S. family were wearing seatbelts, but D.D.and M.E. were not. Alcohol was involved. M.S. was arrested byGarfield County sheriff's officers and will be charged with vehicularhomicide. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe messages to RAD/RMRO andRAD/WASO).
Tuesday, August 15, 1989
89-224 - Glen Canyon - Aircraft Accident with Injuries
At approximately 2 p.m. on August 11th, T.R., 46, of Fremont,California, landed his 1988 Amphibian aircraft on the San Juan Arm of LakePowell and was taxiing at a high rate of speed when the nose of the aircraftcaught the water, flipping the plane over and breaking the fuselage open.T.R.'s daughter B., 20, of Loleta, California, was thrown clear andsuffered only a fractured ankle. The remaining passenger, T.M.,21, of Lafayette, California, was trapped momentarily in the aircraft as itsank, but was able to escape through the broken fuselage. He was uninjured.T.R. sustained fractures to one leg and to both ankles, but wasable to escape the plane on his own. The aircraft sank in approximately 200feet of water. The NTSB and FAA are investigating. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA,via CompuServe messages to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
Tuesday, August 15, 1989
89-225 - Glen Canyon - Aircraft Accident with Two Fatalities
Just before noon on August 12th, an as yet unidentified pilot attempted toland his Piper Cherokee on the airstrip at Bullfrog. The plane went off therunway, and subsequent investigation indicates that he then attempted tobecome airborne again. The plane flew approximately a quarter of a milebefore the left wing struck the pavement of Utah State Route 276 and thecraft landed on its belly. A fire broke out in the left wing and quicklyspread to the cabin and right wing. The pilot and his female companion wereunable to escape the fire and were killed. Identification of the occupantsis being done by the Utah state medical examiner. The FAA and NTSB areinvestigating the accident, which was witnessed by passing motorists.(Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe messages to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
Tuesday, October 31, 1989
89-195 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Follow-up on Accident with Fatality
Shortly after noon on July 23rd, a Ford Bronco driven by M.S. ofCypress, California, failed to negotiate a curve on the Burr Trail sevenmiles west of the Bullfrog ranger station, crossed the on-coming trafficlane, left the gravel road and rammed a large sandstone outcropping. Two ofhis passengers received minor injuries, but the third, 26-year-old M.E.,was killed. On October 27th, the 6th Circuit Court bound M.S.over to stand trial on charges of automobile homicide. District Courtarraignment on accusations of auto homicide and misdemeanor charges ofmarijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia was set forDecember 7th. The complaint alleged that Sterger had a blood alcohol levelabove the legal limit of .08 percent and was "incapable of safely operatingthe vehicle and caused the death of (Eckroth)." (UPI report, 10/27).
Monday, December 11, 1989
89-349 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Concession Employee Shot
On December 7th, park rangers received a report that an ARA concessionemployee had been found in his apartment at the Bullfrog Marina with anapparent gunshot wound to the head. The victim, D.A., 34, wasstabilized by park EMS personnel and flown to a hospital in Grand Junction,Colorado, where he is listed in serious condition. He is expected torecover from the shooting. Rangers and Kane County Sheriff's deputies areinvestigating the incident. (Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, via CompuServemessage to RAD/WASO).
Wednesday, December 13, 1989
89-349 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Follow-up on Shooting
The shooting of concession employee D.A. at Bullfrog Marina is nowbeing treated as an attempted suicide. D.A. is in stable condition andexpected to live, but is suffering some memory loss, vision problems andloss of some motor control. (Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, via CompuServemessage to RAD/WASO).
Thursday, December 28, 1989
89-165 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Follow-up on Assault on Ranger
On July 2nd, 19-year-old Larry E.H. of St. George, Utah, wasarrested after assaulting ranger John Crichfield at Lone Rock Beach.Heywood had attacked Crichfield without warning, told Crichfield that he wasgoing to kill him, and attempted to remove Crichfield's service revolverfrom his holster. Although E.H. grabbed the weapon and partially removedit from its holster, Crichfield was able to retain control, then pursue,subdue and arrest him. E.H., who had. been released from a Utah stateprison only a week earlier, was indicted, for assault on a federal officerwith a deadly weapon and incarcerated pending trial. On November 1st,E.H. was convicted of the lesser felony charge of interfering with afederal officer. He was sentenced to only five months in prison, withcredit for the five months already served. E.H. will probably spendanother 18 months in state prison for parole violations, however. (RandyAugust, LES, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO, 2 p.m. EST, 12/27).
Monday, April 23, 1990
90-69 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - Fatality
J.F., 72, was on a dinner cruise on the "Canyon King" in Wahweap onApril 12th when his airway became blocked while eating. No one with himknew the Heimlich maneuver, so no action was taken except to call forassistance. Rangers arrived within nine minutes. Since an EMS course wasbeing conducted at Wahweap at the time, several EMT's and paramedicsresponded. They removed the food, intubated J.F. and got some initialresponse. He was taken to the Page Hospital and put on life support. Onthe 19th, the life support was disconnected, as J.F. displayed no brainactivity. (Telephone report from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 11:30 a.m. EDT,4/20/90).
Monday, April 23, 1990
90-70 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - Serious Injury
On April 19th, 17-year-old N.T. of Nagasaki, Japan, was visitingOak Canyon with the family she was living with in Show lew, Arizona. Shemounted a jet ski on the beach, and started out onto the water. At thispoint, the canyon is about 30 yards wide, with the beach on one side and arock cliff on the other side. N.T. accelerated to between 20 and 25 mphand ran straight into the canyon wall without slowing or turning. Shesuffered a massive skull fracture, a T2 expression fracture, and numerousbroken ribs. The park's amphibious aircraft transported her to anambulance, which took her to the hospital in Page; she was then medevaced toa hospital in Phoenix. N.T. is currently in the ICU there and is listedin very critical condition. (Telephone report from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO,11:30 a.m. EDT, 4/20/90).
Wednesday, May 2, 1990
90-86 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - Indictments
On July 19, 1989, rangers served a search warrant on the residence of R.and M.S. of St. George, Utah. The pair were suspected of conductingan unlicensed commercial operation for houseboats in the park, andinformation obtained during the subsequent investigation indicated that thetwo had been involved in burglaries in the Wahweap area. On December 9,1989, rangers and sheriff's deputies recovered over $5,000 in stolenproperty at their place of business in Hurricane, Utah. Furtherinvestigation resulted in recent state grand jury indictments of fivepersons on 19 counts of felony burglary and theft. Additional indictmentsare pending. The group has been tied to thefts within the park dating backto 1987. Some of the stolen property was used to support the illegalhouseboat rental operation. (CompuServe message from L.D. Clark, CR, GLCA,3 p.m. EDT, 4/27/90).
Friday, May 4, 1990
90-90 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - ARPA Violation
On the 28th, a backcountry patrol ranger discovered that a significantarcheological site on the Escalante river had been looted. The remote andvirtually inaccessible alcove site was discovered and its visible contentsdocumented in May of 1987. Because the site was pristine and difficult toreach, the artifacts were left in place pending proper excavation. Thepatrol ranger was the first NPS person to return to the site since thattime. Looters removed a large, intact corrugated Anasazi storage jar. Thevalue of the pot has not been determined, but it is presumed that it hashigh value on the black market. There are no suspects. The Escalantesubdistrict, located in southern Utah, has a large number of archeologicalsites, many of which have been disturbed by pot hunters. (CompuServemessage to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4:30 p.m. EDT,5/3/90).
Friday, June 22, 1990
90-152 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Assault and Molestation
During the early morning hours of June 21st, a ten-year-old girl and herfive-year-old brother were sleeping in a van at Lone Rock Beach with severalfemale adults when 20-year-old N.B.W., an employee of ARALeisure Services, a park concessioner, reached in through the van's opensliding door and fondled both children. The boy's screams awakened hismother. N.B.W. fled on foot after dropping his keys while attempting tounlock his pickup truck. A male member of the party chased N.B.W. andcaught up with him; N.B.W. subsequently stabbed him in the left upper armwith a screwdriver. N.B.W. then walked five miles along the lake shore toWahweap Marina, where he caught a ride back to Lone Rock and was arrestedwhile trying to get his pickup. N.B.W. will be prosecuted through the Utahstate court system. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe message toRAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO, 6/21).
Monday, July 2, 1990
90-166 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - Rescue
A climbing group comprised of people from Flagstaff and Phoenix was climbingin the Marble Gorge area of Grand Canyon on the 22nd when three men in thegroup became stranded on ledges - two on an outcropping 300 feet below thecanyon rim, the third on another ledge 75 feet below the rim. A fourthmember of the group on the rim began suffering from heat exhaustion in the113 degree heat. Two other men drove ten miles by dirt road to lee's Ferryin Glen Canyon to seek assistance; during the trip, they flattened all fourtires on their vehicle and arrived driving on the rims. A joint rescue teamcomprised of 13 personnel from Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon rescued theclimbers and brought them out. Two days later, four members of the groupwere heading back home in a small pickup when they struck and killed a horseon State Route 89A near Bittersprings. The only injury was to one of thetwo persons asleep in the bed of the truck. He suffered minor neck and backcompression injuries when he rammed his head into the bed of the truck.Glen Canyon park medics transported him to Page, Arizona, where he wastreated and released. The pickup was totalled. (Telefaxed report fromLarry Clark, CR, GLCA).
Friday, July 6, 1990
90-179 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On July 4th, J.H., 27, of Shonto, Arizona, drowned while swimming near the Wahweap picnic area. J.H. raced a friend to a buoy about 75 yards off shore; on the return swim, he began having trouble about 15 yards from shore. J.H.'s friend swam to his assistance, but was unable to keep a grip on J.H. as he struggled to stay afloat. NPS divers recovered the body within the hour. CPR was attempted, and J.H. was flown by helicopter to Page, where he was pronounced dead. Alcohol was involved. (Telefaxed report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/5).
Friday, July 6, 1990
90-180 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Sinking of NPS Vessel
At about 2 p.m. on June 28th, A.T. was piloting a park maintenance boat from Dangling Rope to Wahweap when the boat ran into large wakes caused by tour boats near mile marker 19. The vessel, a 28-foot Monarch boat which is shaped like a landing barge, was heavily laden with cargo and began taking water over the port bow. The unlashed cargo of air compressors and pipe shifted and the boat rolled over. A.T. was wearing a PFD and was able to escape from the craft without injury. A visitor picked her up from the water. NPS crews recovered the vessel, but the cargo, which was being brought down for a survey, was lost in about 300 feet of water. The estimated value of the lost equipment is $2,000. (Telefaxed report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/5).
Friday, August 10, 1990
90-250 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on Ranger
Just before midnight on July 31st, ranger Steve Luckesen responded to adomestic dispute at the concession trailer village at Hall's CrossingMarina. While attempting to arrest C.O., a 22-year-old fromMexican Hat, Utah, Luckesen was knocked off the trailer porch. Before hecould regain his feet, C.O. kicked him in the face, breaking his nose,crushing a sinus, and lacerating his face. Luckesen was able to control andarrest C.O. without use of his defensive equipment, however. C.O. wastransported to Salt Lake City, where he is awaiting trial after beingindicted by a grand jury. Luckesen is recuperating and has suffered noapparent permanent injury. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA).
Friday, August 10, 1990
90-251 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on Federal Witness
Late on the evening of July 29th, R.F., an ARA concession employeefrom Grand Junction who worked at Hall's Crossing, assaulted C.T.,another concession employee. The assault was planned and carried out withthe support of fellow employee A.L. of Las Vegas, Nevada, andcame about because C.T. was providing information about a third employeewhich resulted in the filing of Federal vandalism charges and the subsequentfiring of that employee. C.T. was severely beaten before a watchingaudience. He lost several days' work, but will recover completely. R.F.and A.L. were arrested and transported to Salt lake City for trial.(CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA).
Thursday, August 30, 1990
90-288 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Propane Barge Fire
At about 4 p.m. on the 26th, an ARA Leisure Services employee was fillingsmall portable propane tanks on a 24-foot pontoon barge at the BullfrogMarina Complex when a fire broke out. The fire was contained after an hour-long effort by six NPS and four ARA employees using a park fire truck and anARA fire boat. The pontoon barge, motor, electric welder and approximately40 propane tanks were lost in the fire; the total estimated loss is placedat about $20,000. A bulk propane truck which was near the barge during thefilling operation was not damaged. There were no injuries. The fire wasprobably caused by venting propane settling around the electric welder,which was being used as a generator to power the bulk truck's propane pump.(CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/29).
Wednesday, September 5, 1990
90-297 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on Ranger
At about 2 a.m. on September 3rd, ranger Keith Lober made a routine check ona man sitting in the driver's seat of a Ford Bronco at Lone Rock with anopen container of beer on the dashboard. The man, later identified asS.W., 27, of Big Water, Utah, appeared intoxicated; he wasuncooperative, but not aggressive. Lober immediately called for backup,then walked around the Bronco to the driver's door. As he did so, thedriver appeared to stuff something into the waistline of his pants. Loberused a control hold to remove Watson from the vehicle. As he attempted tofrisk him, S.W. spun around and attacked Lober. Lober was wearing bodyarmor, which protected him from repeated blows from S.W.'s fists, butS.W. also kneed and attempted to choke Lober. Lober estimates that thestruggle may have lasted as long as five minutes before Watson broke freeand escaped. During the struggle, Lober yelled to two bystanders and askedthem to use his vehicle radio to call for help; both fled the area withoutoffering any assistance. Several other agencies responded to assist in thesearch for Lober's assailant, who was then identified as S.W.. It waslearned that S.W. had a history of both drug use and assaults. A searchof his vehicle yielded a knife and club under the driver's seat and apartial box of 9 mm ammunition on the passenger seat. No firearm wasrecovered. At 8 p.m., S.W. surrendered through his attorney to rangers.He is currently in custody and charged with 18 USC 111, assault on a federalofficer. He is to appear before a grand jury today. (CompuServe messagefrom R.L. August, LES, GLCA, 9/4).
Tuesday, October 2, 1990
90-347 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Assault on Ranger
Late on the night of September 25th, ranger Dan Madrid arrested ARA LeisureServices employee J.D. for disorderly conduct and violation ofpatrol at his trailer home in Wahweap. While escorting J.D. through thedoorway of the trailer, J.D., who was handcuffed, struck Madrid in thechest with a martial arts kick. Madrid fell backwards several feet, but wasuninjured because the kick struck him directly over the metal trauma platein his bullet proof vest. J.D., who had a history of violence and hadbeen drinking, is being held in jail by the Arizona State ProbationDepartment. Federal assault charges are pending. This is the third assaulton a ranger at Glen Canyon this year. Indictments have been returned in thefirst two incidents, and trials have been scheduled. (CompuServe reportfrom Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1).
Tuesday, October 2, 1990
90-349 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boating Accidents; Minor Fuel Spill
A privately-owned, 52-foot houseboat sheared off the end of the gas dock atBullfrog on the evening of September 22nd. One gas pump was knocked off itspedestal, but the automatic shut-off valve functioned properly and onlyeight to ten gallons of gas were spilled into Lake Powell. A quick andefficient response by ARA Leisure Services concession employees confined thespill, and it was cleaned up in short order. While Chevron employees wererepairing the damaged pump the following day, however, another houseboat hitthe end of the same dock and stuck another pump. That pump broke loose, butthe plumbing remained intact and no fuel escaped. Alcohol was not involvedin either accident, and no citations were issued. A similar incident whichoccurred at Wahweap Marina on August 24th resulted in a fire and the arrestof M.W. of Los Angeles for reckless boat operation. (CompuServereport from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1).
Tuesday, October 9, 1990
90-357 - Glen Canyon NRA (Arizona-Utah) - Trailer Fire
In midmorning on Oct. 3, a fire was reported in trailer 75 at WahweapTrailer Village. The ARA Leisure Services owned 1971 64 foot Vintage brandmobil home was occupied by the Laura Gishic family. A 12 year old girl andthree small children were at home watching television when the firestarted. Flames were seen in the curtains behind the tv and the childrenfled the trailer. ARA, NPS and Page City Fire Departments responded to thecall. The fire was rapidly extinguished with no injuries. Investigationof the fire was conducted by the Arizona State Fire Marshals Office and NPSRangers. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in natureand the origin was identified as being in the vicinity of the T.V. It wasnoted that the trailer had aluminum and copper wire mated in violationof State Electrical Codes. There were two electric circuits which were15amp but had 20amp fuses installed. The trailer damage was estimated at$15,000.00, loss of personal property was $3000.00 and a nearby carsustained $600.00 paint damage. (CompuServe from Larry D. Clark, C. R.)
Monday, October 15, 1990
90-362 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Concession Boating Accident
Shortly after dark on October 5th, an 18-foot runabout owned by ARA LeisureServices struck the lighted breakwater at the Bullfrog Marina. Theoperator, J.H., and his passengers, J.D. and R.W.,all employees of ARA, sustained head and chest injuries. Parkmedics and several doctors who were attending a Dive Alert Network (DAN)seminar extricated the victims and brought them to the Bullfrog Clinic byNPS boat and ambulance. A St. Mary's Air Life helicopter then transportedthem to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, while waiting for thehelicopter, J.W. became unstable, and ceased breathing on severaloccasions. Additional IV therapy corrected the problem. Alcohol was acontributing factor in the accident. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark,CR, GLCA, 10/11).
Wednesday, October 24, 1990
90-382 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Arrests
On October 17th, rangers and Coconino County deputies arrested K.G.,24, a seasonal maintenance worker, and R.F., 32, a MarbleCanyon Lodge employee, for an alleged sexual assault on a 30-year-old womanat Lees Ferry in September. Both men are being held in the Coconino Countyjail without bail pending additional charges by state authorities.(CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/23).
Thursday, November 8, 1990
90-407 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Bomb Threat
Shortly before noon on November 7th, a female operator at the ARA LeisureServices reservation desk in Phoenix, Arizona, received a sexually harassingphone call from a man who she believed was at ARA's Wahweap lodge and marinacomplex in Glen Canyon. During the call, the man said that he had a "blackbox with a button on it" and that he intended to use it. The onlydescription she was able to give was that the man was middle-aged and had asouthern accent. Park rangers and Coconino County deputies immediatelybegan a search of the complex. Within an hour, they had contacted asuspicious man with a southern accent, who was found to be E.L.B.,32, of Phoenix. When checking on E.L.B., rangers foundthat he had a history of larcenies and an outstanding felony warrant againsthim for failure to appear in court on charges of passing bad checks. Whenquestioned, E.L.B. began to give the description and location of histruck, then stopped after stating only that it was a half-ton Chevy pickup.He refused to say anything more. The vehicle has not yet been located.There's no proof that E.L.B. was the caller, however, and no othercalls have since been received. Nor has any explosive device been found.The investigation continues. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR,GIGA, 11/8).
Friday, November 30, 1990
90-347 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up to Assault on Ranger
Late on the night of September 25th, ranger Dan Madrid was assaulted whilearresting ARA Leisure Services employee J.D. for disorderly conductand violation of probation. During the arrest, J.D. kicked Madrid inthe chest, but Madrid was wearing body armor with a shock-trauma plate inplace and was not injured. J.D. served 30 days in jail; his probationwas terminated upon agreement with the Arizona State Probation Departmentthat he not return to Arizona for five years. A standing five-year warranthas been issued for his arrest if he returns to the state during that time.(CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/30).
Wednesday, January 16, 1991
91-12 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Sinking of NPS Vessel
At about 7:30 a.m. on the 15th, park staff discovered that an NPS-owned, 56-foot-long, 1944 military landing craft used to transport diesel fuel had sunk at the dock at Dangling Rope. On the 14th, the vessel had been piloted from Wahweap to the remote Dangling Rope marina, which is not accessible by road. The crew left the vessel tied to the dock for the night, and intended to pump the 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board into shoreside tanks on the 15th. Some time during the night, the vessel sank, and the 5,000 gallon diesel tank with the fuel on board, which had been sitting loose on the deck, floated free and out into the harbor. No fuel was lost from the tank, but a small quantity of diesel fuel escaped from the boats tanks. ARA Leisure Service and NPS crews are currently attempting to salvage the tank and vessel. Park rangers are investigating the incident. [CompuServe message from GLCA, 1/15]
Monday, January 28, 1991
MIDDLE EAST INCIDENT UPDATE
The following information was excerpted from reports which were submitted by J.J. McLaughlin (RAD/MWRO) and Jim Reilly (RAD/RMRO). Our policy is and will be to provide you with general information on Middle East-related activities in the parks, but to exclude any confidential details from reports received from the field.
* Glen Canyon has increased security at the airport and dam.
Please advise us through your regional offices of all threats received, permits issued for demonstrations, and demonstrations or incidents that occur which are related to the war in the Gulf. Reports should be submitted as soon as possible; there is a high degree of interest in such activities in the Department and among other governmental agencies. Call Major Schamp at FTS 268-4209 (202-208-4209).
Monday, February 4, 1991
91-36 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Sexual Assault
Shortly before midnight on January 25th, J.G., 24, of Mexican Hat, Utah, was arrested for residential burglary and forcible sexual assault by the ranger at Hall's Crossing. J.G., an employee of ARA Leisure Services, the park concessioner, had been at a fellow employee's company-owned trailer listening to music. Two girls from Cortez, Colorado, ages 16 and 18, were visiting; after J.G. left, the 16-year-old retired to a back bedroom. Approximately ten minutes later, J.G. entered the house through the back door, went into her room, and attempted to assault her. She was able to get free, however, and ran into the living room, calling for help. J.G. ran from the trailer to his residence, where he was later arrested. Alcohol was involved. During the trip to the jail, J.G. made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide. Prosecution will be by San Juan County, Utah. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/1]
Thursday, February 14, 1991
91-47 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Assault on Ranger
Shortly before midnight on February 10th, rangers Keith Lober and Ariel Leonard responded to a medical at the residence of C. and K.W. in the trailer village at Wahweap. Lober is a paramedic; Leonard is an IEMT. K.W., 37, had complained of chest pains, but became agitated when the rangers arrived. A family bout ensued, and she refused examination or transportation to a hospital. When she was prevented from leaving the trailer, K.W. went to a couch, pulled out an eight-inch butcher knife which she had hidden there, and made a deliberate stab at Lober, inflicting a superficial laceration on the middle finger of his left hand. Lober stepped back, drew his service revolver, and ordered her to drop the knife. While K.W.'s attention was focused on Lober, C.W. was able to rush her from the side and disarm her. During handcuffing, Leonard sustained a minor laceration to her hand which was probably caused by K.W.'s fingernails. K.W. was taken to the Page Hospital, where she refused treatment, and was then transported 120 miles to the Coconino County jail in Flagstaff. The incident is under joint investigation by the county sheriff's department and the park. K.W. has been formally charged with two counts of aggravated assault, a class III felony carrying a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $150,000. C.W. is a concession employee. Alcohol was involved. Lober was wearing a protective vest. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/13]
Tuesday, February 26, 1991
91-58 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Burglary Arrest
The marina store at Hite was burglarized late on the evening of February 15th; about $165 worth of merchandise, including beer, sunglasses and key chains, was taken. Entry to the concession-operated store was gained by breaking out a window. The building had no alarm system. On the morning of the 17th, the subdistrict ranger at Hite located several items taken from the store and identified three suspects in a local campground. Since Hite is a remote, one-man station, a ranger was flown in from Halls Crossing by park aircraft to assist in the case. At noon, the rangers arrested T.D., 29, and D.K., 23, both of Price, Utah, for forcible entry and burglary. T.O., 29, also of Price, was cited for possession of stolen property and released. T.D. and D.K. were transported to the San Juan county jail in Monticello, where they were turned over to sheriff's deputies for state prosecution. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/21]
Tuesday, February 26, 1991
91-59 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Suicide
At about 8:30 a.m. on the 18th, L.S., 92, of Hall's Crossing, Utah, committed suicide with a handgun in his trailer residence. L.S., a retired Colorado rancher, had been employed by the park concessioner from 1978 to 1986. He had been in poor health during the past year, and had a living will on file with local park medics. The park's medical control was contacted and a decision was made not to make any efforts at resuscitation. No note was found. [CompuServe message fromLarry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/21]
Tuesday, April 16, 1991
91-111 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Search and Rescue
Around 9:00 p.m. on the evening of the 12th, rangers received word that a park visitor in Jackass Creek in Grand Canyon was suffering from severe seizures from an unknown cause. Because of the remote location, rangers responded by motorboat down the Colorado River. The victim, R.F., 42, of Flagstaff, was treated at the scene by ranger medics and transported back to Lee's Ferry. He was then air evacuated to Flagstaff at 3:30 a.m. by an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter. The rescue required two night runs of three sets of rapids. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/15]
Wednesday, April 24, 1991
91-126 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Fuel Spill
During the night of April 16th, high winds blew the Wahweap concession's marina fuel dock against the shore, thereby causing a flexible diesel fuel hose to begin leaking. The spill, estimated at a minimum of 100 gallons, was discovered at 7:00 am on the following morning. Approximately 35 park and ARA Leisure Services employees responded and deployed containment booms and absorbent pads. An Arizona Department of Environmental Quality hazardous materials specialist was dispatched from Phoenix to provide technical assistance. Because of continuing gusty winds of up to 40 mph, volatiles were released and fuel escaped into the water table and outside the containment area. A new chemical known as Bio-Safe was prescribed and 20 gallons of the material were shipped by air to the scene. Application was complete by 10:00 pm. This was the first use of this material in Arizona, which had only recently approved its use in the state. The chemical is designed to cause molecular structure change to the fuel, which then sinks to the bottom where algae begin digesting it. The chemical appears to have worked well. Local wildlife and fish appear to be minimally affected at this time. Cleanup was completed 29 hours after discovery of the spill. [CompuServe message from Larry D. Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/22]
Thursday, April 25, 1991
91-128 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Larceny/Assault
On the afternoon of April 19th, employees of the Hite Store saw O.K., 73, of Dove Creek, Colorado, place a piece of frozen meat under his coveralls. When confronted by marina manager Joe Swank outside the store, O.K. pulled the frozen meat from inside his clothing and struck Swank on the head with it. O.K. then attempted to strike Swank and another employee with his fists while shouting threats and profanities. Swank left the store area for his camper trailer parked in the local NPS campground. Two rangers from Bullfrog drove 76 miles to the scene, a third ranger was flown to the area by the park plane, and two San Juan County deputy sheriffs drove 180 miles from Monticello, Utah. O.K. was approached by the team just before dark. While being interviewed, he swung at a deputy but missed him. O.K. was arrested and is being charged with two counts of assault and one count of larceny. Alcohol was involved. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/22]
Wednesday, May 29, 1991
91-174 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Memorial Day Weekend Incidents
As in the past, Memorial Day weekend at Glen Canyon was a rowdy and somewhat riotous affair. Although holiday travel was almost the same as last year, the weather was better. Low lake levels were not a major influence on visitor protection activities. Late seasonal registers resulted in rangers coming on in May rather than in March or April, so some positions were still vacant during the weekend and the seasonal staff finished training only the day before the holiday began. The park was therefore forced to rely heavily on returning seasonals in order to give new rangers onthejob training. The combined federal, state and county shifts at Bullfrog, for instance, were down from 20 officers and rangers in 1990 to seven this year, with 12-hour shifts often extending to 18 hours per day. Initial tallies indicate that the park handled 329 incidents, including 19 drug cases, 15 drunk driving and two drunk boating cases, 38 incidents of minors in possession of controlled substances, 11 incidents of disorderly conduct, seven larcenies, one actual and three attempted rapes, six boating and two motor vehicle accidents, eight basic life support (not including "bandaid" cases) and ten advanced life support incidents, and one death from natural causes. There were four instances of persons being so intoxicated on alcohol or drugs that they became unconscious and required medical instance up to and including CPR for one woman whose heart stopped. The park issued 140 nonparking citations, and made 51 arrests. Rangers also responded to an accident which occurred 45 miles outside the park involving a party of people heading home after leaving Glen Canyon; the accident killed at least one person and left eight people with injuries serious enough to warrant advanced life support. The weekend was typified by a major accident at Wahweap in which a British visitor made a turn on the wrong side of the road and was struck by a German driver; the first persons on the scene were Australian. The park extends its thanks to Tony Schetzsle and the staff at Canyonlands for their assistance in providing two rangers to help out at Bullfrog. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/28]
Monday, June 10, 1991
91-204 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Fuel Leak
ARA Leisure Services employees noticed a shortage of unleaded gasoline at the Halls Crossing Marina on June 6th and subsequently discovered that a buried fiberglass fuel line had been leaking through an old patch. The tank, which had been installed in 1980, had a service line with a quarter-inch-wide hole located about 20 feet above the high water line. The hole had been patched with several radiator hose clamps and a section of radiator hose. The age of the patch job and date of the original damage are unknown. It's estimated that about 3,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline have leaked into the surrounding soil. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA,6/7].
Tuesday, June 25, 1991
91-237 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on FBI Agent
An off-duty FBI agent who was camping at Antelope Point was assaulted by four intoxicated men on the evening of June 22nd. The incident stemmed from a fight in the campground which involved several people and extended over several campsites. The violence of the brawl frightened many campers and caused them to leave the area. At one point, the four men caught a fifth and began beating him; when he pleaded for help, the agent attempted to intercede. The assailants then turned on the agent and attacked him with rocks and a broken tent pole, which was used as a spear. The agent, who had identified himself at the outset of the confrontation, was forced to draw his weapon to stop the attack and to back the assailants away from his campsite. A call for help was subsequently made on a marine band radio, and rangers arrived at the scene and arrested all four men. The agent was not injured in the incident. Felony charges are pending. [Telefax from GLCA, 6/24]
Thursday, June 27, 1991
91-242 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Serious Injury; Successful EMS Response
J.B., 11, of Salt Lake City, was assisting his father on their houseboat on the afternoon of the 25th when the rope he was holding to a tagalong boat got tangled around his wrist. Severe stress on the taut rope resulted in a 95% amputation of J.B.'s right hand. Hall's Crossing rangermedic J.D. Swed responded to the scene, began IVs, correctly rearticulated the hand, and packed it in ice for transport. J.B. was airlifted by helicopter to Hanksville, Utah, then transferred to a fixed-wing aircraft for a flight to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where reconstructive surgery was performed. Twenty hours after the incident, J.B. had good circulation in his hand and prospects for recovery are reported to be good. The family expressed thanks and admiration to the NPS medic team involved in the incident. [Telefax from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 6/26]
Thursday, June 27, 1991
91-245 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Arrest of Homicide Suspect
On June 20th, ranger Ernie Soper of Lake Mead and two detectives from the sheriff's office in Mohave County, Arizona, arrived in the park and asked for assistance in locating a homicide suspect who they believed was working for the park concessioner. The homicide had occurred in mid-May along the Colorado River near the town of Fort Mohave. The suspect, 19-year-old J.S., was described as a psychopath who had been in and out of mental institutions and was considered to be extremely dangerous. J.S. was reported to be carrying a .45 automatic and had made statements that he would not be taken alive. J.S. had eluded law enforcement authorities in Palm Springs, California, and had been tracked to the Page/Wahweap area. Glen Canyon ranger Dan Madrid was assigned to assist the investigation team along with local police and sheriff's deputies. As leads developed, eight additional rangers were called in to assist with surveillance of beach areas within the park. The team eventually learned that J.S. was at a residence in Page; as the surveillance team was setting up operations at the house, J.S. was spotted sitting on the sidewalk of a shopping mall. Madrid and a Mohave County officer made a surprise felony arrest without incident. J.S. was not armed at the time of his arrest. It was later learned that he was not a concession employee. [Telefax from Phil Hibbs, Acting CR, GLCA, 6/24]
Tuesday, July 16, 1991
91-293 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Fourth of July Weekend Summary
As a result of good weather, crowds in the park were larger than any in the previous four to five years. The recently expanded parking lots were filled to overflowing, and beach areas were lined with boats. There were 263 incidents requiring ranger intervention, including ten serious boat accidents, five motor vehicle accidents, one boat fire, two search and rescue operations and 31 EMS runs. One 21-year-old male nearly drowned near Antelope Point, but he was pulled from the water and saved via CPR conducted by visitors and rangers Jack Gossett and Andy Baxter. The victim regained consciousness in a local hospital and is expected to recover fully. Other incidents included an attempted rape, an assault with a firearm, two larcenies, nine incidents of disorderly conduct, three incidents of vehicle tampering, and three weapons violations. Rangers issued 133 violation notices and arrested 14 persons. The arrests were for driving under the influence (three), boating under the influence (one), violation of alcohol laws (five), disorderly conduct (two), larceny (one), and outstanding felony warrants (two). [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/9]
Wednesday, July 31, 1991
91-355 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - ARPA Case
When park archeologist Chris Kincaid visited Three Roof Ruin in the Escalante River arm of Lake Powell on July 11th, he discovered that a total of six wall and ceiling support beams from two different structures had been forcibly removed and burned as fuel in a campfire adjacent to the ruins. Both buildings were constructed by the Anasazi and date from the 11th or 12th centuries. They are accessible by boat, and are popular attractions for tens of thousands of annual visitors. The park announced a $499 award for information on the vandalism during an on-site news report by KTVX, a Salt Lake City television station. Since the airing of the story on the 26th, private citizens, the Page, Arizona, Rotary Club and a local business have added more money to the reward, bringing the total to $1,400. Bullfrog rangers are conducting the investigation and are following up on leads. [CompuServe message from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 7/30]
Monday, August 12, 1991
91-385 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Rescue
On August 11th, W.H., 38, of Phoenix, Arizona, scrambled and free climbed to a point several hundred feet above a sandy beach area in the left fork of Kane Wash Canyon in Padre Bay, but was unable to get down. A helicopter from Page, Arizona, transported rangers Pete Dalton and Bern Huffman to the landing site nearest to W.H., a thin rock finger which extends out from Sit Down Bench. The rangers rappeled approximately 300 feet down to W.H.'s location, then lowered W.H. 150 feet in two stages on a buddy rappel. Rangers subsequently learned that W.H. had no rock climbing training or experience. [CompuServe message from P.D. Hibbs, GLCA, 8/11]
Wednesday, August 14, 1991
91-397 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Pipe Bomb
A six-inch-long pipe bomb was found by a camper in Lone Rock Canyon on August 7th. The camper was looking for firewood when he came upon the device. Rangers secured the area in shifts and the incident was reported to ATF and the Army EOD unit at Fort Douglas, Utah. EOD personnel arrived the following day and examined the bomb with a portable xray device. They found that it was filled with either black powder or gun powder. Although it was inert because it had been soaked in lake water, no rust was evident on the bomb's steel shell. It had a hobby store type fuse inserted through a sealed drill hole in the side of the pipe. [CompuServe message from Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 8/10]
Thursday, August 15, 1991
91-403 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Search and Rescue
Eight members of the B. family of Loma Linda, California, were reported overdue from a day hike in White Canyon early this week. Around midnight on the evening following the report, ranger Kerry Haut and VIP Deanne Haut from Hite Subdistrict located the family in The Black Hole - a narrow section of the canyon which is five feet wide and approximately 200 feet deep. The group was comprised of A.B., Junior, 63, his 41-year old son, A.B., III, and six children ranging in age from nine to 17 years old. All were dressed in swim clothes, since the hike requires swimming long pools of cold water. The Hauts could only communicate with the group by yelling down into the canyon. The B.s refused rescue and said that they would instead spend the night in the canyon. Early the next morning, however, a flash flood occurred in the area before the party had returned. Haut returned to the canyon and found the family members clinging to rocks in the canyon. The elder B. was sitting on a rock with water up to his chest, holding on to his nine-year-old grandson. B. said that they had almost been swept away several times, and that he had held on to his grandson's swim trunks to keep the water from pulling him downstream. The remainder of the party was out of sight, but was found clinging to another rock. Each group thought the other had been lost. A multi-agency rescue, with Haut as incident commander, was immediately begun, as the weather forecast called for more thunderstorms and flash floods in the area. Technical climbers rescued all members of the family by 7:30 pm, just as rain began falling again. The rescue attracted wide regional media attention, which resulted in numerous calls about the welfare of both the B.s and other campers in the area. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/14]
Tuesday, August 20, 1991
91-417 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Body Found
Two young boys found the remains of a man in the slick rock area between the Page airport and the point where Antelope Canyon joins the channel of the Colorado River. The body, clad only in jeans and socks, had been there for some time. There were no identifying items, but the victim appears to have been an American Indian male between 25 and 35 years of age. Ranger and Coconino County sheriff's officers are investigating. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/16]
Tuesday, September 3, 1991
91-417 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Followup on Discovery of Body
The body discovered near the juncture of Antelope Canyon and the channel of the Colorado River on August 15th has been identified as that of 23-year-old V.J.O. of Tonalea, Arizona. V.J.O. had a history of epileptic seizures and was last seen by his family about two months before his remains were found. Foul play is not suspected. [CompuServe message from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 8/29]
Thursday, September 12, 1991
91-479 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Oil Spill
A high-pressure fuel line providing unleaded gas from the concessioner's storage tanks to marine pumps at Hall's Crossing burst on September 10th, spilling approximately 450 gallons of fuel. It appears that about half of the amount seeped into the soil and half went into the lake. As of yesterday, the gas on the lake's surface was confined to an inlet by 10 to 12 knot winds. Absorbent booms have been employed to enclose the spill, and concessionerfunded cleanup efforts are underway. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via phone report from Dick Powell, RAD/RMRO, 9/10]
Monday, September 16, 1991
91-482 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Flood Damage
A strong low pressure area centered over northern Arizona on September 6th produced extremely heavy rains over a wide area and caused some damage to the park. Roads were blocked by mud flows and flood waters in and around Lees Ferry and Page, and a flash flood in Bridge Canyon near Rainbow Bridge blocked a section of the path from the floating walkway to the bridge and damaged the walkway. Visitors were barred from the area for several hours. A full damage assessment will be made over the next few days. The trail was reopened on September 7th. [CompuServe message from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 9/14]
Monday, September 16, 1991
91-483 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Trailer Fire
Shortly before midnight on September 5th, a mobile home at Bullfrog owned by ARA, the park concessioner, caught fire. The sole occupant, 34-year-old C.C., was aroused from sleep on the front room couch by ARA employees. After several attempts, C.C. was finally able to exit the burning trailer through the front door. He was taken to the University of Utah burn center, where he is in serious condition with first and second degree burns on 30% of his body and third degree burns on his head and feet. C.C. is also suffering from severe respiratory problems from inhaling hot gases. One ARA employee who attempted to rescue C.C. sustained a severe laceration to his right forearm; surgery was required to repair the damage. C.C. told investigators that he was frying potatoes in oil on the kitchen stove when he laid down on the couch and fell asleep. Alcohol was involved. The park and ARA fire brigades knocked down the fire. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 9/14]
Thursday, September 19, 1991
91-499 Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Sinking
Late on the afternoon of September 17th, a 57-foot, older model house boat owned by C.S. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, began sinking in the Halls Crossing buoy field on Lake Powell. When concession employees attempted to move it to a dock, it began sinking more rapidly. The house boat was maneuvered to a nearby launch ramp, where it sank in shallow water on the ramp's concrete surface. The boat's rudders and drive shaft were severely damaged when it hit bottom. Fuel and oil escaping from the vessel caused a 75 by 50 foot sheen on the lake's surface before booms could be deployed. All of the spillage has since been contained and removed. Attempts to refloat the vessel have failed. A marine salvage company has been contracted to remove it from the lake. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 9/19]
Wednesday, October 2, 1991
91-537 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Arrest for Embezzlement
On September 16th, rangers joined Kane County sheriff's department officers in the investigation of N.D., a night auditor for ARA Leisure Services who was suspected of embezzling $17,000 of the company's money. N.D. was subsequently arrested at Bullfrog and charged with seven counts of felony theft. Most of the property that was purchased with the money has been recovered. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1]
Thursday, October 10, 1991
91-545 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Visitor Accident with Injuries
On the morning of October 5th, two-year-old P.C., Jr., of Salt LakeCity, utah, crawled into his father's pickup truck on the main ramp ofthe Wahweap marina and pushed the vehicle gear shift out of park. Thetruck rolled backwards down the ramp and the open passenger door struck12-year-old S.C. and dragged her into the lake. The children's father,P.C., Sr., jumped into the lake and rescued both of them. S.C.sustained a hairline fracture of the pelvis, two broken ribs, and ablood clot in one lung. P.C. was uninjured. The pickup truck wasrecovered from 30 feet of water. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark,CR, GLCA, 10/9]
Tuesday, November 5, 1991
91-605 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault
During the late evening hours of November 2nd, a female employee of ARA Leisure Services, the park's concessioner, reported that her boyfriend, S.L., had beaten her after an argument. She was treated for seven facial bruises and lacerations. S.L., 36, was found hiding tin the bathroom of the complainant's concession-owned trailer home in Wahweap and was arrested by Coconino County deputies and rangers on charges of domestic and simple assault. Lake is not a concession employee. Alcohol was a factor in the incident. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/4]
Friday, November 15, 1991
91-614 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on Concessioner
During the late evening hours of November 5th, ARA Leisure Services employees M.D., 18, and K.A., 18, got into a fight in a dormitory at Wahweap. K.A. was beaten into unconsciousness and was taken to the hospital in Page, where he was treated for lacerations, bruises and a fractured collar bone. Both M.D. and K.A. were arrested and have been charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/9]
Tuesday, November 19, 1991
91-624 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drug Conviction
Over Labor Day weekend, rangers arrested T.B., 30, and N.D., 38, for possession of a controlled substance while at Lone Rock Beach. B.W., 30, was later charged for her participation in the same incident, and a pickup truck and camper trailer were seized. The case was brought before county court on state charges on November 14th. T.B. was sentenced to two years supervised probation and ordered to pay $2,900 in fines. The seized property was returned to him. Sentencing on the other two individuals is pending. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/18]
Tuesday, December 17, 1991
91-662 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Burglary Arrest
On December 11th, rangers at Halls Crossing investigated a burglary of the Halls Crossing marina store which had occurred sometime during the previous night. Fingerprints, footprints and other physical evidence were found at the store, and the subsequent investigation led rangers to C.C., 21, an ARA Leisure Service employee at Halls Crossing. C.C. had been at an employee party the previous night and had become very angry when the concession-owned bar had refused to serve him any more alcohol. A consent search of his residence and vehicle led to the discovery of several pieces of evidence linking him with the burglary. C.C. then confessed to the break-in. About $450 worth of merchandise was recovered from a hiding place under Coghan's trailer home. C.C. was turned over to the San Juan county sheriff's office for state prosecution. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 12/17]
Monday, March 2, 1992
92-56 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Sexual Assault
On February 6th, J.A., 28, of Flagstaff, Arizona, was indicted bya Coconino County grand jury on two counts of sexual assault, each a classtwo felony. J.A., a former ARA Leisure Services employee who worked asa bar manager at the Wahweap Driftwood Lounge, allegedly committed theassaults on two different victims at Wahweap during the summer of 1990. Theincidents were only recently reported. An investigation is underway. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLAC, 2/28]
Tuesday, March 3, 1992
92-58 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Commercial Hunting
On February 12th, W.B., 38, of Kanab, Utah, was charged withconducting guided commercial desert bighorn sheep hunts in the park withouta permit. Information leading to the charge against W.B. was obtainedfrom a hunter who had employed W.B.'s services. W.B. had taken thehunter on a boat trip on Lake Powell from Wahweap to Dry Rock Creek and hadkilled a bighorn sheep at the latter location. Forest Service and BLM lawenforcement officers also took part in the investigation, as W.B. issuspected of having committed similar illegal hunts on lands administered bythose agencies. [Telefax from Bob Maguire, LES, GLCA, 3/2]
Tuesday, March 10, 1992
92-70 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - ARPA Incident
On February 29th, Escalante subdistrict ranger Jim Bowman discovered that 21petroglyphs in the Mobius panel in Willow Gulch on the Escalante River hadbeen seriously damaged. The petroglyphs, dating to about 950 to 1150 A.D.,are part of a "billboard" of over 100 elements which is considered to be ahighly significant scientific resource eligible for the national register. The panel is one of only a few such panels found in all of the Escalantecanyons. The petroglyphs were damaged by scraping which was apparently doneto enhance them so they would show up better in photographs. The scraping,which was probably done with a sharp instrument, removed natural varnish andaltered their shape through careless tracing of the original outlines. Thepark archeologist believes that the damage is irreparable. Rangersinvestigating the incident have served a search warrant on a residence inEscalante, Utah, and the investigation into the incident is continuing. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 3/6]
Wednesday, March 18, 1992
92-82 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Rescue
On March 13th, D.M., 23, of Pueblo, Colorado, fell 50 feet whilescrambling on the rock formation known as The Windows on the northeast sideof Wahweap Bay. D.M. suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, asix-inch open wound, and possible internal injuries. Rangers Dan Madrid andAriel Leonard responded and provided emergency medical assistance until arescue and evacuation team could arrive. The team, comprised of rangers,county deputies and concessioner employees, carried D.M. a mile to awaiting boat. He was taken by water to Wahweap, transported by ambulance toPage, then evacuated by air to Flagstaff for surgery. [CompuServe messagefrom P.D. Hibbs, GLCA, 3/14]
Wednesday, April 1, 1992
92-99 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Possible Homicide
A concession-operated tour boat came upon the body of a women in the lakenear the shoreline close to the mouth of Antelope Canyon late on the morningof March 31st. She was partially disrobed and had suffered a blunt traumawound to her head and a piercing wound to her spine. The victim has not yetbeen identified. The park and Coconino County deputies are conducting ajoint investigation. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via telefax from Jim Reilly,RAD/RMRO, 3/31]
Thursday, April 16, 1992
92-99 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Possible Homicide
It has been determined that the woman whose body was found in the lake nearthe mouth of Antelope Canyon on March 31st was not a homicide victim. Thewoman, who has been positively identified as 28-year-old A.L. ofHighlands, California, apparently committed suicide by jumping from a cliffabove the lake. The identification was made after an intensive search ofthe surrounding area for clues by fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, boat andfoot. A Coconino County search and rescue team discovered a "walkman" tapeplayer and keys on the high cliffs overlooking the lake immediately north ofPage last Saturday. Among the keys was one for a General Motors vehicle,which lead to an intensive search for the car. It was located on Monday inthe Wahweap Marina parking lot about ten miles from the point where the keyswere found. Within the vehicle, which had a car cover over it, was a Biblewith a suicide note written on its last few blank pages. Because of thenote, investigators believe that A.L. probably committed suicide byjumping from the cliff. Her injuries are consistent with that type of fall,but the actual cause of death was drowning. [CompuServe message from LarryClark, CR, GLCA, 4/15]
Friday, April 17, 1992
92-126 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assist to FBI
On April 11th, park law enforcement specialist Robert Maguire assisted twoFBI agents from Flagstaff in the preparation of a seizure warrant to obtainevidence in a homicide case that occurred on the Navajo reservation 15 milessouthwest of Page. The agents were new to the area and were working againsta short time frame. The two suspects were being held on unrelated chargesby a state agency and would have been released from the local jail withinfour hours. Maguire was able to help the agents prepare the warrant, locatethe local magistrate at the Grand Canyon, and get a telephonic warrantissued before the suspects could be released. [CompuServe message fromLarry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/14]
Thursday, April 23, 1992
92-137 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Attempted Suicide; EMS Rescue
Ranger Pete Dalton found 28-year-old F.A. of Zurich,Switzerland, lying unconscious near the Bullfrog marina store early on themorning of April 21st. F.A. was non-responsive and had fixed andpinpoint pupils. He was transported to the Bullfrog clinic, where rangersstarted IV's and administered medication to counteract a drug overdose. During treatment, he stopped breathing several times and had irregularheartbeats. F.A. was flown by a Saint Mary's Airlife helicopter toGrand Junction, Colorado, a flight of two hours. He regained consciousnessthe next morning, and his prognosis is good. Empty pill packs indicatedthat F.A. may have taken up to 150 tablets of various anti-psychoticdrugs, several of which are controlled substances. He had a journal withhim that indicated he'd come to the United States to commit suicide. Rangers and doctors have been unable to contact any relatives. An in-depthinterview by doctors is to be conducted today. [CompuServe message fromLarry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/23]
Tuesday, April 28, 1992
92-150 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drug Arrest
During the evening of April 24th, Grand Canyon ranger Marty McCaslin wascamping in the Wahweap campground when he noticed drug paraphernalia in anearby campsite. Marty notified rangers and the campsite was staked out. Near midnight, rangers and a Coconino deputy arrested G.B., 24, andW.T., 28, of Aspen, Colorado, for felony possession of drugparaphernalia, marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms. A 1986 Honda car wasseized. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/28]
Monday, May 11, 1992
90-x - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Serious Injury
On May 6, 1990, J.D., 23, of Casper, Wyoming, dove off a houseboatinto Lake Powell in Davis Gulch and sustained a fractured neck whichresulted in complete and permanent quadriplegia. On May 4th, a Eugene,Oregon, law firm filed a $10 million tort claim against the park on behalfof J.D. The claim is based on the premise that the NPS failed tosupervise ARA Leisure Services, the park's concessioner, by failing toassure that they advise boat lessees of underwater hazards that exist in thelake. It is not presently known whether ARA Leisure Services will also besued. The park recently completed a successful defense against anotherclaim of failure to supervise the concessioner when a rope broke between arented houseboat and a tag-a-long runabout and a passenger received severetrauma to the head. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/9]
Wednesday, May 13, 1992
92-190 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Multiple Incidents
During the week of May 3rd, rangers were involved in a number of significantincidents. Among them were:
* 13 EMS responses, including a double finger amputation, a SCUBA diving decompression accident, and a neck fracture resulting from a 170-foot cliff dive;
* four motor vehicle accidents and two boat accidents;
* five search and rescue missions;
* three larcenies;
* five sanitation cases, including a sewage spill of 200 gallons into the lake at Dangling Rope and another at Bullfrog in which the sewage ran down the pipeline into the sewage lagoon; and
* the dedication of a new visitor center and clinic at bullfrog which features a contact station and bookstore, a medical center, office space, helispot, and a two-cell, four-bunk detention center.
[CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/12]
Tuesday, May 26, 1992
92-216 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Fatal Boating Accident
During the morning of May 23rd, 12-year-old T.W. of Alpine, Utah, wasfatally injured in a jet ski accident on Lake Powell's Upper Bullfrog Bay. T.W. was operating a two-person jet ski with a nine-year-old female on boardwhen they were struck by a similar two-person jet ski operated by M.L.and J.T.. M.L. was doing hard left and right turns when hestruck the T.W. jet ski. T.W. was pulled from the water and transported byprivate boat to Bullfrog, where NPS medics and clinic staff began treatment. T.W. was then airlifted to Page, Arizona, where she received a whole bloodtransfusion before continuing to the Flagstaff Medical Center. T.W. died inFlagstaff, apparently from internal bleeding. An autopsy will be conducted. An investigation is being conducted by rangers and local county and statepark officers. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor. No one elsewas injured in the accident. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR,GLCA, 5/24]
Wednesday, May 27, 1992
92-221 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Arrest for Sexual Assault
During the early morning hours of May 23rd, a 17-year-old woman from WesValley City, Utah, was sexually assaulted at her campsite at Bullfrogcampground. J.D., 19, of Salt Lake City, apparently took advantageof the woman when she was in an extreme condition of drunkenness. When sheresisted, J.D. ceased. After the incident, other males in the group beathim up. Rangers and local deputies were advised at 7:30 a.m.; they arrestedJ.D. and flew him to Kanab, Utah, for arraignment on rape charges. Heappeared uninjured by the beating. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark,CR, GLCA, 5/24]
Monday, June 8, 1992
92-246 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Memorial Day Weekend Incidents
Despite heavy afternoon and evening thunderstorms throughout the three-dayperiod, Memorial Day weekend was again a busy and tumultuous weekend forGlen Canyon rangers. The staff of 18 permanent and 12 seasonal rangers,supported by a Park Police officer with his dog and six rangers from otherRocky Mountain parks and RMRO, handled 589 incidents in 72 hours, including27 drug possession and four drug sale cases (with three vehicle seizures), 10 drunk driving and four drunk boating cases, 45 incidents involving minorsin possession of controlled substances, 24 instances of public intoxication,16 larcenies, two burglaries, four fugitive arrests, three weapons cases,eight boating accidents, three motor vehicle accidents, five basic lifesupport and six advanced life support cases, one rape and one attemptedrape. Rangers issued 195 citations and made 97 arrests. On two occasions,near riot conditions occurred at Hobie Cat and Lone Rock beaches. At LoneRock, rangers had to seek assistance from Kane County and Utah highwaypatrol officers, who sent ten units to back up the five ranger units onscene. At Bullfrog, a group pelted a four-wheel-drive patrol vehicle,breaking a window and denting the body. Night shift had two dispatchers anda message taker at Wahweap and one dispatcher at Bullfrog; during one four-hourperiod, a Page police department dispatcher also helped out at Wahweap. Wahweap dispatch made 8,603 radio calls during the weekend. On Sunday, thebusiest day of the weekend, there was one call transmitted every 30 seconds. The training room at Wahweap was kept full as a detention area while personswere awaiting transport or detoxification, and there were 45 bookings at thepark's new holding facility at the Bullfrog visitor center. Some notes fromthe weekend: Rangers for the first time saw the "colors" of gangs from SaltLake City, and arrested several members of a Tongan gang involved inaggravated assault. One person conducted armed robberies in which he wouldstick his gun in people's faces and steal their caps. And a subjecthallucinating from LSD jumped through the open driver's window of a statepatrol car, spilling beer all over the insides and damaging the vehicle'sradar unit. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/3]
Thursday, June 11, 1992
92-259 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Brawl; Multiple Arrests
Following their graduation from several high schools in Flagstaff on Friday,June 5th, a number of graduates and friends visited Lone Rock Beach tocelebrate. A brawl subsequently broke out when E.L., 22, attacked18-year-old M.P. in revenge for a prior incident in which M.P. hadstuck a gun in his face at a high school function in Flagstaff. M.P.attempted to defend himself with a baseball bat when E.L. and severalfriends attacked him, and rangers subsequently received a report that oneperson had been killed and several had suffered serious injuries in themelee. Eight rangers responded, but found that there had not even been anyserious injuries. The festivities and fighting continued sporadically untilearly Sunday morning. A total of thirteen people were arrested fordisorderly conduct and drunkenness before dawn arrived. One graduate wasfound to have a $1,400 warrant outstanding for his arrest on a larcenycharge. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/11]
Thursday, June 11, 1992
92-262 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Boat Fires
The "Rice Pad", an 18-year-old, 57-foot fiberglass houseboat owned andoperated by Robert Rice of Salt Lake City, caught fire during the earlyevening of June 9th and burned to the water line at the mouth of Padre Bayon Lake Powell. All five adults and seven children who were on the boatjumped overboard; none were injured except K.B., 76, and his wifeE., 65, who were treated for smoke inhalation by park EMT's, then takento Page Hospital, where they received further treatment and were released. The fire started in the boat's engine compartment and spread rapidly becauseof the 400 gallons of diesel fuel it had on board. The loss is estimated at$125,000. Just before noon the following day, the "Desert Reflection", a54-foot tour boat operated by ARA Leisure Services, was headed up-lake emptyto pick up passengers from a broken down tour boat at Rainbow Bridge when anengine fire broke out. The pilot and deck hand activated the on-board Halonengine compartment fire extinguisher system, then beached and abandoned theboat near Dominguez Butte because of noxious fumes. NPS firefighters RodTurner and Bob Maguire boarded the boat and extinguished the remaining firewith concession-owned fire equipment. The fire was electrical in nature andthe total damage was estimated at about $1,000. The 1988 Nordic yacht isvalued at $461,000. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/11]
Thursday, June 18, 1992
92-287 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Falling Fatality
A.H., 14, of Roosevelt, Utah, fell to his death while free climbingin the sandstone cliffs 77 miles north of Glen Canyon Dam on the afternoonof June 16th. A.H. and his family were on a houseboat on Lake Powell nearthe Rincon when he and school friend M.B. decided to climb to themesa above the lake. After climbing to the rim, they started back down,with M.B. in the lead. A.H. stepped out on a rock which broke loose;he fell 50 feet, landing face down and sustaining internal injuries and aprobable broken neck. Family members, including an aunt who is a doctor,came to his aid. Rangers and a Classic Lifeguard III helicopter weredispatched to the incident. A.H.'s aunt pronounced him dead at the scene. A.H.'s mother is an FBI agent, his father is a police officer in Roosevelt,Utah, and his grandfather is head of the Utah Highway Patrol. This is thepark's second accidental death this year. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/17]
Thursday, June 25, 1992
92-299 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Boat Fire; Concession Employee Burned
Late on the afternoon of June 22nd, off-duty Hite Marina employee M.S.,17, and M.C., 23, were severely burned when their boatcaught fire after fueling at Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell. The 18-footrunabout, owned and operated as a rental by ARA Leisure Services, the park'sconcessioner, had just been fueled and was being driven away from the gasdock when the fire broke out. When M.C. bent behind the windshield tolight a cigarette for M.S., an explosion occurred and the boat caughtfire. Although both were able to get out of the burning boat into the lake,M.S. suffered second and third degree burns to her feet and legs andM.C. sustained first, second and third degree burns over most of her body,including her face. M.C. was flown to the University of Utah burn centerby a Classic Lifeguard helicopter and is listed in critical condition. M.S. was taken by ground to a Grand Junction, Colorado, burn unit and isin serious condition. The boat fire was extinguished by a concession fireboat. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the park. M.S. isthe granddaughter of J.S., the manager of Hite Marina. [Larry Clark,CR, GLCA, 6/24]
Tuesday, July 21, 1992
92-362 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Helicopter Crash
During the early afternoon of July 18th, a two-passenger, 1989 Robinson R22helicopter owned and operated by B.S. of San Diego, California,crashed into Lake Powell at the edge of a small rock island northwest ofPadre Butte. Neither B.S. nor his passenger were injured. The smallhelicopter had lifted off B.S.'s houseboat in Gunsight Bay and had onlyflown a short distance when it lost manifold pressure. B.S. wasapproaching the shore of the island when the helicopter settled on its sideon a small rocky ledge in the water. Both men were able to get theirseatbelts off and escape to the surface. The helicopter was retrieved bythe park concessioner the following morning. No appreciable amount of fuelor oil was lost into the lake. Neither alcohol nor drugs are thought to bea contributing factor. Rangers are being joined in the investigation by FAAand NTSB. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/21]
Thursday, July 23, 1992
92-371 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
Shortly after noon on July 20th, P.L., 16, of Gunnison, Utah,drowned while swimming in upper Bullfrog Bay. P.L., a member of an LDSchurch outing, was swimming with a friend when he experienced a leg crampabout 15 feet from shore and sank beneath the surface. His body wasrecovered from 17 feet of water by a park diver. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA,7/22]
Monday, July 27, 1992
92-374 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on Ranger
Rangers Jim Hensley and Andy Reeves responded to a domestic disturbance inthe ARA Leisure Services dormitory late on the morning of July 23rd. Uponarrival, the rangers found T.C., 29, in a dispute with his 19-year-oldgirlfriend in the dorm hallway. While they were attempting to calm thesituation, T.C. became very upset, threw keys and change at Hensley, andbegan walking away. When Hensley attempted to stop T.C., who wasobviously intoxicated, T.C. punched him twice in the face. T.C. wassubdued, taken to jail in Flagstaff and charged with domestic violence andstriking a federal officer. Hensley was not seriously hurt. [Larry Clark,CR, GLCA, 7/24]
Thursday, August 6, 1992
92-396 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On the afternoon of July 30th, A.M., 35, a Grand Canyon Lodgeseasonal employee originally from Cranston, Rhode Island, drowned off LoneRock Beach. A.M., who was visiting the park with his fiancee, also aconcessions employee at Grand Canyon, was lying on a large, round inflatableswim toy about 100 yards from the shore when he attempted to sit up from areclining position and apparently fell backwards into the water. He yelledfor help several times, then slipped under the surface. NPS and concessiondivers rushed to the scene in a Class Lifeguard III helicopter, but wereunable to find him in the lake's waters, which are from 40 to 60 feet deepat that location. A.M. was reportedly a poor swimmer. Alcohol isbelieved to have been a contributing factor. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/31]
Friday, August 28, 1992
92-463 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Rescue
Late on the evening of August 22nd, two nine-year-old twin girls and aneight-year-old boy were playing in Wahweap Creek near Bigwater when a flashflood occurred. One the twins, S.S., and the boy were caught in thewater and swept downstream. The boy was able to get to shore; he and theremaining twin went home and played Nintendo, as they were afraid to telltheir mothers what had happened. The mother of the twins inquired about themissing child after "counting heads" and realizing that one of her tenchildren was missing. Rangers and Kane County deputies responded and ahelicopter was dispatched to search the area from the air. Many localvolunteers also showed up at various points of the wash to search for thegirl. S.S. was found by one of her older brothers, who swam across thewash to search for her. She was in good physical condition. The two werespotted from the helicopter and flown to the incident command post, wherethe girl was examined and released to her mother. During the search, one ofthe volunteers also became a victim. W.D. of Bigwater was using thewinch on the front of his truck as a safety line when an eroded bank gaveaway and he was washed down the river. He was found shivering and clingingto a bush about 300 yards downstream. An NPS employee pulled him to shore. Although the incident occurred just outside the park, the initial call camein as being within Glen Canyon. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/27]
Wednesday, September 9, 1992
92-482 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drug Arrests
An investigation into drug trafficking was begun in the park last monthafter an off-duty Utah highway patrolman camping with his family in the LoneRock Beach area witnessed obvious drug activity in the area. The involvedvehicles and a vessel were staked out from a motorhome by a team of rangersand a county deputy from August 13th to the 17th. The team became friendlywith the suspects and spent several days "partying" with them. At theconclusion of the period, the team arrested D.C., 38, D.A.,20 and J.M., 32, on charges of possession with intent to distribute. Their 1980 Dodge motorhome was seized. Criminal charges and the seizure arebeing processed through Utah state courts. Motorcycle gang activity isinvolved, but the exact gang is not known at this time. [Larry Clark, CR,GLCA, 9/2]
Monday, November 16, 1992
92-603 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Homicide/Suicide
Late on the afternoon of Friday, November 13th, park dispatch received areport that the bodies of two adults and a dog had been discovered in a roomat the Bullfrog Lodge. At the time of the report, rangers and Kane Countydeputies were en route to the scene. Preliminary information obtainedthrough the phone report indicates that this may be a case of homicide,after which the assailant committed suicide. A follow-up report will appeartomorrow. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA; Brian Reilly, LES, RAD/RMRO, 11/13]
Tuesday, November 17, 1992
92-603 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Homicide/Suicide
On Friday, November 13th, two young girls, both dependents of concessionemployees, discovered the bodies of a man and woman and a large dog about300 yards north of Anasazi Lodge. Responding rangers determined that thecouple had been dead for 24 to 36 hours. All three apparently died ofgunshot wounds to the head; the male had a .38 caliber revolver in his hand. The park plane flew the Kane County sheriff, a deputy sheriff and two parkcriminal investigators to the scene to conduct the investigation. Thecouple was identified from personal belongings found in their room and anextensive written suicide pact. The man and woman, who were from Littleton,Colorado, were married, and their note indicated that the woman was pregnantwith twins. Investigation into the reasons for their suicides continues. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/16]
Tuesday, January 19, 1993
93-23 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Possible Water Supply Contamination
The park received a report on the afternoon of January 15th that threeconcession employees had suffered stomach pains after drinking water fromthe municipal water supply at Bullfrog. The tank was subsequently takenoff-line and the water was drained into the desert. Preliminarybacteriological tests have been conducted with negative results. Thedistrict ranger and park concessions specialists have met with the employeesand recommended that they see a physician to determine the exact cause oftheir illness. There were only three or four guests at the Bullfrog Lodgeat the time of the incident and none are reported to have been affected. The interior of the tank was painted with an epoxy-based paint in December. The curing time for the paint is 25 days, and the tank was refilled on the26th day. During the curing process, however, the outdoor temperatureshould be above 35 degrees, and it appears that the temperature fell belowthat mark during the period. An investigation continues; further detailswill be forwarded when available. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 1/15]
Thursday, January 21, 1993
93-23 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Water Supply Contamination
Since the first reports of stomach pains associated with the water supply atBullfrog were received last Friday, as many as 19 residents of the communityhave reported symptoms such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. The reportscoincided with the return to service of a half-million gallon water tankwhich had recently been painted with an epoxy in a standard, approvedmaintenance procedure. Water users also complained of a taste and odor intheir water. Barry Davis, a U.S. Public Health Service official attached tothe regional office in Denver, is currently on site and conducting aninvestigation. Davis is interviewing employees in an effort to determinethe origin of the illness, and is in contact with other public healthofficials at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. Water service fromthe epoxied tank has been discontinued; a second tank that was used duringthe maintenance period was put back in service shortly after the symptomsbegan to appear. The epoxy cured for 26 days before the tank was refilled -a day more than the 25 days recommended by the epoxy's manufacturer. Although temperatures dropped below a recommended level of 35 degrees onseveral nights during that period, Utah health officials approved puttingthe tanks back into service after tests were conducted. About 200 peoplelive in Bullfrog, most of them employed by the NPS or by ARA LeisureService, the park concessioner. As many as 100 visitors could have been inthe Bullfrog area during the time when the water supply from the tank was inservice, but the number was probably well below that figure. One personbecame ill and was evacuated by air from Bullfrog on January 11th, but theillness was not related to the stomach problems experienced by others in thecommunity. [RAD/RMRO, 1/19]
Wednesday, March 24, 1993
93-136 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Sexual Offense
On the afternoon of March 19th, rangers investigated an incident of sexuallyoffensive and threatening behavior which occurred at the ARA Leisure Servicegift shop at Bullfrog. M.P., a 38-year-old ARA boat repairsupervisor, was attempting to purchase liquor while off duty when heaccosted the female sales person and engaged in unwanted hand-holding andslaps. When she reported him to her supervisor for sexual harassment,M.P. returned to the gift shop, threatening her and using vulgarlanguage. Alcohol was involved. M.P. was arrested and taken by parkaircraft to the Kane County jail, where he was charged with lewdness. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 3/23]
Wednesday, March 24, 1993
93-137 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Investigation of Suspicious Incident
An ARA Leisure Service boat pilot reported spotting a vehicle submerged inabout 20 feet of water in Antelope Canyon on March 13th. Coconino Countydeputies and rangers, assisted by several other agencies, worked severaldays to recover the vehicle, a 1967 International pickup with a 1983 Utahplate which was registered to G.W of Provo, Utah. When contacted,Wagstaff indicated that he sold the vehicle to a friend, R.P., tenyears ago. G.W also reported that R.P. has been missing since then. Investigators have since determined that R.P. has been officially listed asmissing since that time. His family has been noncommunicative, but G.Wsays that R.P. is "on the lam." Suspicions have been aroused by certainaspects regarding the vehicle's submersion in Lake Powell, and aninvestigation is underway. No body has yet been found. [Larry Clark, CR,GLCA, 3/23]
Tuesday, May 18, 1993
93-261 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Significant EMS Incident
During the late afternoon of May 9th, a 14-year-old boy, the son of an ARALeisure Services employee, was discovered unconscious on Lone Rock Beach. Park medics responded and treated him for alcohol overdose. He was airevacuated to Page Hospital, then to Flagstaff Memorial, where he remains ina semi-conscious state with irregular brain wave patterns. His bloodalcohol content at the time of the incident was .300. [Larry Clark, CR,GLCA, 5/16]
Wednesday, May 19, 1993
93-266 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Rescue; Public Health Incident
Early on the morning of May 6th, Calvin Leach, a Bureau of Reclamationemployee, was injured while working on a scaffold on the face of Glen CanyonDam. Leach was inadvertently lifted 30 feet when his safety rope caught ona crane truck, then fell that distance to the scaffolding. Six rangersresponded to the scene and began initial EMS treatment. A Paged firedepartment rescue team assisted in lifting Leach to the top of the dam. Hewas taken to a local hospital and treated for a variety of minor injuries. During the incident, the park's safety officer discovered that thesandblasting materials and paint dust that the rescue team had been workingin were considered hazardous. All six rangers and 14 Page rescue personnelhad to go through decontamination and be checked by a physician. Thematerials involved were Tarset, a coal tar epoxy, and Blackhawk Slag, asandblasting material containing lead, zinc and copper. Several rescuershad sore throats and itching, and one who was more directly in contact withthe sandblasting materials suffered from a raspy throat, severe headache,nausea, skin rash, dizziness and loss of appetite. Most symptoms were gonein three days, but it was five days before the rash completely cleared. There was no posted notice at the accident scene advising of the cancer-causing agent being used, nor that the area was unsafe. The only warningsconsisted of a yellow ribbon around the area and a sign warming of an openmanhatch. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/16]
Friday, June 11, 1993
93-348 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Serious Employee Injury
Elwood Mees, 46, the park's roads and trails foreman, sustained severefacial lacerations and multiple facial fractures while moving governmentboat docks at Wahweap Marina early on the morning of June 3rd. Meeks wasworking on an anchor winch at the end of the boat dock when the winch beganfree wheeling. When he attempted to apply the hand brake, the spinningwinch handle hit his arm and caused him to fall or be pulled into thehandle's path. Park medics transported him to Page Hospital, where he wasstabilized; he was then flown by helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital inPhoenix. He underwent successful reconstructive surgery on June 9th. Hisleft eye was severely damaged, but it's now believed that he will regainpartial vision in that eye. He is still in the hospital, but will probablyreturn to Page within a few days. Elwood's wife Cheryl, who is a secretaryat park headquarters, has been with him in Phoenix. She thanks everyone whohas sent cards, messages and flowers. They've helped keep his spirits up. If you'd like to send a card or letter to him, you may do so at thefollowing address: Cheryl and Elwood Meeks, c/o Ed Jennerjohn, 48 S. WillowCreek St., Chandler, AZ 85225. [GLCA, 6/10]
Friday, June 11, 1993
93-350 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Plane Crash
During the early morning hours of May 22nd, a twin-engine 1969 BeechcraftDuke 60 piloted by G.O. of Salt Lake City, Utah, crashed while landingat Bullfrog airstrip. The plane's tricycle landing gear failed and thecraft slid approximately 900 feet before coming to a stop just off the edgeof the runway. Damage to the aircraft is estimated at $150,000. Neitherthe pilot nor his three passengers was injured. The FAA and NTSB haverequested an NPS investigation into the incident. The airstrip was closedfor eight hours. Initial investigation indicates that a stress crack in thenose gear steering may have allowed the gear to turn 90 degrees, and thatthe nose gear collapsed because the tire rolled off the wheel. [LarryClark, CR, GLCA, 6/10]
Tuesday, June 15, 1993
93-352 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Memorial Day Incidents
The holiday weekend literally began with a bang when a 36-foot homemadehouseboat blew up at Lone Rock at noon on Thursday, May 27th. Althoughthere were no injuries, the blast, which was caused by a propane leak,caused $75,000 in damage to the boat. The centers of subsequent activitiesat the park were Hobie Cat Beach, Lone Rock Beach and Antelope Point. Therewere between 8,000 and 10,000 youths at Hobie Cat throughout the weekend. Although binge drinking was common, there were few medical emergencies andno deaths. For the second year in a row, there were gangs present at bothbeaches. Two unidentified white gangs showed up at Lone Rock and apparentlyengaged in racial attacks against blacks; all reports were by third parties,though, and rangers were unable to confirm the incidents or make contactwith either group. Tongan groups were again present at Hobie Cat. In oneincident, they retaliated against a couple for stealing firewood by severelybeating both of them with boards. The male lost six or eight of his frontteeth and also suffered facial fractures. Activities there this yearfeatured a female strip show and open performance of sexual acts. Representatives from approximately ten agencies were at Hobie Cat, but onlytwo were at Lone Rock. Because of the decrease in EMS calls, rangers andofficers were able to allocate more time to law enforcement. There were 124arrests, almost all involving alcohol violations (DUI, boating under theinfluence, public intoxication and fighting), and 262 citations. The U.S.magistrate heard 78 cased over the weekend from Hobie Cat Beach alone. There were 40 drug arrests; associated with these arrests were the seizuresof five vehicles, a 40-foot motor home, and a 35-foot fifth-wheel camper. This year, Hobie Cat attracted persons from as far away as California,Oregon and Alabama. The park brought in assistance from several areas,including Washington and San Francisco. Most of the drug cases were madethrough the use of two undercover USPP officers from San Francisco and acanine officer and his dog from Washington. The latter worked withcounternarcotics rangers and local sheriff's department officers. At onepoint, an undercover Utah Bureau of Investigation officer approached aranger, advised him that the beach was unsafe for uniformed officers, andsuggested that he leave. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/10]
Tuesday, June 29, 1993
93-417 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boating Accident; Serious Injury
K.H., 14, of Orem, Utah, and J.E., 23, of Provo, Utah, werejet skiing near Stanton Creek about two miles from Bullfrog Marina on themorning of June 25th when K.H. fell from her one-person craft and was struckby J.E.. K.H. was rushed to the clinic in Bullfrog, then flown to SaltLake City by Blanding Airlife. She is being treated for a ruptured spleen. Citations were issued to J.E. for several watercraft violations. [LarryClark, CR, GLCA, 6/28]
Tuesday, June 29, 1993
93-418 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boating Accident; Fatality
Late on the afternoon of Saturday, June 26th, twelve-year-old C.L.P.and her eight-year old cousin B.S., both from Colorado,were playing on a small raft near their families' houseboat in a small coveabout 16 miles south of Bullfrog Marina when they were struck by a jet skioperated by a twelve-year-old boy in their group. B.S. was wearing alife jacket and was able to stay afloat; C.L.P., who normally wore a lifejacket, did not have one, and sank beneath the lake's surface. When B.S.was pulled from the water by bystanders, she was not breathing. Her fatheradministered CPR for about 30 seconds before she resumed breathing on herown. She was flown by Classic Lifeguard helicopter to Page and then toPhoenix Children's Hospital, where she remains in critical condition frommultiple skull fractures and near drowning. Diving operations were begunlate in the day to find C.L.P.'s body. At the time of the report, five NPSand three concessions divers were working in approximately 75 feet of waterin the small cove. Relief divers and an ROV - an underwater vehicle withlights and video camera - had been requested from the K.C. JohnsonFoundation, a non-profit organization established by the parents of a childwho drowned in the lake to assist others with similar misfortunes. Investigation of the incident is underway in conjunction with the KaneCounty sheriff's office. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/28]
Tuesday, July 6, 1993
93-418 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Boating Fatality
The search continues for the body of twelve-year-old C.P. ofBellvue, Colorado, who was struck by a jet ski and drowned on June 26th. Following an ascent from a search for her body 80 feet under the lake'ssurface on June 30th, Maricopa County deputy B.A., 27, ofPhoenix, Arizona, became dizzy and complained of a tingling sensation, whichsoon spread from his feet up to his arms. He was airlifted by helicopter toBullfrog, the flown to the hyperbaric chamber at the hospital in Van Nuys,California, where he was treated for an air embolism. He was scheduled tobe released from the hospital on July 2nd. B.A., who is a masterdiver, was part of a three-person dive team that had been down only 11minutes on its first dive before the embolism occurred on the ascent. Therewas no indication that there was any problem with the air used by thedivers, as neither of B.A.'s companions suffered injuries. Recoveryefforts continue. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/2]
Wednesday, July 7, 1993
93-447 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On the afternoon of July 3rd, J.S. of Bitter Springs, Arizona, anemployee of ARA Leisure Services, dove into the water at the buoy field atWahweap to retrieve his work boat, which was tied to a houseboat that he wasrepairing. J.S., who was wearing his trousers and shoes when he jumpedin the water, swam about 30 yards before becoming fatigued and drowning. Asearch for his body was begun immediately despite winds up to 35 mph andfour foot waves in the area. J.S.'s body was recovered in 26 feet ofwater that evening. Personnel from the park, Coconino County sheriff'soffice, Arizona Game and Fish and ARA Leisure Services participated in therecovery effort. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 7/6]
Thursday, July 8, 1993
93-418 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Boating Fatality
The underwater search for C.L.P. concluded on the afternoonof July 3rd with the recovery of her body. Park, ARA Leisure Services andMaricopa County divers sought her for eight days following the accident inwhich she and her cousin were struck by a jet ski. C.L.P.'s eight-year oldcousin, Brittany Salazar, remains hospitalized in critical condition. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
Tuesday, July 20, 1993
93-504 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boating Fatality; Homicide Arrest
Just before 11 p.m. on the evening of July 17th, a 23-foot Eliminatoroperated by J.B., 38, of Ogden, Utah, struck a 23-foot Glastronfishing boat between the Wahweap Marina and Castle Rock, killing B.S.,47, of Flagstaff, Arizona, one of the boat's three occupants,and injuring three others. B.S. and companions G.B., 24,and D.C., 32, were drift fishing when the Eliminator struck theirGlastron from the port stern side, crossed over it, and exited on thestarboard bow side. Lower unit skeg and propeller marks were made acrossthe vessel. B.S. was knocked from the boat and heard to scream forhelp; his friends tried to come to his assistance, but were unable to locatehim. D.C. suffered a three inch laceration in his head, and twopassengers on the J.B. boat received minor injuries. All three weretreated and released. B.S.'s body has not yet been recovered. Theaccident occurred in 150 to 270 feet of water; because of the depth and thesite of the search area, a review is being conducted to determine whetherthe search should be continued. G.B., the operator of the Glastron,told investigators that the navigation and anchor lights were on prior tothe accident, but witnesses at the marina stated that the anchor light wasnot visible prior to the collision. The Eliminator was seen leaving themarina at a high rate of speed prior to the accident. J.B. was arrestedfor second degree homicide, and a search warrant was obtained for adrug/alcohol blood screen. J.B. was released after posting a $40,000secured bond. A joint investigation is being conducted by the park andCoconino County sheriff's office. [Phil Hibbs, ACR, GLCA, 7/19]
Wednesday, July 28, 1993
93-529 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Helicopter Crash
On the morning of July 26th, a Bell Jet Ranger owned by Arizona HelicopterAdventures which was being used to film a Polaris personal watercraftcommercial lost power and crash-landed in the lake near Gunsight Butte about12 miles north of Page, Arizona. The pilot and his two passengers were ableto escape before the helicopter sank and suffered only minor injuries. Thepilot, D.D., 46, told investigators that they were flying between100 and 200 feet above the surface of the lake and were beginning to turnaround when the engine lost power and the helicopter auto-rotated to thelake surface. Before hitting the surface, the helicopter rolled onto itsright side, thereby causing the rotor blades to strike the water and poppingthe windshield out. The two passengers, producer A.A., 25, andcameraman J.J., 37, both employed by Media Loft Productions ofMinneapolis, Minnesota, were able to escape through the spot where thewindshield had been, but not without difficulties. J.J., who was seated inthe right rear seat, could not get his seatbelt to release. A.A. swamdown to him twice to help release the belt, and was able to do so justbefore the helicopter sank. J.J., a non-swimmer, was kept afloat by usingthe pilot's briefcase as a flotation device. A.A. also helped him treadwater until they were picked up by members of the Polaris group. Thehelicopter was valued at $275,000 and the on-board camera system was valuedat $200,000. The helicopter has not yet been located. There was a largesheen of fuel on the water when it went down, but it has since dissipated. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/27]
Thursday, July 29, 1993
92-70 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on ARPA Incident
On February 29, 1992, ranger Jim Bowman discovered that 21 petroglyphs inWillow Gulch on the Escalante River had been damaged by scraping, apparentlyto enhance them so that they would show up better in photographs. Investigation led to the issuance and execution of a search warrant at aresidence in Escalante, Utah, where pertinent evidence was gathered. Thiswas presented to the U.S. attorney in July. Bowman and law enforcementspecialist Bob Maguire subsequently testified before a federal grand jury inSalt Lake City. The grand jury indicted M.B., 63, for destructionof government property and violations of the Archeological ResourceProtection Act (ARPA). M.B.'s 1990 Ford four-wheel-drive pickup has beenseized under ARPA's forfeiture statutes. No trial date has yet been set. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/28]
Monday, August 2, 1993
93-552 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - MVA with Fatality
On the morning of July 23rd, family friends found the body of M.M.,38, of Church Wells, Utah, alongside Highway 89 about two miles northwest ofthe Glen Canyon Dam. M.M. was on his motorcycle when he apparently failedto negotiate a slight left hand curve, struck a guard rail at high speed,and was thrown with his motorcycle approximately 100 feet into a barrow pitand out of sight of road traffic. The incident apparently occurred sometimeafter midnight as M.M. was returning home from Page, Arizona. Alcohol isbelieved to have been involved. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/26]
Monday, August 2, 1993
93-553 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
D.J.L., 25, of Newport Beach, California, drowned in theEscalante Arm of Lake Powell about 35 miles south of Bullfrog Marina earlyon the morning of July 25th. D.J.L. and friends were aboard a houseboatwhen he told a companion that he was going to swim underneath the houseboatand pull the fishing line of another passenger as a joke. When D.J.L. didnot surface and there was no response from the friend who was fishing, asearch was begun. Thinking he might be trapped underneath the hull,D.J.L.'s friends moved the houseboat downstream. The park was notifiedafter search efforts failed. D.J.L.'s body was recovered at noon by parkdivers in 25 feet of water. Family members report that D.J.L. was anoutstanding swimmer. He had been drinking the night before, but alcohol isnot thought to have been a contributing factor. Investigators believe thatD.J.L. probably came up under the vessel, became disoriented, and was unableto get out from under it before he ran out of air. [Larry Clark, CR, GLAC,7/26]
Friday, September 3, 1993
93-663 - Glen Canyon (Arizona) - Drowning
H.C., 39, of Kayenta, Arizona, drowned on the afternoon of August28th when he attempted to swim to a rock about 25 yards from shore in anarea known as "The Chains". He was there with three friends and had beendrinking. Resuscitation was attempted by rangers and a county deputy. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 8/30]
Wednesday, September 8, 1993
93-668 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boat Accident
A 16-foot Bayliner with four occupants was involved in a serious accident inan unnamed cove adjacent to Lone Rock beach at 9:30 p.m. on the evening ofSeptember 3rd. The boat, which was being operated by A.M., 21,was traveling at 30 mph when it struck a sandstone rock, became airborne,rotated 180 degrees to starboard, and landed upside down on a sandstoneledge 56 feet from the water's edge. A.M., C.M., 22,and B.B., 40, were all thrown clear; R.B., 42, waspinned underneath the boat but was eventually able to crawl out. Campersacross the bay on Lone Rock beach heard the collision and the occupantsscreaming for help. Four park medics, three rangers, a helicopter and 15volunteers - including two Oklahoma paramedics and a nurse - responded tothe scene. All four were taken to the hospital in Page. R.B.was eventually flown to a hospital in Phoenix with more serious injuries. The remaining three victims were treated for a variety of minor injuries andreleased the following day. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 9/7]
Wednesday, September 8, 1993
93-670 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - EMS Incident; Life Saved
Twenty-month-old A.C. wandered away from camp at Lone Rock beach onthe afternoon of September 6th and was found face down in water at theshoreline. Visitors in the area immediately began CPR on her, and occupantsof a nearby houseboat reported the incident to the park via marine bandradio. Park medic Joel Ellis was entering the beach from the access roadand immediately responded. Ellis and an off-duty Arizona DPS paramedicestablished an airway, administered oxygen, and restored the little girl'sbreathing. She was taken to Page Hospital by park ambulance. [Phil Hibbs,GLCA, 9/7]
Wednesday, October 6, 1993
93-756 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Search
On the morning of October 3rd, 19-year-old S.O. ran into AnasaziLodge and reported that his 21-year-old brother A.O. had failed to surfaceafter diving into the lake. S.O. led rangers to a small slickrock cliffbelow the lodge - a location popular with swimmers and divers. A companioncorroborated the report; both were highly agitated. Rangers and divers werenearby and responded promptly. Divers were in the water within 16 minutesof the report, but they were unable to find the victim. A life flighthelicopter responded from Page in preparation for handling a cold-waterdrowning. About 40 minutes after the original notification, a personidentifying himself as A.O. telephoned dispatch from an unknownlocation and said that he was okay and that S.O. shouldn't worry about him. An investigation into the incident is underway. Charges may be filed. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 10/5]
Tuesday, November 23, 1993
93-818 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Conviction of County Attorney
On September 9th, rangers arrested the Kane County (Utah) attorney at LoneRock Beach for disorderly conduct, public intoxication and interfering withan agency function. The attorney was on state probation at the time for twoprior DUI's, one in 1987 and the other in 1992. On October 29th, he pledguilty in federal court to disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Aspart of a plea agreement involving four government agencies, the attorneywas sentenced to a year's federal probation, suspension from the Utah statebar for 90 days, and probation for another two years. He also agreed tocomplete an in-patient alcohol rehabilitation program for 30 days at his ownexpense, pay the mandatory victim assessment fee, and resign as the KaneCounty attorney (effective December 1st). In exchange for this plea, thegovernment agreed to dismiss the charge of interfering with an agencyfunction. [Robert Maguire, LES, GLCA, 11/18]
Wednesday, February 16, 1994
90-90 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on ARPA Violation
On April 28, 1990, a backcountry patrol ranger discovered that a significantarcheological site on the Escalante river had been looted. The remote andvirtually inaccessible alcove site was discovered and its visible contentsdocumented in May of 1987. Because the site was pristine and difficult toreach, the artifacts were left in place pending proper excavation. One ofthe items taken was a large, intact corrugated Anasazi storage jar. Following an 18-month-long investigation based on information received froma confidential informant, that storage jar was recently found and seizedfrom a private residence in Escalante, Utah. The residence is the home ofone of the suspect's parents. Numerous felony charges against fourindividuals are being coordinated through the U.S. attorney's office. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 2/14]
Thursday, March 17, 1994
92-70 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on ARPA Incident
On February 29, 1992, rangers discovered that 21 petroglyphs in the Mobiuspanel in Willow Gulch on the Escalante River had been seriously damaged. The petroglyphs, dating to about 950 to 1150 A.D., are part of a "billboard"of over 100 elements which is considered to be a highly significantscientific resource eligible for the national register. The panel is one ofonly a few such panels found in all of the Escalante canyons. Thepetroglyphs were damaged by scraping, which was apparently done with a sharpinstrument to enhance them so they would show up better in photographs. Natural varnish was removed in the process and the petroglyphs' shapes werealtered through careless tracing of the original outlines. On March 10th,M.B. of Escalante, Utah, pled guilty to the destruction of thepetroglyphs. As part of his plea agreement, M.B. agreed that thearcheological value of the panel he damaged was $21,745; he also agreed toforfeit his 1990 Ford 4x4 pickup, and to reimburse the NPS $2,846 forrestoration and repair of the site and $2,970 for direct governmentexpenses. In exchange for this plea, the government has agreed to recommenda $1,000 fine and dismiss the second count in the indictment for destructionof government property. Sentencing is scheduled for June. In a televisedinterview, M.B.'s attorney stated that the case had cost his client$25,000 and that M.B. had gotten the message of the importance ofprotecting archeological resources on federal lands. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA,3/16]
Thursday, March 24, 1994
94-129 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Felony Pursuit; Search; Arrests
On Tuesday, March 16th, rangers at Halls Crossing received a call advisingthat a red Toyota Four Runner with two male and two female occupants haddriven off from a local gas station without paying for $17 worth of fuel. Rangers pursued, at one point closing to within a mile of the vehicle. Despite their best efforts, however, they were unable to get any closer. The suspects apparently did not know that they were being followed. When itbecame apparent that the pursuit would lead out of the park, county deputieswere notified and assistance was sought from rangers at Natural Bridges. Before the vehicle reached their roadblock, the occupants decided to turnoff onto a gravel road leading into a remote historical mining area. Havingalready passed the road, however, they turned around to drive a mile back;they then discovered that rangers were pursuing them and took off crosscountry in an effort to reach the dirt road. They were again able to eludetheir pursuers, and their dust cloud showed that they were getting furtheraway. When the rangers rounded a particularly sharp corner, they found afresh set of tracks leading off the road and over a 300-foot cliff into thecanyon below. Debris scattered along the fall line confirmed that thevehicle had gone over the edge, although the Toyota couldn't be seen fromthe top. Pat Horning, the first ranger to reach the car, reported thatthere were no occupants within, and ranger Steve Luckesen discoveredfootprints leading uphill from the road, indicating that the occupants hadgotten out of the car before it went over the edge. The park plane assistedin the subsequent search for the foursome, which was conducted by rangers(including ranger Jim Ireland from Natural Bridges), Utah Highway Patrolofficers, San Juan county deputies, a Utah wildlife officer and an FBIagent. Ranger Russ Miller tracked the four youths to their hiding spotseveral hundred yards upslope. Three were found to be juveniles; the fourthwas 19 years old. They'd stolen the car from a dealership in Murray, Utah,then had decided to take a camping trip into the desert. The vehicle was atotal loss. All suspects were taken into custody by Utah Highway Patrolofficers. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 3/23]
Monday, June 20, 1994
94-313 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Memorial Day Incidents
Although there appeared to be fewer visitors this year to Hobie Cat and LoneRock beaches - the two beaches that are traditional problem areas onMemorial Day weekend - parkwide visitation and law enforcement incidentswere up over 1993. A good indicator of that increase was the level ofactivity in the dispatch office. Dispatch averaged an outgoing radiotransmission every 60 seconds, with incoming calls often covering eachother, and averaged one incoming or outgoing phone call every three minutes. There were 43 EMS incidents, 19 accidents requiring investigation, and ahigh volume of law enforcement incidents, including a rape, eight assaults,105 alcohol-related incidents, 46 cases of drunk driving, 20 disorderlyconducts, 179 traffic offenses, 141 boating offenses, and 86 drug incidents. Overall, rangers made 98 arrests and issued 270 citations. The park's 20commissioned rangers were augmented by officers from the Coconino and KaneCounty sheriff's offices, Utah state police, Utah state park rangers,Arizona game and fish officers, Coast Guard auxiliary, U.S. Park Policeofficers, and rangers detailed to the park from other NPS areas. Volunteersand park interpretive rangers assisted in directing traffic, parkingvehicles, and helping out at launch ramps. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/17]
Thursday, July 7, 1994
94-358 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On the evening of July 3rd, I.I., 50, a doctor from Milpitas,California, was swimming in the Hobie Cat beach area near Bullfrog when hebegan having trouble. I.I.'s eight-year-old son was swimming nearby andsaw his father go under. NPS maintenance mechanic Chris Thompson andbystanders pulled I.I. from the water and immediately began CPR. Parkmedics transported I.I. to the park clinic, where advanced life supportmeasures were administered for an hour until I.I. was finally pronounceddead. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/5]
Monday, July 11, 1994
94-369 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Diving Fatality
Around noon on July 4th, C.D., 16, a citizen of Great Britain,dove off a cliff face at a height of 150 feet and suffered major trauma tohis head upon striking the surface of the lake. Park medics and ClassicLife Guard helicopters responded. C.D. was flown immediately toFlagstaff Medical Center for treatment. On July 6th, C.D.'s familydecided to have him removed from life support due to the severity of hisbrain injury. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
Monday, July 11, 1994
94-370 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
J.J., 41, of Page, Arizona, drowned in the Coves area at Wahweapon July 6th. J.J. was swimming with his 14-year-old son, ten-year-olddaughter and four neighborhood children when one of the neighbors, a ten-year-old girl, tried to swim to a buoy field which was beyond her abilities. J.J. saw that she was in trouble and attempted to swim to her rescue;two men on shore also swam to her and were able to reach her as she wasgoing under and bring her to shore. No one realized J.J. was introuble, however, and he was not missed for some time. Rangers recoveredhim from 42 feet of water about 100 feet from shore. Resuscitation effortswere unsuccessful. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
Friday, July 15, 1994
94-387 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Rescue
Rangers in the Hite Subdistrict responded to two medical incidents requiringrescues in the Dark Canyon primitive area last week. Both incidentsinvolved members of The Road Less Traveled, a Chicago-based wildernessadventure group. At 3 a.m. on July 6th, a 15-year-old female with severeabdominal pain was evacuated to a hospital in Farmington, New Mexico, wheredoctors determined that she had a ruptured ovarian cyst and bladderinfection. At 7 a.m. on the 7th, a 15-year-old male from the same groupbecame disoriented and unable to walk. Rangers treated him for dehydrationand hypoglycemia at the scene, then had him air evacuated to Farmington. Inboth cases, rangers who are also parkmedics administered Ivs and medicationaccording to established protocols. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
Tuesday, July 19, 1994
94-393 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - SAR; Fatality
On July 15th, rangers in the Uplake District received sketchy, third-handinformation about a six-year-old boy who had reportedly been missing fromhis camp in the vicinity of Halls Crossing for over an hour and a half. Therangers soon arrived at the point the child had last been seen and initiateda search which utilized protection and interpretive rangers and maintenancestaff. Within 45 minutes, four patrol boats, several park and localaircraft and a state ranger were brought into the search effort. Thechild's body was found on a mesa about a mile and a half above his family'scampsite approximately 90 minutes after the original report was received. The child had followed other children to the mesa and had told them he wasgoing to return to camp. He was wearing only swimming shorts and sandalsand had no water. The air temperature at the time was 107 degrees, butground temperatures were much higher. Indications are that he becamedisoriented and hyperthermic. A CISD team from Zion conducted a criticalstress debriefing later that day. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/15]
Thursday, July 28, 1994
94-431 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
Y.B., 21, of Kaibeto, Arizona drowned approximately one mile northof the Glen Canyon Dam on July 26th. Y.B. was walking out on a sandstoneledge and walked off the edge into 400 to 500 feet of water. Y.B. wasreportedly not a good swimmer. His brother-in-law, J.A., triedto rescue him, but was unsuccessful. Alcohol was not a factor in thisaccident. Park divers unsuccessfully searched the area for Y.B.'s body. Search efforts are continuing. [LES, GLCA, 7/27]
Friday, August 12, 1994
94-457 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Two Successful SARs
Late on the afternoon of August 9th, rangers at Bullfrog received a marineband radio call reporting an overdue solo party in the area of WaterpocketFold. One hundred degree temperatures and a recent heat-related fatality inthe same area reinforced the need for a rapid response, and a shorelinesearch near the party's camp was begun by maintenance personnel andprotection and interpretive rangers from Bullfrog and Halls Crossing. Thepark aircraft was also brought in and soon spotted 15-year-old D.D.in a drainage below one pour-off and above another in very rough terrainthree-quarters of the way up the Fold. A Classic Lifeguard helicopterferried NPS climbers to the site, where the rescue was completed just beforedark and ahead of approaching storms. Meanwhile, during the technicalportion of D.D.'s rescue, a second search was initiated in the HallsCrossing buoy field for 18-year-old B.L., who disappeared afterdiving from a moored houseboat into three-foot waves in an attempt torecover his party's drifting ski boat. Boat searchers were hampered bydarkness and bad weather, but eventually located B.L., who was in goodcondition on a downwind shore. Prior to jumping into the rough water, B.L.had donned a life jacker, which undoubtedly contributed to his survival. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/11]
Tuesday, August 16, 1994
94-459 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Significant Assist to Agency
On August 12th, the park received a request from the Kane County sheriff'soffice for assistance with a fight involving shots fire and wounded victimsin Big Water, Utah, a small unincorporated town on the park's southwestboundary, as it would take their officers 20 to 30 minutes to reach thescene. Additional reports indicated that one victim had been shot in thehead, and that a person was standing on his porch with a high-powered rifle,threatening to kill anyone who came after him. Responding rangers and parkmedics confronted J.W., 30, who put his rifle down inside the houseas soon as they arrived and surrendered without further incident. Theyfound that he was had suffered head wounds from being struck in the headwith a pistol, and that S.W., 32, had been shot in the hand (not thehead) with a small caliber handgun. S.W, who has a lengthy criminalfile, was convicted of assault on a Glen Canyon ranger in 1990 and isconsidered to be a high risk individual because of his expressed hatred forlaw enforcement officers in general and rangers in particular. Kane Countydeputies took both men into custody. Alcohol appears to have been acontributing factor in the fight between the two men, who are neighbors. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/15]
Monday, August 22, 1994
94-484 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
On the evening of August 18th, three juvenile boys were swimming at the rearof their families' houseboat, which was moored in a side canyon of RockCreek, while the boat's generator was running. The boys were apparentlyswimming under a solid wooden deck at the back of the boat where exhaustfrom the generator is expelled. Around dark, the three climbed on to thedeck to rest. One of them, 13-year-old M."D."W., said he feltdizzy. The other boys left him sitting on the deck and went into thehouseboat. Some time later, W.'s family realized that he was missing. The park received notification that he might have drowned just after 9 p.m. Rangers from Dangling Rope and Wahweap responded. Park divers recoveredW.s's body in about 20 feet of water at the rear of the houseboat justbefore midnight. During the ensuing investigation, one of the boys statedthat he too had felt dizzy after climbing onto the deck. Investigatorsbelieve that carbon monoxide from the exhaust may have been a factor in thedrowning. An autopsy will be performed by the Utah State medical examiner'soffice. A CISD debriefing is scheduled for all involved personnel. [TomieLee, CR, GLCA, 8/22]
Tuesday, August 23, 1994
94-490 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
Rangers at Hite received a report of a drowning in the White Canyon areaaround 5 p.m. on August 19th. Three-year-old D.R. of Salt LakeCity had been missing about 45 minutes and was found face down in a foot ofwater under a rock ledge by her family before park personnel arrived at thescene. EMT-trained visitors performed continuous CPR while the medicalresponse was mobilized. A medevac helicopter had to be pulled off aclimbing rescue in the Gunsight Butte area of the park; it flew to Bullfrog,picked up park medics, and arrived at the scene shortly thereafter. Inspite of concerted rescue efforts, the child was pronounced dead at 6:30p.m. A CISD session was held for all NPS personnel involved in theincident, the seventh fatality in the park this season. [Tomie Lee, CR,GLCA, 8/22]
Wednesday, September 14, 1994
94-550 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Sexual Assault
On the evening of September 2nd, Bullfrog rangers received a report of asexual assault in progress at the ARA trailer village store. Severalwitnesses had seen Harry Sine, 46, of Alaska, sexually assault anunconscious 18-year-old female in the front seat of her girlfriend's car. Sine had also been seen drinking with the victim earlier during the day andsupplying the minor female with alcohol. Sine was taken into custody byrangers, then turned over to the county sheriff. The sheriff'sdepartment has charged Sine with forcible sexual abuse and supplying alcoholto a minor. [LES, GLCA, 9/8]
Monday, September 19, 1994
94-557 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Falling Fatality
On the afternoon of September 15th, rangers received a cellular phonerequest for medical assistance for a person with life-threatening injurieswho'd fallen from a cliff near the mouth of the Escalante arm of LakePowell. Upon arrival, they found that P.T., 51, of Dixon,California, had already expired. P.T. was part of a group of seven BASEjumpers who'd made several parachute jumps from the cliff face just south ofthe Escalante confluence. Witnesses said that his chute deployed uponjumping, but that P.T. got twisted around and struck the cliff faceseveral times because of the parachute's pendulum effect. The chute thencollapsed and P.T. fell a significant distance, struck a rock, andlanded in the water. Companions in a recovery boat witnessed the event andpicked him up almost immediately. They said that they'd performed CPR, butthat they were unsuccessful due to severe face, chest, and pelvic trauma. BASE jumping has not been a problem for Glen Canyon in past years. [TomieLee, CR, GLCA, 9/16]
Wednesday, September 21, 1994
94-560 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On the evening of September 14th, a four-year-old girl drowned while playingin the main swimming pool at Wahweap Lodge. The victim and her family,residents of nearby Big Water, Utah, were using the pool, even though it isonly open to guests. The girl's mother, M.D., left the childand her six-year-old brother under the oversight of a friend, M.H.,while she went back to her residence. Shortly after M.H. entered the poolwith her own child, guests heard her cry out for help. Two of themresponded and found the boy face down in the pool. They pulled him out,administered the Heimlich maneuver, and revived the boy. While this washappening, they noticed that M.H. was standing in five feet of water withtwo children in her arms - her own child and her friend's daughter, who waslimp and not breathing. Rangers in a park ambulance and Page firedepartment personnel in a second ambulance arrived on scene shortlythereafter and began CPR, which was continued until the child was pronounceddead at the Page hospital about an hour later. [Phil Hibbs, DR, GLCA, 9/18]
Friday, September 30, 1994
94-580 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On the afternoon of September 24th, J.S., 46, of Sandy, Utah, went jetskiing on the lake. After returning and tying up his jet ski in about two feetof water, he began walking to shore, then fell face down in the water. Membersof his family found him there a few minutes later. Ranger-park medics arrivedand administered advanced life measures. J.S. was taken to the BullfrogClinic shortly thereafter, where he was pronounced dead. The state medicalexaminer has ruled that he died of drowning. [LES, GLCA, 9/26]
Monday, October 3, 1994
94-582 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
Early on the evening of September 29th, a 49-year-old male drowned while tryingto secure his boat in shallow waters near Hobie Cat beach. The victim and histhree companions had been visiting the lake for the past four days and had beensailing on their two boats. Just before the accident, an intense storm ofshort duration had passed through the Bullfrog area, causing the victim's boatto drift away. While swimming out in the lake in an attempt to retrieve it, hebegan struggling in the water. A nearby fisherman entered the lake andattempted to bring him to shore, but had to disengage because the victimrepeatedly pulled him underwater. Park diver's recovered the victim's body ineight feet of water about 15 feet from shore after about an hour's submersion. It was not possible to revive him. [Pat Buccello, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/29]
Tuesday, November 15, 1994
94-638 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On November 12th, B.L. and B.M. were inspecting the hull of ahouseboat moored at Wahweap Marina. According to B.M., B.L., who wasunfamiliar with the lake, signaled him that he was going to dive to the bottom. B.M. tried to stop him and swam after B.L. to a depth of approximately 40feet, where he lost sight of him. The depth under that portion of the WahweapMarina is approximately 250 feet. B.M. waited about an hour and a half forB.L. to reappear; when he failed to do so, B.M. reported him as missing. Asearch effort was begun, but has so far been unsuccessful. The investigationis continuing. [LES, GLCA, 11/14]
Thursday, November 17, 1994
94-644 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Rescue
On the evening of November 11th, the park received a report of a strandedclimber on a small ledge in Ribbon Canyon. Rescuers responding from HallsCrossing and Bullfrog worked throughout the night attempting to reach andrescue D.M. of Davis, California, who was perched on a small ledgeabout 115 feet above the canyon floor. Night time rescue operations werehindered by a light rain and poor quality sandstone rock. At first light, arescue party consisting of rangers Matt Vandzura and Russ Miller andmaintenance workers Pat Horning and Greg Taylor succeeded in attaining aposition on a higher ledge from which Vandzura was able to traverse across to aposition above D.M. and from there complete the rescue by lowering him tothe ground. D.M. spent nearly 19 hours standing on the small ledge. He wasclad in t-shirt, shorts, hiking shoes, and an inexpensive plastic rain poncho. The latter likely kept him from developing hypothermia. Investigationfollowing the rescue indicated that D.M. and his party were BASE jumpers whohave frequently visited remote areas of the park and were all present in thenearby Escalante Canyon area when Paul Thompson died during a BASE jump inSeptember. This particular rescue was not related to BASE jumping, however, asD.M. was simply free climbing in a narrow side canyon. [Tommie Lee, CR,GLCA, 11/14]
Tuesday, January 3, 1995
94-692 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - EMS Incident
On Christmas Eve, park dispatch received an emergency call reporting that avisitor in the Wahweap Lodge lounge was having serious medical problems.Responding ranger/medics found that Michael Linger of Hurricane, Utah, who wason his honeymoon, was suffering from an extreme case of hives, was havingdifficulty breathing, and was extremely tachycardiac. While treating him withoxygen, the medics interviewed his new wife about possible insect bites,allergies, or other causes for his medical problems, and found that his onlyknown allergy was to metals. Further investigation led to the discovery thatLinger had had a shot of an alcoholic beverage known as "Goldschlager", whichcontains floating flakes of gold. As the medics began preparing Linger fortransport to the hospital, he began to lose consciousness and started shakinguncontrollably. Epinephrine and benadryl were administered intravenously, andhe was taken to Page Hospital. Linger was subsequently released and was ableto continue with his honeymoon. [Phil Hibbs, DR, GLCA, 12/28]
Monday, April 10, 1995
95-137 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Employee Death
Leo Watson, 49, the park's inventory management specialist, died of an apparentheart attack in the early morning hours of April 6th. He called for assistancefrom his home in Page just before midnight and was taken to the hospital inthat city, where he subsequently passed away. Leo was hired by Glen Canyon in1986 as the park's radio technician and was reassigned to inventory managementin 1993. He had a history of heart problems and had by-pass surgery severalyears ago. A CISD briefing was held for his co-workers. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA,4/7]
Tuesday, April 11, 1995
95-142 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Multiple Rescues
Employees in the Uplake District were involved in several rescues and a medicalevacuation during a period of extreme weather conditions on April 9th. Partiesin two boats became separated on April 8th while en route back to Bullfrog fromtaking photographs of Rainbow Bridge. The party in one of the boats wasassisted by other boaters in the area; the party of six in the other, includinga woman who was three months pregnant, was stranded overnight. Members of thegroup were dressed in shorts and light clothing and were unprepared for thesudden drop in temperature, high winds and precipitation that struck the area. The boat was located from the park's aircraft and the group was rescued byrangers who had to battle severe winds and rough water. At about the sametime, rangers were involved in the air evacuation of a 20-year-old man whocomplained of the sudden onset of acute stomach cramps and other symptoms, andthe rescues of ten passengers in a runabout and the occupants of a houseboatthat had run out of gas while battling strong winds and high waves. [TomiePatrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/10]
Thursday, April 13, 1995
95-151 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Search; Missing Person
An unoccupied vehicle was found parked in the corner of the lower Chainsparking lot near Glen Canyon Dam on the evening of March 31st. The doors wereunlocked, keys were in the ignition, and there were personal items, including adriver's license, scattered about the inside. The vehicle appeared to havebeen there for some time. The registration came back to C.B., 37,of Flagstaff, who was reported as missing and a suicide risk. Investigatorsdetermined that he'd quit his job on March 26th, mailed a suicide letter whileen route to the park on the 27th, then purchased a flotation device locallylater that same day. A search of the land area was begun that evening, butdiscontinued when no signs of C.B. were found. The search continued byboat, helicopter and ground the following morning, but was equally fruitless. The lake at that location is about 1500 feet wide and up to almost 500 feetdeep. No trace of C.B. has yet been found, and he remains listed asmissing. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/10]
Wednesday, April 19, 1995
95-164 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Capsized Houseboat
A number of boats have either broken away from their moorings or been swampedduring recent days because of continuing high winds in the area. One of them,a 70-foot houseboat moored in the Hite buoy field, capsized and partially sankon April 15th. The boat had taken on water the previous day, but appeared tobe stable. The concessioner notified the owners and made arrangements to keepit afloat, but the boat capsized before the needed equipment arrived fromBullfrog. It is currently suspended on the buoy field's grid system in about80 feet of water. Recovery operations are being arranged by the owner. Thesame boat sank last year at Bullfrog, but in only a few feet of water. [TomiePatrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/17]
Friday, April 21, 1995
95-170 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - EMS Response; Life Saved
On April 15th, a cabin cruiser tied up at Dangling Rope marina with the enginerunning while members of a Utah family used the boat's shower. Because of theweather, the canvas top and plastic side curtains over the deck were closed,except for a small section near the rear deck which allowed exhaust from theengine to enter the boat. T.P., nine, was overcome by carbonmonoxide and collapsed. The ranger on duty first became aware of the emergencywhen he saw her being carried down the marina to his office. He found thatT.P. was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning; before he could act, shestopped breathing. An airway was inserted, oxygen was administered, and herbreathing was restored. She was flown to a hospital in Page, where she wastreated and subsequently released. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/17]
Tuesday, May 2, 1995
94-638 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Drowning
On November 12, 1994, B.L. was inspecting the hull of a houseboatmoored at the Wahweap Marina with another diver when he told his companion thathe was going to dive down and "touch the bottom of the lake", not realizingthat the water is over 200 feet deep at that location. B.L. neverresurfaced. On April 19th, his body was found by a small, remotely-operatedsubmersible on loan from a private foundation and was raised to a depth wheredivers could safely retrieve it. Investigation into this incident continuesand will be aided by recovery of the B.L.'s body and his diving equipment. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/1]
Wednesday, May 17, 1995
95-225 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Fatality
Four local Page residents were overcome by carbon monoxide while towing anempty boat belonging to one of the victims from Navajo Canyon to Wahweap Marinaon the evening of May 5th. The tow boat's full canvas cover was buttoned downexcept for the rear section, which allowed the strong winds blowing at the timeto funnel engine exhaust into the boat. When the two boats were found agroundon Antelope Island the next morning, the ignition on the tow boat was still onand the gas tank was empty, suggesting that the jet outdrive engine hadcontinue to run after grounding and had forced carbon monoxide into theinterior of the boat. All four occupants were suffering from acute carbonmonoxide poisoning, and one, Joe Premeaux, 68, had no vital signs. He neverregained consciousness. The other three were air evacuated to a decompressionchamber in Salt Lake City. Although in serious condition, all have sincerecovered and been released. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/15]
Wednesday, May 17, 1995
5-226 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
Fifteen-month-old C.S. drowned on the morning of May 14th when he fellfrom a four-foot rock bank into three feet of water at the mouth of the DirtyDevil River, a popular camping area across the lake from Hite Marina. TheC.S. family was visiting a friend in a nearby campsite at the time; eachparent thought the child was with the other. The father found his son floatingin the water and began CPR. The family then headed for Hite, arriving 30 to 45minutes later. A park ranger/medic and concession employees at Hite continuedCPR for about an hour before the medevac helicopter arrived. The boy waspronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. A debriefing was conducted afterthe incident and a full CISD debriefing was held the next day. [Tomie Lee, CR,GLCA, 5/15]
Monday, June 26, 1995
95-330 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Mentally Unbalanced Person
On June 22nd, rangers received a report of a man acting strangely in theStanton Creek primitive camping area near Bullfrog. The man, later identifiedas M.C., had asked campers for food and a place to sleep. They providedM.C. with food, but refused to let him stay in their camp. M.C. then toldthe campers that he was in the Bullfrog area to "destroy a nucleus ofcannibals", and that everyone there was in danger. Rangers subsequently foundM.C. locked in one of the area's portable outhouses. M.C. told them thathe was an angel who had been dispatched to Bullfrog to rid the area of "anucleus of purple cannibal people." He further stated that he'd been able tosleep only 50 hours in the previous month because of his mission, and repeatedthe warning that everyone in the area was in danger from the purple cannibalpeople. He could not explain how he'd gotten to the area, or how he was goingto carry out his mission; he had neither money nor transportation. M.C. wastaken to the Bullfrog detention facility, where he agreed to voluntarily commithimself for a mental evaluation in St. George, Utah. He was transported out ofthe park the next morning. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/23]
Tuesday, June 27, 1995
95-335 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drug Arrests
Six concession employees at Bullfrog were arrested for possession and/or use ofcontrolled substances over the course of two days last week. On June 20th, anoff-duty ranger at the concessioner's service station saw several largemarijuana cigarettes in a cigarette box sitting on the counter. When asked,concession employee Mandy Hose said that they belonged to her husband, Michael,a cook at a concession restaurant. When rangers contacted him, he smelled ofmarijuana, and admitted that he'd been smoking it with Howard Smith, a fellowcook. Rangers found that there was a warrant against Hose in Oregon for aparole violation. The same ranger, this time on duty, came upon a truck thenext day with drug paraphernalia in it. A consent search of the vehicle andthe occupants' residences in the concession employees' dorm led to thediscovery of cocaine paraphernalia and marijuana. Arrested were T.B., B.C.,and K.W. All six were fired by the concessioner. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/23]
Wednesday, June 28, 1995
95-339 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Burglary
A visitor who was sleeping on his boat at Hite Marina was awakened by noisedfrom the boat rental office just before 5 a.m. on June 23rd. When he went tothe marina to investigate, he saw a vehicle backing down toward the dock andnoticed a safe sitting near the marina walkway. The driver of the vehicleapparently saw him and drove away instead of picking up the safe. Investigators determined that entry to the office was gained through anunlocked window and that tools kept in the office were used to remove the safe. Although the safe was severely damaged, the contents remained secure. Thereare no suspects at this time, but the investigation continues. [Tomie Lee, CR,GLCA, 6/23]
Wednesday, July 5, 1995
95-368 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - MVA with Fatality
C.J., 36, of Bountiful, Utah, was killed on June 30th when the vehicleher husband was driving went off a steep embankment into a canyon just outsidethe park and rolled over. The large boat and trailer being towed had begunswaying and forced the vehicle off the road. Ranger/medics from Bullfrogprovided emergency medical assistance to the victims and managed the accidentscene until Utah Highway Patrol officers could respond. The park medicsstabilized the couple's 20-year-old daughter and had her air-evacuated byhelicopter. The driver was uninjured. No one in the vehicle was wearing aseatbelt. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/30]
Monday, July 10, 1995
95-389 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Gang Activity; Assault
Just before 1 a.m. on July 4th, rangers responded to a fight at Lone Rockbeach, and found that several members of a Navajo gang of about 50 camped atthat location had severely beaten a visitor from a non-Indian group camped nearthem. There appears to have been no provocation from members of the lattergroup, who asked that they be left alone and said that they wanted no trouble. The victim, who was beaten with hands and feet, was stabilized by ranger-medicsand taken by helicopter to a local hospital. Three gang members were arrested. The Navajo gang is affiliated with Hispanic gangs in Phoenix. [Tomie Lee, CR,GLCA]
Monday, July 10, 1995
95-390 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Shooting
While rangers were handling the above incident at Lone Rock in the earlymorning hours of July 4th, a shooting occurred at Antelope Point. The shootingwas the culmination of an argument between two brothers who live on theneighboring Navajo reservation. The victim suffered a leg wound. His brotherhad left the area when Coconino County deputies arrived. The investigation iscontinuing. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, July 11, 1995
95-396 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Gang Activity; Attempted Assault
Just before midnight on July 3rd, the Halls Crossing campground host calledrangers for assistance with a gang of skinheads who refused to comply withquiet hours and were abusive to the host and other campers when asked to quietdown and to pick up the numerous beer cans and liquor bottles littering theircampsites. They also resisted the responding ranger's similar requests. Onemember of the group, Josh Halverson, reached for a large hunting knife at hisside; he persisted despite being told to stop, and the ranger struck him acrossthe hand with his baton. Halverson received a minor laceration and contusion,but was dissuaded from drawing his knife. He fled the area and was notapprehended until the following morning. Other members of the group were citedfor disorderly conduct and for interference. Review of the incident found theuse of the baton to be justified. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Thursday, July 13, 1995
95-407 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - MVA with Fatality
K.M., 34, was killed in a one-vehicle rollover just north of Bullfrogairstrip at 11:30 p.m. on July 7th. K.M. had attended a party at Bullfrogand was returning to his lodging when the accident occurred. He had passedseveral other vehicles at a high rate of speed when his truck left the roadwayand rolled several times over a distance of about 400 feet. Alcohol issuspected as a contributing factor. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Friday, July 14, 1995
95-410 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Assault
Part of Lone Rock Beach was gassed by camper Blake Vitali when he detonated acanister of CS (tear gas) in the densely populated area on the afternoon ofJuly 2nd. Many visitors jumped into the lake to relieve the burning sensationson their skin and in their eyes. Several children, however, ran into tents andhid under sleeping bags and were consequently more seriously burned, generallyon their arms and legs. Vitali told rangers that he'd bought the canister onthe street in California. He said that he didn't know what the term CS or themilitary markings on the canister meant, and that he thought it was just asmoke bomb. Vitali was bent over the canister when it went off, so also reapedwhat he had sown - a small but significant consolation to neighboring campers. He was arrested and turned over to the county sheriff's office on state felonycharges. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Friday, July 14, 1995
95-411 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Boat Accident; Serious Injury
On July 6th, a 17-year-old boat operator ran into a jet ski being ridden byL.L., 51, of Provo, Utah. The force of the collision spun the jet skiaround and into the larger boat's prop. L.L. suffered seven severelacerations on the back of his leg from below his knee the bottom of his foot,and may also have suffered a fracture to his tailbone. Ranger-medicsstabilized him at the scene and transported him to the park clinic. He waslater taken by helicopter to the hospital in Provo. Alcohol does not appear tohave been a contributing factor. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Friday, July 14, 1995
95-412 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Carbon Monoxide Poisonings
Two confirmed and two possible cases of carbon monoxide poisoning wereinvestigated by rangers on July 2nd:
* Ranger-medics administered CPR to T.B. for about 15 minutesbefore his heartbeat and breathing were restored. He was flown to SaltLake City for hyperbaric treatment.
* A 15-year-old female was treated by ranger-medics for dizziness,difficulty in breathing and shakiness.
* R.A., 24, was brought unconscious to Bullfrog and was treated byranger-medics.
* B.L.H., 16, of Riverside, California, was riding in the backof her family's jet-powered ski boat. When the family arrived at thedock after an extended trip, they could not awaken her and began CPR. Ranger-medics continued CPR and began advanced life support measures. She was taken to a hospital in Phoenix and placed on life support systemsalthough she shows no brain activity. Another member of the party ridingin the rear of the boat also suffered minor symptoms of carbon monoxidepoisoning.
All four victims were in open boats. When patients riding in open boats showsymptoms similar to "minor" carbon monoxide poisoning, the cause is oftenattributed to dehydration, alcohol, too much sun, or seasickness. It appears,however, that some of the cases may in fact be carbon monoxide poisoning andhave in the past been overlooked because the victims were not in enclosed boatsor confined spaces. A local testing program has been proposed to study thefrequency of undiagnosed carbon monoxide poisonings. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, July 18, 1995
95-421- Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Aggravated Assault
A truck operated by a male juvenile ran over a tent occupied by the B.family at Lone Rock Beach around 3 a.m. on June 3rd. S.B., 31, wasrun over and suffered injuries to her pelvis; S.B.'s four-year-old daughterwas struck in the head by one of the truck's tires. Family members campednearby heard the screams from the tent; several took the two victims to thehospital, while others chased the truck back to Page at speeds approaching 80mph. They were finally able to apprehend the driver, and held him until Pagepolice officers could arrive. Park rangers and investigators were notified andresponded to Page and Lone Rock Beach. Rangers arrested the juvenile in Pageand seized his truck. They then contacted his parents and asked and receivedpermission to take blood samples from their son. The sample later showed hisblood alcohol level to be 0.12% - well over the legal limit, although thesample was taken eight hours after the accident. The boy's parents also agreedto waive extradition of their son from Arizona to Utah, and he was subsequentlytaken to a juvenile detention center in Richfield, Utah. On July 7th, the boypled guilty to two counts of felony aggravated assault in district court. Final disposition of the case is pending. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, July 18, 1995
95-422 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Boat Fire
A 40-foot, privately-owned houseboat caught fire in upper Halls Creek Bay onJuly 1st and burned to its pontoons. The occupants were apparently boilingwater on the grill mounted on the deck when the water boiled over into thegrease catcher under the grill and the grease ignited and spilled onto thedeck. The occupants attempted to put out the fire with an extinguisher, butwere unable to do so and had to abandon the boat. The boat was fully engulfedin flames when rangers arrived on scene. There were no injuries. [Tomie Lee,CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, July 18, 1995
95-423 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Dog Attack
An off-duty Wayne County deputy was attacked by a large Rotwieller tied up inan adjacent camp at Hite on July 5th. One of the responding rangers was alsoattacked; his pant leg was ripped and the dog was dragging him backwards whenthe ranger stopped him with OC (pepper) spray. The owner, Gary Juul, had thetwo dogs on 20-foot leashes, one at either end of his campsite. He was citedby rangers. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Wednesday, July 19, 1995
95-433 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drug Arrests
Bullfrog rangers stopped a vehicle which lacked a rear license plate on theevening of July 12th. Neither of the occupants - R.H. and B.H. ofPrice, Utah - had a valid driver's license or verifiable identification. Subsequent questioning led to the discovery of numerous bundles ofmethamphetamine, several small baggies of same that had not yet been bundled,marijuana, and a wide variety of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana relatedparaphernalia. Both H.s, who had been convicted in the past for possessionwith intent to distribute, were charged with possession of controlledsubstances and held for Utah authorities for filing of felony distributioncharges. Both were wanted by the state on misdemeanor warrants. Their vehiclewas impounded and will be seized. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, July 24, 1995
95-446 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drug Arrest
Concession employee J.N., 29, was arrested at Bullfrog on the morningof July 16th for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, disorderlyconduct, and larceny following ranger response to a report of domestic violenceat his quarters. J.N. was subsequently released on bond and returned home. Rangers were called back to the residence in the evening when he threatened tocommit suicide. They found him hiding in a closet, but were able to get him tocome out without further incident. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, July 25, 1995
95-450 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Car Clout Interdiction
On July 20th, a drifter called the Coconino County sheriff's department toreport that he'd been picked up by a man - later identified as S.H.,27 - who said he was going to steal parts from a vehicle in the 14-day lot atWahweap. According to the drifter, S.H., who was driving a 1979 Z-280,intended to steal the fuel pump out of another Z-280 in the lot. The drifterdid not want to get involved, left the area, and called police. Rangers foundthe target vehicle and began surveillance of the area. Meanwhile, a deputyfound S.H. parked along the road with his car's hood up and an assortment oftools lying on the front seat. It appears that the car broke down beforeS.H. was able to get to the lot. A routine computer check revealed thatthere were two warrants out against S.H.. S.H. resisted arrest, but wassubdued by the deputy with the help of rangers and incarcerated. [Tomie Lee,CR, GLCA]
Wednesday, July 26, 1995
95-456 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Rape
A 12-year-old Page girl was raped by D.J., a neighbor and familyacquaintance, at Antelope Point on July 5th. The girl had been allowed toaccompany D.J. and his family on a camping trip to the park. The girl wasassaulted while D.J.'s family was sleeping nearby. D.J. confessed to the rapeand has been charged with two Class 2 state felonies. They carry a mandatorysentence of from 14 to 35 years incarceration. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Friday, July 28, 1995
95-466 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A Salt Lake City family camped in a remote area of the park radioed a distresscall that they might be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning on the morningof July 25th. A Halls Crossing boat patrol ranger was less than a mile away atthe time and was accordingly able to respond quickly. The family had beensleeping in their cabin cruiser with the air conditioner running, and it hadcirculated exhaust fumes from the inboard gasoline generator into the cabin. The F.'s three-year-old daughter was unconscious when the rangerarrived, but was revived through aggressive oxygen therapy. Her parentsinitially displayed only mild symptoms, but their conditions soon deterioratedto semi-consciousness. The family was taken by helicopter to the hospital inPage; the parents later had to be flown to a hyperbaric chamber in Salt LakeCity for further treatment. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, July 31, 1995
95-469 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Thefts
The night auditor at the Bullfrog lodge and marina returned home at 6 a.m. onJuly 23rd to find that her pickup truck was missing. Shortly thereafter, theadministrative cashier discovered that all the night deposit bags from the busyweekend had been cut open prior to being deposited in a drop safe. Anestimated $50,000 was missing. A night security guard is the prime suspect, ashe had access to the night audtori's vehicle and signed for receipt of each ofthe deposit bags. He could not be located in the area, and failed to appearfor his shift that afternoon. Investigators have learned that there is anoutstanding warrant against him for a previous vehicle theft. [Tomie Lee, CR,GLCA]
Monday, July 31, 1995
95-470 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Serious Visitor Injury
On the afternoon of July 26th, J.M., 42, was waterskiing with fourother people behind a boat when the rope he was using became tangled around hiswrist, tightened and severed his hand. Park medics responded and evacuated himto a hospital in Page. Park divers were called out in an effort to retrieveJ.M.'s hand in the hope that it could be reattached. The water at thatlocation, however, was about 150 feet deep, which reduced the likelihood ofrecovering it. Doctors also determined that such surgery would not be feasibledue to the nature of the injury. The search was accordingly terminated. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, July 31, 1995
95-471 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drug and Theft Arrests
On July 23rd, camper J.S. reported to rangers that L.H., afriend of his, was camping at the Upper Bullfrog beach and had a stolen Jeep inhis possession. The Jeep was sighted and stopped as it left the area. L.H.first provided an alias, but subsequently admitted to both stealing the vehicleand possessing methamphetamine. It also turned out that J.S. had reportedL.H. because L.H. had stolen the methamphetamine from J.S. L.H.,J.S., and a third companion, Howard Martindale, were arrested and charged ona number of counts, including check fraud. The trio had stolen and forgedchecks in their possession, and had used at least one while in the area. Rangers also found that L.H. was wanted on several warrants and had beeninvolved in a high speed chase in Salt Lake City during the previous week. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, August 1, 1995
95-474 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Thefts
The night auditor at the Bullfrog lodge and marina returned home at 6 a.m. onJuly 23rd to find that her pickup truck was missing. Shortly thereafter, theadministrative cashier discovered that all the night deposit bags from the busyweekend had been cut open prior to being deposited in a drop safe. Anestimated $50,000 was missing. A night security guard is the prime suspect, ashe had access to the night auditor's vehicle and signed for receipt of each ofthe bags. He could not be located in the area, and failed to appear for hisshift that afternoon. Investigators have learned that there is an outstandingwarrant against him for a previous vehicle theft. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, August 1, 1995
95-475 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Serious Visitor Injury
On the afternoon of July 26th, J.M., 42, was waterskiing with fourother people behind a boat when the rope he was using became tangled around hiswrist, tightened and severed his hand. Park medics responded and evacuated himto a hospital in Page. Park divers were called out in an effort to retrieveJ.M.'s hand in the hope that it could be reattached. The water at thatlocation, however, was about 150 feet deep, which reduced the likelihood ofrecovering it. Doctors also determined that such surgery would not be feasibledue to the nature of the injury. The search was accordingly terminated. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, August 1, 1995
95-476 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drug and Theft Arrests
On July 23rd, camper J.S. reported to rangers that L.H., afriend of his, was camping at the Upper Bullfrog beach and had a stolen Jeep inhis possession. The Jeep was sighted and stopped as it left the area. =first provided an alias, but subsequently admitted to both stealing the vehicleand possessing methamphetamine. It also turned out that J.S. had reportedL.H. because L.H. had stolen the methamphetamine from J.S.. L.H.,J.S., and a third companion, Howard Martindale, were arrested and charged ona number of counts, including check fraud. The trio had stolen and forgedchecks in their possession, and had used at least one while in the area. Rangers also found that L.H. was wanted on several warrants and had beeninvolved in a high speed chase in Salt Lake City during the previous week. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Tuesday, August 22, 1995
95-538 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
T.B., 43, drowned in Lake Powell early on the morning of August 6th. T.B. had just left his son and nephew on a beach in Gunsight Canyon and wasreturning to the site where the rest of the T.B. party had camped the nightbefore. The boys saw him jump or fall into the water from the moving boat,yell for help, then disappear under the lake's surface. Diving operationscontinued for almost three days before his body was found in 42 feet of water. T.B. had a history of cardiac problems and was not in good physical condition. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Thursday, October 12, 1995
90-90 - Glen Canyon (Utah) - Follow-up on ARPA Case
On April 28, 1990, ranger Bill Wolverton discovered that the Seldom Seen Alcovesite along a tributary of the Escalante River had been illegally excavated andthat artifacts had been stolen. Investigating ranger Jim Bowman subsequentlydetermined that a ceramic vessel and reed/juniper backpack had been taken. Archeologist Phil Geib told Bowman that he could identify the vessel fromexisting photos of it. Following the offering of a $5,000 reward, a tip wasreceived on the vessel's location. On February 1, 1994, Bowman, ranger BobPiontek and criminal investigator James Houseman seized the vessel from theresidence of the parents of S.C. in Escalante. Houseman and specialagent Pat Buccello talked with S.C. regarding his involvement in the theftand obtained admissions of culpability from him. On March 29th, the regionalsolicitor's office began a civil penalty proceeding against S.C.. Anassessment of just under $45,000 was filed against S.C. based onarcheologist Tim Burchett's analysis. S.C. agreed to four stipulations inlieu of the full fine: identification and return of the reed/juniper backpack;field trips to the Seldom Seen and other sites that S.C. knew had beendisturbed, under immunity; formal debriefing interviews regarding all previousARPA violations; and a fine between $5,000 and $10,000. S.C. completed thestipulations in August; FLETC instructor Woody Jones videotaped the debriefingand field trip for the center's ARPA course. Due to S.C.'s level ofcooperation, the fine was set at $5,000. During the debriefing interview,S.C. stated that he had additional artifacts from public lands and that hewas willing to forfeit them in exchange for a lower fine. On August 22nd, heturned over moccasins, sandals, wooden shovels and pottery. Due to thesignificance of the artifacts, the fine was reduced to $3,000. [Tomie PatrickLee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, January 8, 1996
95-784 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Concession Employee Fatality
A search for concession employee D.P., 25, was begun on December 16thwhen it was learned that he hadn't returned from a boat trip on the lake. D.P. was last seen when he launched his boat from Stateline ramp on December14th; he was not found to be missing until his roommate returned from a trip onthe 16th. D.P.'s boat was found in a cove behind Castle Rock. Although tiedto a rock, it was partially submerged. D.P.'s shoes were found in the boat. His shirt and socks had been wrapped around the bellows to plug leaks. Thesearch was called off at dark and resumed the following morning. D.P.'s bodywas found on Antelope Island across from the Wahweap Marina at 11 a.m. - abouttwo-and-a-half miles from his boat. He was clad in jeans and a ski vest. Itappears that D.P. had had trouble with his boat, was unable to repair it,and had attempted to swim to the main channel. D.P. and his family havebeen long-time residents of Page; his mother and brother are both concessionemployees, and his father retired from the Bureau of Reclamation. Close to 100Page residents and concession employees assisted the limited park staff andcounty officials in the search. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, January 8, 1996
95-787 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drug Arrest
Ranger Chris Cessna came upon a man having mechanical problems with his vehicleat the Glen Canyon Bridge pullout on Highway 89 on December 3rd. Cessna askedthe man - later identified as L.G. - if he needed any assistance, andnoted that L.G. was very nervous. When Cessna asked for identification,L.G. produced a driver's license from Sonora, Mexico. The license proved tobe altered, and Cessna found that L.G. also lacked papers permitting him tobe in the United States legally. A consent search of his vehicle was conductedwith the assistance of Arizona state police. Four packages wrapped in ducttape were found in a hidden compartment; they contained 20 pounds of marijuana. L.G. was arrested and his vehicle was seized. He will be prosecuted inCoconino County court. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Thursday, January 18, 1996
96-14 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Sexual Assault
A 40-year-old man from Ogden, Utah, was arrested for sexually molesting hiscousin's 17-year-old son on a boat moored at Bullfrog Marina during the earlymorning hours of January 14th. Investigating rangers determined that the boyhad accompanied his relative with plans to spend the holiday weekend working onthe boat. The case has been turned over to the county for investigation. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Wednesday, February 28, 1996
96-81 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Resource Violation
Last week, park visitors told rangers that they'd seen a man, subsequentlyidentified as A.A., 41, of Flagstaff, Arizona, kill a fox on the shoreof the river between Lee's Ferry and Glen Canyon dam. Subdistrict ranger MikeMcGinnis spotted A.A. operating a boat, then driving off in a vehicle, andstopped him for questioning. McGinnis found that A.A. was intoxicated, andthat he'd shot the fox in an area closed to hunting. The animal's back hadbeen broken, but the shot had not killed it. A.A. accordingly stomped it todeath. He was charged with boating under the influence, driving under theinfluence, hunting in a closed area, unauthorized taking of wildlife, andpossession of a controlled substance (marijuana). [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Wednesday, March 13, 1996
96-97 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Larceny/Fraud Arrest
A routine background investigation conducted by the park's concessioner onM.R., 32, a newly-hired boat mechanic, turned up information whichlead to an investigation by rangers Russ Miller and Steve Luckesen. Therangers learned that M.R. was wanted on an Oregon warrant for paroleviolations and for the theft of a U-Haul truck, and that he was suspected oftheft and fraud in New Hampshire. During an interview with M.R. at hisconcession-owned housing, Miller and Luckesen saw a computer which matchedthe description of one reported as stolen from Roger's New Hampshireemployer. A consent search led to the discovery of a printer and evidence ofstolen and forged checks which were also on the list of items stolen from NewHampshire. Other evidence was found which indicated that M.R. had beeninvolved in a fraudulent scheme involving a non-existent marina operation inNew Hampshire. The rangers also learned that M.R. was a convicted felonwith an extensive criminal record. He was arrested and turned over to thecounty sheriff's office. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, May 6, 1996
96-184 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Probable Drownings
On the afternoon of May 2nd, a pontoon rental boat with a party of fouradults and one child was traveling upstream on the lake near Hite, Utah, whenthe child, a seven-year-old girl, fell overboard. Her father and another mandove into the water in an attempt to rescue her. The second man was able toreturn to the boat, but the father and daughter did not reappear. Rangerswere notified and a search was begun utilizing a helicopter and a fixed-wingaircraft. Park divers were on scene at the time of the report (Friday) andwere searching for the pair. [LES, GLCA]
Tuesday, May 7, 1996
96-184 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Probable Drownings
The search for six-year-old S.S. and her father, D.S., wassuspended on the evening of Friday, May 3rd, due to several high riskfactors, including undercurrents, debris, zero visibility conditions, and thelack of a clear determination of where they were last seen. Search effortscontinued on the surface and with sonar and were still underway yesterday. [David Sanbakken, LES, GLCA]
Thursday, May 16, 1996
96-184 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Probable Drownings
The body of a female child believed to be that of six-year-old StephanieStrom was found by a park visitor fishing off-shore near the launch ramp atHite on May 10th. On May 11th, rangers conducting grid searches of thesurrounding lake waters a mile southwest of the Colorado River bridge foundthe body of an adult male believed to be her father, D.. The pair hadbeen missing since the accident on May 2nd in which both were presumed tohave drowned. Park investigators and the county medical examination werecalled in for verification and identification of bodies. [David Sandbakken,LES, GLCA]
Tuesday, June 25, 1996
96-308 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Homicide
On the evening of Friday, June 21st, two local concession employees attacked,brutally stabbed and killed another employee at the Wahweap dormitories. Thepair then fled on foot. Rangers and county deputies responded. Bothsuspects were apprehended in the Wahweap area the following morning byrangers, deputies and Aramark security guards. At the request of thesheriff's department, further details are being temporarily withheld, pendingindictments. [Dave Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Wednesday, June 26, 1996
96-308 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Homicide
The victim of the June 21st homicide in the Wahweap concession dormitory hasbeen identified as L.T., 25, a local resident and graduate ofPage High School. The two men arrested for the killing were F.C.19, and his 16-year-old brother, both of Tonelea, Arizona. The twohave admitted involvement in the incident; F.C. confessed to thestabbing. Both are now in custody. An assault related to the murderoccurred on June 24th. A concession security guard was flagged down andadvised of an assault in the Wahweap dorms at 10 pm that evening. Rangersand Coconino County deputies responded and found a badly beaten 16-year-oldmale outside the dormitories. Extensive searches of the area resulted in theapprehension of one of the assailants, 19-year-old L.M. of Kaibeto,Leroy L.T.'s cousin. L.M. and five friends had beaten the 16-year-old to "avenge" L.T.'s death. L.M. apparently did not know thatF.C. and his brother had been arrested for the murder. The names of threeof the other five men involved in the assault were obtained, and theinvestigation continues. The victim was released from the hospital to aparent on June 25th. There appear to be some Navajo Reservation gangaffiliations associated with the two incidents, both of which are part of atrend of increased violence in the park. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Wednesday, July 3, 1996
96-336 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Boating Accident; Double Fatality
J.G., 20, and D.D., 53, were killed when their 19-footboat struck an anchor buoy at the Wahweap breakwater around 1 a.m. on Sunday,June 30th. The lone survivor of the accident, Cary Stoneberger, 32, sufferedonly a minor laceration and was able to swim to the breakwater after theaccident. D.D. was pulled from under the capsized boat within minutes ofthe accident. CPR was begun, but proved fruitless. A multi-agency searchwas begun for J.G., the daughter of an Arizona Game and Fishcommissioner; her body was recovered in 145 feet of water by divers followingan extensive underwater search by the park's ROV (remote operated vessel). Witnesses from the marina said that the boat was traveling at a high rate ofspeed, slowed down momentarily, then was throttled up again just beforeimpact. Stoneberger said that D.D., the owner and operator of theprototype bass boat, applied power in an attempt to avoid the buoy. It'sbelieved that alcohol was a contributing factor. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, July 8, 1996
96-341 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning; Life Saved
The park received a report of a possible drowning at the Coves at 6:08 p.m.on July 4th. The parents of K.B., 10, of Crown Point, NewMexico, found her shoes on the shore at a point where the slick rock slopessteeply into the water. She had been left at the water's edge by her family,but told not to enter the water. A land and water search was begun, and parkdivers found her at 6:48 p.m. Because of her age, the temperature of thewater at which she was recovered, and her core temperature, aggressiveefforts were made to revive her at the scene, en route to the hospital, andat the hospital. These proved to be of no avail, however, and she waspronounced dead at 8:26 p.m. While K.B. was being removed from the water,rangers received a report that a riderless jet ski had been seen circling inWarm Creek. One of the patrol boats at the Coves was sent to investigate. Ranger David VanInwagen found J.K., 27, in the lake without a lifejacket and in serious distress. He pulled J.K. from the lake just as he wasgoing under and brought him to shore. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Friday, July 12, 1996
96-355 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Multiple Sexual Assaults
J.R.C., 21, a local resident, committed at least seven separatesexual assaults at Lone Rock Beach during the early morning hours of July6th. His victims were small children, young girls and adult women. J.R.C.entered the tents and RVs while the occupants were sleeping to commit thecrimes. Campers were alerted when a ten-year-old girl woke her mother,crying and saying a man had been touching her. J.R.C. was seen entering anearby tent and captured by several campers, who in turn alerted parkrangers. J.R.C. was arrested and taken to a jail in Kanab, Utah. [DavidSandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Friday, July 12, 1996
96-356 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Rape
On the evening of July 6th, a 36-year-old woman was walking down the BurrTrail following a dispute with her husband when two men in their 20s drove upin a vehicle, stopped and raped her. An investigation is underway. Numerousleads are being pursued, and a description of the vehicle has been broadcastto all area law enforcement agencies. [Jim Houseman, CI, GLCA]
Monday, July 15, 1996
96-362 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Fourth of July Wrap-up
The park had a record number of visitors over the Fourth of July weekend, andalso experienced a high number of incidents, including three major search andrescue operations, a drowning, 36 medical responses, and 24 arrests. Thelatter included two rapes, the multiple sexual assault incident reported lastweek in the Morning Report and four arrests for disorderly conduct arrests,five for assault, seven for driving under the influence, one for auto theft(this involved a 50 mile chase by representatives from four agencies atspeeds up to 105 mph and concluded with an arrest by rangers), three forburglaries, one for theft, seven for drugs and two for illegal possession ofweapons. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Tuesday, July 30, 1996
96-420 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Arrest of Concession Employee
M.L., an employee at the gas station at Bullfrog, reported a theftof $3,700 on Saturday, July 20th. Further investigation by park rangers andthe park's criminal investigator indicated that it was M.L. who had stolenthe money, then attempted to make the theft look like a burglary. The stolenmoney was found inside a tire at the gas station. M.L. confessed to thecrime and was taken into custody for booking at the Kane County jail. [CRO,GLCA]
Tuesday, July 30, 1996
96-424 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
J.H., 16, of Page, Arizona, was cliff jumping into the lake with fourother boys in an area between Glen Canyon Dam and Anchovy Point on July 28th. One of the boys jumped off the cliff from a height of 50 to 60 feet andlanded on top of J.H., who was swimming below the cliff. J.H. wentunder and did not resurface. Divers from the park and the Coconino Countyrescue team made numerous dives, but were unable to locate him. Theunderwater topography in that area is very steep, with slopes leading to adrop-off into an inner gorge that descends to a point over 500 feet below thesurface. The park's remote operated vessel (ROV) is not operational atpresent, but will be used as soon as it can be repaired. [Tomie Patrick Lee,CR, GLCA]
Monday, August 5, 1996
96-433 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Assault
Rangers arrested 49-year-old D.A. for assaulting a woman at Lone RockBeach on the afternoon of July 31st. Investigation revealed that a felonywarrant had been issued by Yavapai County for his extradition on charges ofsexual contact with minors. D.A. has a history of violence, weaponsviolations, and molestation of children. Following his arrest, D.A. toldrangers he was HIV positive, but this was not confirmed by medical testing. Such claims are becoming an issue with prisoners seeking release whencharged. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Thursday, August 8, 1996
96-444 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Search in Progress
J.H., 37, was reported missing by family members at 6 p.m. on theevening of August 3rd. J.H.'s family had arranged to meet him at HallsCrossing. J.H. arrived late, however, and found that his family hadalready gone out on the lake. A security guard who talked to him just aftermidnight said that J.H. told him he was upset, that this had happened tohim before, and that his family would never do it to him again. His car wassubsequently found in the parking lot at Halls Crossing with his walletinside. Air, water and ground searches were begun, and dog teams have beenbrought in. The main difficulty faced by searchers is in determining thepoint where he was last seen. J.H. has a history of manic depression, druguse and previous suicide attempts. An investigation is underway. [DavidSandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Friday, August 9, 1996
96-424 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Drowning
The search for 16-year-old J.H. concluded on July 31st with therecovery of his body from a depth of 428 feet. J.H. drowned on July 28thwhen a friend jumping off a cliff into the lake struck J.H., who wasswimming below. Dive recovery teams and the park's remote operated vehicle(ROV) were used extensively to cover the search area down to a depth of 500feet. The K.C. Johnson Foundation, a non-profit organization established tohelp recover drowning victims, provided a second ROV to assist in the searchon the 31st, and it located the body. An armature attached to the ROV wasused to recover and raise the body to a depth of 80 feet. Dive team membersfrom the park met the ROV at that point and brought the body to the surface. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Tuesday, August 13, 1996
96-456 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
R.F., 26, drowned in the Coves area on the morning of August 9th. R.F. was visiting the park with a church group from southern Californiawhich was doing volunteer work with Native Americans in Tuba City. A memberof the group who couldn't swim saw him struggling and shouting for help lessthan 20 feet from shore. R.F. was not a strong swimmer. The park's diveteam found him within 45 minutes of the incident's occurrence; CPR was begunby rangers and continued during transport to the hospital in Page, butR.F. did not respond. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Thursday, August 15, 1996
96-463 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Structural Fire
Smoke and flames were observed pouring out of the attic of NPS housing unit119D at Wahweap around 11:30 a.m. on August 12th. The park's structural firebrigade, concessions personnel and the Page fire department responded and hadthe fire under control within an hour. The building and an adjoiningapartment suffered flame, smoke and water damage sufficient to make themunfit for human habitation. Damage has been estimated at $120,000. Twopermanent park employees have been displaced and are now living in temporaryhousing. The cause of the fire is believed to have been a fault in theelectrical wiring in the attic. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, GLCA]
Thursday, September 12, 1996
96-522 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning
The body of R.J., 40, of Salt Lake City, was found floating facedown under the dive platform at the rear of the houseboat on which she'd beenvacationing around 3 p.m. on September 9th. The other three occupants of thehouseboat had not seen her for about 30 minutes. Park staff responded andconducted CPR, but to no avail. The boat's generator was operating, andcarbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust is thought to have been theproximate cause of death. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Thursday, September 19, 1996
96-541 - Natural Bridges/Glen Canyon (Utah) - Assist; Search, Fatality
On September 14th, the San Juan county sheriff's office asked the NPS forassistance in a search for a party of 13 people who'd been caught in a flashflood in White Canyon just downstream from Natural Bridges. The group hadstarted a hike down a slot canyon section of White Canyon known as the BlackHole. Heavy rains caused the stream to rise rapidly and made it difficultfor group members to cross it and reach the only available escape route. Sixof them were able to cross, but the seventh - 16-year-old T.H. -lost her footing and was swept away. The six who'd gotten across managed toscramble up the side of the 600 foot canyon wall and find their way overlandabout six miles to the highway. They eventually reached Hite Marina at GlenCanyon and notified the sheriff's office. Four rangers and maintenancepersonnel from Natural Bridges and four rangers from Glen Canyon joined about30 deputies and SAR volunteers in a night search for T.H. and theremaining six members of the group. Despite the presence of a state policehelicopter with night vision equipment and search lights, no sign of thehikers was found, and the search was suspended at 3 a.m. As the searchresumed the following morning, the six hikers who'd been stranded in thecanyon emerged, having crossed the stream when flood waters subsided. Members of the group were becoming hypothermic by that time. The search forT.H. continued throughout the day, but was unsuccessful until threeprivate individuals with wet suits and other gear who'd come to hike theBlack Hole volunteered to search the slot canyon. T.H.'s body was foundsuspended from a piece of drift about 30 feet above the existing streamlevel. The body was recovered the following day after a difficultextrication effort. [Steve Chaney, NABR]
Tuesday, October 15, 1996
96-601 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Car Clouting/Theft Arrests
On October 8th, ranger Dirk Murphy contacted M.L. and J.D.(actual name) in the Wahweap picnic area regarding an expired vehicleregistration. Investigation revealed that the delivery truck they weredriving had been stolen from its owner in San Francisco while making nightdeliveries on September 24th. Items found in the truck's cargo area tied J.D.and M.L. to five car clouts that had occurred in Grand Canyon betweenOctober 1st and 6th. Drivers licenses, credit cards and personal propertybelonging to four other people were also found in the truck. One of thevictims was an NPS employee who had lost a wallet and organizer from avehicle parked at Grand Canyon's visitor center. Unauthorized charges on theemployee's government American Express card and checks forged against theemployee's account exceeded $1,000. Five federal felony charges were filedagainst the two men, who also face several state felony charges for creditcard fraud and forgery while in Flagstaff. They are being held without bail. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA]
Monday, October 28, 1996
96-634 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Boating Accident with Fatality
A boat with two men aboard struck the canyon wall at a high rate of speed inan area known as the Escalante Arm at 3 p.m. on October 24th. C.P.,28, was killed; David Altop, 32, was injured and flown to a hospital in Pagefor treatment. The park dive team is attempting to recover C.P.'s body,which is in 30 to 200 feet of water. There are no underwater obstructions inthe area. Alcohol may have been involved. [David Sandbakken, GLCA]
Tuesday, November 5, 1996
96-653 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Illegal Commercial Operations
An undercover operation focusing on illegal commercial operations on LakePowell was conducted during the month of August. Criminal investigator ToddSwain from Joshua Tree NP acted as the undercover agent. Six rentalcompanies were found to be illegally launching and retrieving personalwatercraft within the park. All six were cited into court, pled guilty tocharges of illegal commercial operation, and paid a total of $3,000 in finesand over $1,700 in restitution costs. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Tuesday, November 5, 1996
96-654 - Glen Canyon NRA (Arizona/Utah) - Search and Rescue
On October 14th, J.E., 44, of Tucson, Arizona, was reported overdue from acamping trip to the Escalante area of Glen Canyon. Rangers begin searchingfor J.E. with fixed wing aircraft and vehicles and by foot. J.E.'s pickup waslocated by air search. Rangers found a diary inside the truck, last datedOctober 8th. Ranger Jim Bowman accordingly requested that efforts be focusedon the Brimstone Gulch area. The following day, ranger Jeff Lauersdorf and asearch dog handler located J.E. 75 feet below the west rim of the gulch. Atechnical rescue was initiated and J.E. was medevaced by helicopter. J.E. statedhe had entered the slot canyon on October 8th by climbing down drop-offs andsoon realized that he was trapped. J.E. had survived over eight days on five ounces of water and no food, clad only in a tee shirt and shorts. He wasreleased from the hospital on October 23rd in good condition. Search dogsand the Kane County and Garfield County sheriff's departments participated inthe incident. [Dave Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Thursday, November 14, 1996
96-634 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Fatal Boat Accident
The body of K.P., 28, was found by the park's underwater searchvehicle on October 26th and later recovered. K.P. and D.A., 32,were boating in the remote Escalante Arm area of Lake Powell on October 24thwhen their 23-foot cutty cabin cruiser struck a vertical rock wall at a highrate of speed. K.P. was thrown from the vessel into the lake and did notsurface. Stormy weather hampered initial dive operations. Preliminaryindications are that K.P. was driving the boat. No charges have yet beenfiled. The IC was Russ Miller. [David Sanbakken, LES, GLCA]
Thursday, March 6, 1997
97-84 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Assist; Rescue
Rangers responded to an emergency request for assistance from the inholdingcommunity at Greenhaven, Arizona, on the afternoon of March 3rd. A 12-year-old boy and his sisters were digging a tunnel into a sand wall when itcollapsed, burying the boy. A multi-agency rescue effort led to hisextrication from the cave-in. Rangers and local rescue personnel beganadvanced life support measures and were able to restore his pulse. The childwas flown by air ambulance to the children's hospital in Phoenix, where hedied the next day. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/5]
Friday, March 28, 1997
97-118 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Possible Suicide
On the evening of March 29th, visitors saw a man park his sports utilityvehicle about 120 feet from the edge of Muley Point, elevation 6,400 feet. They then heard the vehicle start and saw it accelerate rapidly and gostraight over the rim. It came to rest about 400 feet below. The incidentwas reported to a nearby BLM office at 11 a.m. the following morning. NPSrangers responded with a local EMS helicopter and personnel from three otheragencies. They found the body of W.S., a German national in hisearly 50s, in the vehicle. It appears that he was the only victim. Thecause of the accident is still under investigation. Ranger Cindy Ott-Joneswas IC. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/27]
Tuesday, April 29, 1997
97-173 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning; Search for Victim
A search is underway for 23-year-old K.G., who fell off a boataround 1 a.m. on April 26th and apparently drowned. K.G. was attending aparty for an upcoming wedding and was riding on the bow of the boat when itmade a sharp turn in the Crosby Canyon area and he fell overboard. He wasnot wearing a life jacket. The operator of the boat, Robert Bunch, 21, wassubsequently arrested by park criminal investigators for operating a vesselwhile under the influence of alcohol; he was later released to the custody ofhis father. The park's dive team is attempting to locate the body andcompleted more than 75 dives over the weekend. The K. C. Johnson Foundation,a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of drowning victims, issending eight search divers to participate in the incident. Ranger MayaSeraphin is the incident commander. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 4/28]
Thursday, May 1, 1997
97-173 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Search
The body of K.G. was recovered from the waters of Lake Powellon the morning of April 29th following an intensive, three-day effort thatincluded over 100 dives and more than 50 hours of bottom time. K.G. wasattending a party on a boat and fell overboard during the early morning hoursof April 26th when it made a sharp turn. He was not wearing a life jacket. Members of the NPS-lead, multi-agency team recovered the body just north ofthe Arizona state line at the mouth of Crosby Canyon in Warm Creek Bay. Thesuccessful recovery effort was due to combined efforts by the National ParkService, K.C. Johnson Foundation, Kane County Sheriff's Office, CoconinoCounty Sheriff's Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Utah StateParks, Arizona Game and Fish, ARAMARK, and local businesses. Criminalcharges against the boat operator are pending. [CRO, GLCA, 4/30]
Tuesday, May 6, 1997
97-181 - Glen Canyon NRA (Arizona/Utah) - Plane Crash; Four Fatalities
Park personnel from all divisions responded to a report of a plane crash andfire at the Bullfrog airstrip around 10 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, May3rd. Upon arrival, they found a Cessna 210 turboprop fully engulfed inflames 300 yards north of the runway. The fire was quickly extinguished, butnone of the four occupants survived. Killed were R.S., 52,G.R., 34, T.P., 36, and G.J., 38. R.S. andG.r. were from Gunnison, Colorado; T.P. and G.J. were from CrestedButte, also in Colorado. Preliminary investigation revealed that the Cessnahad departed from Gunnison that morning and was approaching the runway for alanding when the accident occurred. The cause is still unknown at this time. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. Bullfrog subdistrict ranger DixonFreeland was IC for the incident. A CISD session was conducted by staff fromCanyonlands and Arches. [CRO, GLCA, 5/5]
Tuesday, May 27, 1997
97-212 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Assaults; Firebombing
During a vehicle stop just after midnight on May 18th, Arizona state officersdiscovered that the female passenger in a pickup truck was crying and thatshe had an abrasion on her lip. The driver was arrested for operating underthe influence, and the woman was taken to the police department in Page. Shetold officers that the driver, who was her estranged boyfriend and the fatherof the child she is carrying, had forced her to leave Lone Rock Beach, whichis within the park. Rangers were summoned and advised of the full details ofthe incident. The woman said that her ex-boyfriend had found her at thebeach and called her to his truck. When she got near the door, he punchedher in the mouth, then got out of his truck, grabbed a bat from the truck'sbed, and threatened the woman and her friend. Two of the woman's friendstried to defend her and disarm the man, but he overpowered both of them,punching one in the face several times and hitting the other on the head withthe bat. The woman told him she'd go with him if he'd stop hurting herfriends and got in the truck. He drove to Page, bought some more beer, thenheaded back to the beach so he could find her friends and "finish the job." When they got back to the beach, he hit her in the mouth again and askedwhere their camp was. She gave a false location and description in anattempt to protect her companions. He then made some Molotov co*cktails outof empty beer bottles and sent his cousins to firebomb the camp. When theirefforts proved fruitless, the ex-boyfriend became enraged, grabbed theMolotov co*cktails, and decided to firebomb the woman's friend's vehicle. Thecousins did so, setting the vehicle on fire. Bystanders extinguished theflames after they left the area. Search and arrest warrants are beingsought, and the investigation, headed by ranger David VanInwagen, iscontinuing. [CRO, GLCA, 5/23]
Friday, May 30, 1997
97-220 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Memorial Day Weekend Events
Preliminary statistics for the past holiday weekend indicate a sharp increasein arrests and serious offenses from numbers recorded during last year'sMemorial Day weekend. Although the infamous "Hobie Cat Beach" party has beeneliminated as an event, there was an increase in serious crimes, reflecting ageneral trend in the park over the past year. There were 69 arrests (up fromthe 28 arrests during the holiday weekend last year), 19 Part I offenses(only one was recorded last Memorial Day weekend), 252 Part II offenses, 11assaults, and 35 alcohol and 40 drug/controlled substance incidents (crystalmethedrine, LSD, cocaine, mushrooms and marijuana). Serious accidents andEMS incidents, however, were down from the same period last year. The numberof incidents is expected to rise as more reports are completed and filed. Glen Canyon rangers were supported by rangers from Grand Canyon, White Sands,Zion, Grand Teton, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti,Arches, Capitol Reef, Petrified Forest, Navajo, and Bryce Canyon, as well asofficers from law enforcement agencies in Arizona and Utah. [CRO, GLCA,5/28]
Friday, May 30, 1997
97-221 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Rape Arrest A female concession employee was sleeping in her dorm room in Bullfrog around2 a.m. on May 27th when a man entered her room and raped her. Investigationled to the identification of another concession employee, R.A., 19,as a primary suspect. Criminal investigator James Houseman and Bullfrogsubdistrict ranger Dixon Freeland interviewed R.A. in his dorm room andobtained a full confession. He was arrested and has been charged with felonyrape. R.A. has a prior juvenile history of aggravated sexual assault onminors and spent two years in a mental institution in Salt Lake Cityfollowing convictions for those offenses. He has been transferred to amedical facility for psychological evaluation. [CRO, GLCA, 5/28]
Tuesday, June 10, 1997
97-254 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Airplane Crash
A Scenic Airlines charter flight with four persons on board made an emergencywater landing near Wilson Creek Canyon after losing power late on the morningof June 4th. The plane, a Cessna 177, flipped upside down on impact. Thepilot and the three German nationals on board were able to escape from theaircraft, which sank in about 150 feet of water within 30 seconds of impact. There were no injuries. A nearby private vessel rescued the pilot andpassengers. Ranger Lisa Slobodzian responded and transported the victims tothe marina at Dangling Rope. Salvage operations have been initiated. [CRO,GLCA, 6/9]
Wednesday, June 18, 1997
97-272 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
S.B.K., 18, a Korean national, drowned while swimming at Hite justbefore 8 p.m. on June 12th. A friend reported seeing S.B.K. struggle, thendisappear under the lake's surface. Rangers were on scene within 15 minutesand began a search of the area by vessel. Park divers were brought in fromother areas of the park, but were not able to arrive on scene within the timeframe needed to make a rescue. Due to darkness and adverse water conditions,dive recovery operations were delayed until the following morning. S.B.K.'sbody was recovered by the dive team in about 12 feet of water at 9 a.m. [Kerry Haut, Hite SDR, GLCA, 6/17]
Tuesday, July 1, 1997
97-299 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ)- Stalking Arrest
On May 24th, M.S., 38, was arrested at Lone Rock Beach on stalkingcharges. On two separate occasions, M.S. crossed state lines from Utahinto Arizona to write harassing, threatening and profane statements about anNPS employee on park buildings. The content of these statements caused theemployee to fear for her personal safety. Surveillance cameras wereinstrumental in identifying M.S. as the perpetrator. M.S. admitted tothe incidents, stating that he was a former seasonal at Glen Canyon ten yearsago and carried a grudge over work-related issues. He has a total of 17years NPS experience as a non-commissioned seasonal. M.S. wassubsequently indicted by a grand jury on two felony and four misdemeanorcounts and is currently awaiting trial. [Joe Sumner, CI, GLCA, 6/26]
Wednesday, July 23, 1997
97-339 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Fourth of July Weekend Summary
Interagency law enforcement efforts over the Fourth of July weekend resultedin 58 arrests parkwide, with a total of 388 case incidents reported. SeriousEMS calls were limited to 38 incidents, and there were no fatalities. Thesafe weekend and relatively low stats were credited in large part tointeragency cooperation and an expanded seasonal staff. (CRO, GLCA, 7/10)
Friday, July 25, 1997
96-601 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up on Car Clouting/Theft Arrests
On October 8, 1996, ranger Dirk Murphy contacted M.L., 35, andChristopher White, 29, in the Wahweap picnic area regarding an expiredvehicle registration. Investigation revealed that the delivery truck theywere driving had been stolen from its owner in San Francisco in Septemberwhile the owner had been making night deliveries. Items found in the truck'scargo area tied White and M.L. to five car clouts that had occurred inGrand Canyon earlier in October. Late this spring, the district court judgein Phoenix sentenced M.L. to two years and White to 11 months in prisonfor stealing the vehicle. White was also sentenced for his possession of acounterfeit San Francisco postal key. The investigation was conducted bycriminal investigators Jim Houseman and Joe Sumner. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR,GLCA, 7/21]
Friday, July 25, 1997
97-362 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Car Clout Arrests
Four separate auto burglaries were conducted in the parking lots in the stateline area on June 15th and 22nd. Stolen were electric winches, bumpers, toolboxes, CDs, and fog lights with a cumulative value of $8,500. On June 30th,the investigation led rangers and a criminal investigator to three differentresidences and one business where stolen items were recovered. On July 15th,three men - A.B., 21, D.S., 21, and K.B., 18,all residents of Page, Arizona - were arrested and appeared in countydistrict court. They will be prosecuted for felony theft and auto burglary. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/22]
Wednesday, July 30, 1997
97-410 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Rescues
A strong weather system passed through the Wahweap subdistrict on theafternoon of July 27th. Sustained winds of 45 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph,were recorded from 3 p.m. until dark. Waves up to six feet high were whippedup near Castle Rock along the main boat route back to Wahweap. Many boatswere returning to the launch ramps and marina after a long and very busyweekend, and numerous accidents occurred. Several boats were swamped, atleast one vessel sank, and one boat with eight Boy Scouts on board capsizedin the middle of Wahweap Bay. Another three people on personal water craft(PWCs) were repeatedly knocked into the water by the high winds and requiredassistance. Reports are still coming in, but a total of at least 59 peoplewere rescued through a coordinated effort by rangers, concession employeesand visitors. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/28]
Monday, August 18, 1997
97-454 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Flash Flood; Eleven Fatalities
On Tuesday, August 12th, eleven people who had entered Antelope Canyon fromthe adjacent Navajo Reservation were killed when caught by a sudden flashflood which funneled a wall of water through the very narrow canyon (thecanyon begins on the reservation and empties into Lake Powell). Six of thetwelve were members of a Trek America tour group; only the guide survived. Ajoint, inter-agency search was begun which involved park staff, state andcounty officers, tribal police, and members of the county SAR team and Pagefire and rescue department. Searchers also employed dog teams, divers, boatsand helicopters in the effort. One body was located immediately, but noothers were found on Tuesday or Wednesday. The flood deposited about fivefeet of silt and left a debris field near the lake which consisted of a densemat of highly compressed and entwined vegetative material with the overallconsistency of peat moss. This mat, which ranged in thickness from two tosix feet, floated on two to seven feet of water, which in turn covered asecond layer of debris. The method of searching through the debris fieldinvolved personnel in wet suits working chest deep in water and compresseddebris in extreme heat and water temperatures in the 80s. Working conditionswere described as hellish. Two victims were found on Thursday; five more onFriday; none on Saturday. A boater on Lake Powell discovered a floating bodyabout a mile from the debris field on Sunday, bringing the total number ofrecovered victims to nine. Additional personnel were brought in from GrandCanyon's SAR team late in the week, as Glen Canyon rangers were needed in thepark (the Wahweap subdistrict alone had a major medical, a drowning and amayday call from a swamped boat, all on Wednesday). Because of theexceedingly difficult working conditions and the unusually disagreeablenature of the recovery efforts, the park has employed a three-person CISDteam from Zion, a two-person CISD team from Arches/Canyonlands, and twomental health professionals from Tucson for critical incident stressdebriefings. The sessions have been open to all agencies and have beenheavily utilized. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/12-8/17]
Monday, August 18, 1997
97-459 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Boating Fatality
D.B., 44, and his wife N.B., 45, both of Chatsworth, California,departed Dry Rock Creek in an 18-foot rental vessel and headed for DanglingRope Marina on the morning of August 7th. The vessel crashed into a rockwall only minutes after their departure. N.B. was killed, and D.B.sustained life-threatening injuries. He was flown to a hospital inPage, then to Flagstaff, where he was listed in stable condition at the timeof the report. Dangling Rope subdistrict ranger Lisa Slobodzian served asIC. The accident investigation is continuing. A CISD session was conductedfor park staff the following day. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/11]
Tuesday, August 19, 1997
97-454 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Flash Flood with Fatalities
The search for the remaining two victims of the Antelope Canyon floodcontinued yesterday, but neither was found. Debris is spreading down thecanyon, making it impossible to get close to the main debris field with theboats currently in use. A surplus military jet boat will therefore beemployed to enter the area. The search is being conducted jointly by thepark and the Coconino County sheriff's department. Current plans are tocontinue twice daily checks of the canyon through tomorrow night. If theremaining victims have not been found by that time, a new team of scent dogsand handlers will be brought to the search area. Representatives from thesheriff's department and park escorted the families of the British andSwedish victims through the area checked by the park boat yesterday. Although no media are left in the area, the park is receiving telephone callsrequesting updates. The calls are being referred to the sheriff's office inFlagstaff. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/18]
Wednesday, August 20, 1997
97-454 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Flash Flood with Fatalities
A military jet boat was employed to search the Antelope Canyon debris fieldyesterday, but no sign of the remaining two victims was found. The canyonwill be searched by boat again twice today; dog teams and a helicopter willbe utilized tomorrow. The chief nurse from the Lake Powell Medical Centerbriefed park staff yesterday on the potential exposure of searchers tohepatitis A, salmonella, tetanus and giardia from collateral sewage runoffthat occurred with the flood; appropriate immunizations have been identifiedfor search team members. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/19]
Thursday, August 21, 1997
97-459 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Boating Accident
D.B., 44, died on August 16th from liver and kidney injuriessustained in a boating accident in Dry Rock Creek on August 7th. His wife,N.B., 45, died at the scene. D.B. was in stable conditionfor several days before his condition began to deteriorate. The B.sleft two small children. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/18]
Thursday, August 21, 1997
97-479 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
J.L., 18, of Red Lake, Arizona, and three friends were floating onsmall inflatable rafts about 25 feet from shore near "The Chains" beach whenJ.L.'s raft overturned, possibly due to high, gusting winds. J.L. andthe other members of his group were all poor swimmers. J.L. was unable toreach shore and disappeared under the water's surface. His body wasrecovered in approximately 15 feet of water by bystanders within five to tenminutes. They began CPR; rangers arrived within five minutes of notificationand began administering advanced life support measures. A Classic Lifeguardhelicopter was on scene within ten minutes and transported him to thehospital in Page, where he was pronounced dead. Ranger Maya Seraphin was IC. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/20]
Friday, August 22, 1997
97-454 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Flash Flood with Fatalities
Two scent dog teams were lowered into the dry sections of Antelope Canyonyesterday. Although one dog alerted, no sign of either of the remaining twovictims was found. A boat search of the navigable portion of the canyon wasalso fruitless. Both operations will continue today. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA,8/21]
Wednesday, August 27, 1997
97-454 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Flash Flood with Fatalities
No signs have yet been found of the two victims who are still missing, onebelieved to be French, the other Swedish. Search efforts have been scaledback to daily checks of the navigable portions of Antelope Canyon. Navajoofficials have not yet reopened the lower Antelope Canyon tour route, whichis where the flash flood and fatalities occurred. Current plans are to leaveit closed until all the victims have been found. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/25]
Thursday, September 4, 1997
97-526 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Assist; Artifact Repatriation
During a drug task force search of the Page, Arizona, home of G.J. lastApril, officers found and seized numerous artifacts, including three Tusayanblack-on-red bowls, two unidentifiable grayware bowls with black paint on redslip, two unidentifiable whiteware bowls, one Prescott grayware Verde black-on-gray bowl, one Gallup black-on-white ladle, three Tusayan grayware jars(possibly Keet Siel), two Tusayan corrugated pitchers, and two Tusayancorrugated ollas. The items were turned over to park investigators forfollow-up investigations. Interviews with G.J. revealed that the artifactscame from sites around the Black Mesa coal mine on the Navajo reservation andthat they were taken in the late 1980s. G.J. was a heavy equipment operatorat the mine and searched for the items after work. G.J. abandoned theartifacts to the NPS, and they were recently turned over to the BIA forrepatriation to the Navajo nation. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/11 and 8/27]
Thursday, September 4, 1997
97-527 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Flooding Following heavy rains in the Wahweap area on September 1st and 2nd, LakeshoreDrive was closed due to large mud and sand flows across the road. Stronggusting winds accompanying the rain also broke off a power pole along thedrive. Park maintenance workers were able to reopen the road on theafternoon of the 2nd, but one overlook remains closed. The road to theChains was also closed, as it was washed out in several places and largeamounts of rock and gravel washed across numerous sections. The areasimpacted by this storm are four to six miles from lower Antelope Canyon,where 11 people drowned during a flash flood three weeks ago. Weatherforecasts are calling for continuing monsoon rains throughout the rest of theweek. (Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/3)
Thursday, September 4, 1997
97-533 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Theft Arrest On August 23rd, a visitor reported the theft of $20,000 worth of jewelry fromher room at the Anasazi Lodge. Rangers Brian Stackowitz and Charles Browninvestigated the case and identified two suspects, both housekeepers at thelodge. Bullfrog subdistrict ranger Dixon Freeland and criminal investigatorJim Houseman interviewed both suspects and obtained a confession fromF. "T." J., 23, of Kayenta, Arizona. All the jewelry has beenrecovered except for one diamond earring. F.J. also confessed to twoadditional thefts from lodge rooms in which he stole just under $1,600 incash. On August 31st, John was arrested on six felony theft and burglarycharges. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/2]
Wednesday, September 10, 1997
97-549 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drug Arrest
On August 31st, rangers Dixon Freeland and criminal investigator JamesHouseman learned that a concession employee was distributing marijuanathrough information gained during a traffic stop. Freeland and Housemaninterviewed R.C., 29, a concession waiter and houseboat cleaner, athis residence, and subsequently received permission to search the property. A one pound brick of marijuana, five one-ounce bags of marijuana and $422 incash were found in his bedroom and seized. R.C. confessed to hisinvolvement in the distribution of marijuana in Bullfrog. R.C.'s 1990Nissan four-by-four was also seized, and he was arrested on one felony countof possession with intent to distribute. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/2]
Thursday, September 11, 1997
97-552 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
L.M., 23, of Milan, Italy, was reported missing at the Coves on theafternoon of August 30th. He was last seen in the water by his threecompanions about 15 minutes before they became concerned and sought help. Responding rangers were on scene within five minutes and divers arrived onlyminutes later. L.M. was found 42 feet below the lake's surface about 30feet from shore 30 minutes later. The underwater topography at thatlocations consists of a series of sloping shelves with a sudden plunge todepths of up to 120 feet. The victim was transported to Page Hospital andwas not pronounced dead until about an hour later. The incident is beinginvestigated by ranger Will Lebon. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/2]
Thursday, September 18, 1997
97-577 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Boating Fatality
R.E., 32, was exiting a side canyon in Hansen Creek Canyon on ajet ski at high speed on the afternoon of September 10th when he struck asmall jet boat head on and was thrown from his jet ski. R.E. sustainedmortal injuries and never regained consciousness. [Cindy Ott-Jones, DR,Uplake District, GLCA, 9/17]
Monday, October 6, 1997
97-610 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Boat Fire
On September 20th, "The Great Escape," a 60-foot houseboat, was being fueledat the Wahweap fuel dock when winds blew fumes into the interior of thevessel through an access port and were ignited by a propane pilot light. Aramark concession employees attempted to extinguish the fire, but wereunsuccessful. The houseboat was towed from the dock into Wahweap Bay by theconcessioner. The park's fire boat responded, but high winds caused the fireto spread quickly through the vessel's interior. Additional NPS firefighterswere summoned. The fire was extinguished after about 30 minutes, by whichpoint the superstructure had burned down to the hull. The vessel was towedback to the Wahweap main launch ramp. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/29]
Tuesday, October 7, 1997
97-615 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - EMS Rescue
On the afternoon of September 22nd, park dispatch received a marine bandreport of a boat accident with a possible drowning in Ice Cream Canyon. Thepatient was reported to be en route to a park boat ramp aboard a privatevessel. Wahweap rangers responded by water and land. Upon arrival, theyfound that the victim, a 45-year-old woman, was receiving CPR from herhusband. It was determined that she was apneic with a blocked airway and wasalso suffering from an asthma attack secondary to the boat accident, but thatshe had a pulse. ALS measures were implemented by park medic DavidVanInwagen, assisted by EMTs Will LeBon and Patty Briggs. Two treatments ofalbuterol were given to the patient while en route to the hospital in Page. The woman was transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center, where she remains inintensive care. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/29]
Monday, October 20, 1997
97-646 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Attempted Murder
Concession employee T.F., 34, assaulted and stabbed fellow employeeM.K., 39, in M.K.'s dormitory room in Bullfrog just before 1 a.m.on October 15th. A security guard alerted the park. Rangers BillFitzpatrick and Brian Stackowicz arrested T.F., while rangers Leanne Appleand Mark Camisa provided emergency ALS treatment. Kocan was airlifted toPage Hospital in critical condition. A representative from the countysheriff's office transported T.F. to jail. T.F. admitted to the assaultduring interrogation and has been charged with attempted murder and assaultunder state statutes. T.F. was recently released from prison after servingtime on a manslaughter conviction. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 10/17]
Tuesday, October 21, 1997
97-654 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Filming Permit Violation
On August 8th, a film permit was issued to NEHA/MAD Films, a productioncompany from Salt Lake City, for several days of filming within the park. The company was coordinating locations and handling permitting, bonds,insurance and other matters for a production team from Bombay, India, whichwas shooting a feature for Indian audiences. Insurance and a bond for$25,000 were collected. After the filming was completed, the park accepted acompany check for $3,050 for the monitoring costs of the permit and returnedthe bond intact. The check subsequently bounced and a bill of collectionwill be issued in an attempt to collect the debt. This is the first timethis situation has occurred in the park, which issues about 70 film permitsannually. There is reason to believe that the company from India may returnto America to film, possibly working with another American productioncompany. The producer's name is S.M., the director is M.A.[Eileen Martinez, PR, GLCA, 10/20]
Thursday, October 23, 1997
96-444 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up on Search
Two park visitors who were hiking in Moki Canyon about three miles east ofHalls Crossing on October 12th reported finding a human skull. Rangers SteveLuckesen and Andrew Perry searched the area and found scattered bones and apile of clothing nearby. Investigation revealed that they are the remains ofJ.H., 37, who was reported missing at the Halls Crossing marina onAugust 6, 1996. J.H.'s family had arranged to meet him at the marina. J.H. arrived late, however, and was unable to locate them. Observers atthe marina told rangers that he was last seen demonstrating bizarre andirrational behavior on the marina breakwater. Family members reported thatJ.H. had a history of manic depression, drug use and previous suicideattempts. A search was begun which employed the park's dive team andunderwater ROV (remote operated vehicle), Civil Air Patrol planes, and searchdog teams. Temperatures at the time were around 100 degrees. It's believedthat J.H. may have died of exposure. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 10/22]
Tuesday, November 25, 1997
97-714 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Commercial Use Violations
Following the receipt of complaints from legitimate outfitters and huntersabout an illegal guiding service during the 1996 season, an interagencyoperation was put into effect for the 1997 big horn hunting season to monitorremote access areas in the Escalante region. Rangers Mark Camisa (GLCA),Jeff Lauersdorf (GLCA), and Bill Wolverton (CANY) participated in theoperation along with officers from BLM and the state of Utah; ranger JimBowman (GLCA) served as IC. Two suspected guides were subsequently contactedby the team. B.C. was cited for illegal guiding, pled guilty, andwas fined $1,000 in federal court; the second man remains underinvestigation. Several hunters contacted during the operation voicedpositive comments about the effort to curb illegal guide services. [DavidSandbakken, LES, GLCA, 11/24]
Thursday, December 4, 1997
97-734 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - ARPA/NAGPRA Conviction
On November 21st, R.L. pled guilty in federal court in Salt Lake Cityto one felony ARPA count and one misdemeanor NAGPRA count, both stemming fromhis sale of the skull of a prehistoric Native American male adult (probablyfrom the Basketmaker culture) to an undercover park criminal investigator. At the time of the sale, R.L. was under investigation by a local drug taskforce which includes representatives from the park among its members. TheARPA offense came under the interstate commerce provision of the statutebecause R.L. transported the skull from its storage location in Arizona tothe place of sale in Utah just before the sale - a violation of statutes inboth Arizona and Utah. R.L. is currently in state prison in Utah for sale ofmethamphetamines following a conviction on charges stemming from the drugtask force operation. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 12/3]
Monday, December 22, 1997
97-212 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up on Assault
Last May, B.J. was arrested after he assaulted and kidnapped a formergirlfriend at Lone Rock beach, assaulted two men who came to her aid, and wasinvolved in firebombing one of their vehicles. He was subsequently indictedon two counts of interstate violence and one count of kidnapping. OnNovember 16th, B.J. pled guilty to the interstate domestic violence chargesin district court in Phoenix. This precedent-setting case is importantbecause it is the first conviction of its kind in the District of Arizona. B.J. will serve 37 months in federal prison. Charges against him for the useof explosives are currently pending in the District of Utah. Theinvestigation was completed by ranger David VanInwagen and a park criminalinvestigator. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 12/19]
Wednesday, March 25, 1998
97-173 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Boating Homicide Conviction
During a bachelor party in Warm Creek Bay on April 26, 1997, K.G.,23, was standing up in the bow of a boat holding onto the bow ropewhile the operator, R.B., 21, made a series of serpentine turns. Asa result, K.G. fell overboard and was struck by the boat's propeller. R.B.'s blood alcohol was subsequently determined to have been 0.175 at thetime of the accident. K.G.'s body was recovered by the park's dive teamafter a four-day effort that entailed over 100 dives. On March 20th, R.B.pled guilty to vehicle/vessel homicide, a class 3 felony, in state districtcourt, and was sentenced to up to five years in prison (with 45 days to beserved), a $5,000 fine, 18 months' supervised probation, participation in asubstance abuse program, and restitution of $1,675 to the victim's family and$6,379 to the park (for programmed SAR costs). [CRO, GLCA, 3/23]
Thursday, March 26, 1998
98-119 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Possible Suicide
The body of 18-year-old C.B. of Page, Arizona, was found at thedam overlook by two park visitors around 9 a.m. on Monday, March 23rd. Theapparent cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head. A handgunwas found nearby. C.B.'s death is probably a suicide, but other leads arebeing pursued, since C.B. told several friends that he wanted to get evenwith an individual who had reported him for narcotics use. C.B. was to besentenced to three years' probation for a recent burglary conviction later inthe day on Monday. C.B. had stolen the handgun used in his death from alocal police officer's home an hour before he was found dead. Park criminalinvestigators and county officers are continuing the investigation. [DaveSandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/25]
Tuesday, April 28, 1998
98-165 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Search; Probable Drowning
W.K., 46, a Forest Service employee from Flagstaff, Arizona, felloverboard from a 14-foot aluminum fishing boat on the evening of April 23rdwhile returning from a day trip on the San Juan River to his fishing camp atPaiute Farms in a remote section of the park. Dive operations were begun thefollowing morning and continued through the weekend, but without result. Murky water reduced visibility and made dives difficult. The search has beenscaled back to overflights and periodic shoreline patrols. W.K. was well-known to NPS fire crews in Arizona and southeast Utah. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA,4/27]
Thursday, April 30, 1998
98-170 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Homicide
On April 20th, ranger Mark Camisa responded to a request from the GreenCounty sheriff to check out a report of a human body dumped just off of StateRoute 276 a few miles outside of Bullfrog. Camisa and a county deputy foundthe body of an adult female inside a sleeping bag a few feet down a steepslope along the main road. Although the body was outside of park boundaries,the investigation now points to the possibility that the homicide wascommitted within the park. The victim's fingers had been amputated, therebycomplicating positive identification. The investigation is continuing withassistance from the park and the Utah Bureau of Investigation; the countysheriff's office is the lead agency. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/27]
Wednesday, May 6, 1998
98-165 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up: Search for Drowning Victim
The body of W.K., 46, a Forest Service employee from Flagstaff,was recovered from the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell on Sunday, May 3rd. Search operations had been scaled back to daily overflights and shorelinepatrols prior to the discovery of the body by bass fishermen. The fishermenstayed with the body until ranger Lisa Slobodzian and Dangling Ropemaintenance employees Ron Ames and Floyd Onesalt arrived on scene to make therecovery. W.K.'s body was found about 300 yards from the point where hewas last seen by his companion, who was operating the boat at the time of theaccident. Injuries indicate that W.K. was hit in the head by the boat'spropeller and was probably killed instantly. CISD was provided for parkemployees. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/5]
Tuesday, June 2, 1998
98-244 - Parks Systemwide - Memorial Day Weekend Summaries
The following are summaries of events and incidents that occurred in twoparks on Memorial Day weekend:
Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - The park had the quietest Memorial Dayweekend in recent years. Although several arrests were made for DUIand drugs, the traditional big parties at Hobie Cat and Lone Rock didnot materialize. Gang fights and assaults have been largely eliminatedat the latter site, which is again being used by families.
Similar summaries are solicited from parks such as these that experience ahigh degree of activity on this traditionally busy weekend. [Bill Blake, CR,NERI, 5/26; CRO, GUIS, 5/29; Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/1]
Monday, July 13, 1998
98-346 - Servicewide - Fourth of July Weekend Events
The following holiday-related events took place over the Fourth of Julyweekend:
o Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Although the park was extremely busy, there were no fatalities and the number of major incidents was down from previous years. A total of 331 incidents were reported over the holiday weekend, with 31 resulting in arrests by rangers. Numerous other arrests were made by cooperating agencies with jurisdiction within park boundaries. Personnel responded to 29 EMS calls, seven of them requiring advanced life support. A brush fire was started by illegal fireworks in the Wahweap trailer village on the evening of July 4th. When firefighters arrived on scene, two large trees had crowned out and the fire was spreading rapidly due to gusting winds, threatening several mobile homes. The fire was quickly controlled and extinguished, with no loss of property and no injuries. Fire chief and district ranger Phil Hibbs directed the operation. On the afternoon of the 4th, two park interpreters were hit by a vehicle at the Stateline launch ramp, but were not injured. They were directing traffic on the ramp during high winds and rain. There was a long line of vehicles with visitors waiting to pickup their boats and jet skis at the time. A vehicle driven by B.A., 21, of Page, cut in the line; he refused to leave and return to the back of the line. B.A. rolled up the window of his truck and ignored both interpreters' repeated attempts to talk to him. When they stepped in front of his vehicle, he motioned for them to move, then let his vehicle roll forward, striking them both. B.A. then backed up, drove around them, and attempted to load his jet skis onto his trailer. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and interference.
[Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/9; Tony Sisto, Superintendent, FOVA, 7/8; Pat Ruff,CR, COWP, 7/8]
Friday, July 24, 1998
98-420 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Boating Accident with Fatality
Four-year-old Z.D. of Bountiful, Utah, was thrown from the boat hewas riding in when it struck a rock shoal around 3:45 p.m. on the afternoonof July 22nd. Momentum carried the boat over the boy and he was struck onthe head and body by the propeller. Family members brought him to the marinaat Dangling Rope. Rangers Lisa Slobodzian, Mark Henderson, and maintenancesupervisor Ron Hockings provided advanced life support while awaiting thearrival of the responding medical helicopter. The medical staff on board thehelicopter pronounced Z.D. dead at 4:30 p.m. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA,7/23]
Monday, August 10, 1998
98-478 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
On August 5th, J.P., 18, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was cliffdiving in Forbidding Canyon near Rainbow Bridge. J.P. and six of hisfriends dove from a 50-foot ledge at the same time. J.P. surfaced for amoment, then disappeared. The bottom depth at that location ranges from 130to 179 feet, with no obstructions. Park divers searched to 130 feet thefirst day, but failed to find him. On August 6th, the park's remote operatedvehicle (ROV) was brought in and found his body at 165 feet. NPS divers PatHorning and Chad Nelson recovered the body, and brought him to fouradditional divers at the 130-foot and 60-foot levels to permit planned safetydecompression stops. The case is being investigated jointly by the park andSan Juan County sheriff's office. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/7]
Thursday, August 13, 1998
98-493 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Rescue
M.H., 23, of South Jordan, Utah, was digging in a large sand cavein the back of Moki Canyon on August 10th when the sand collapsed and buriedhim. Nearby boaters and members of a Boy Scout troop dug him out after about20 minutes. Two California firemen and a trauma nurse camping nearby beganCPR on M.H., who appeared lifeless, while transporting him on a privatevessel. Rangers Steve Luckesen, Leanne Apple and Phil Akers met the boat enroute, began advanced life support, resuscitated M.H., and got him on amedevac helicopter. He was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he'slisted in critical condition. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/12]
Thursday, August 13, 1998
98-494 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Rescue
While the above incident was underway on August 10th, a 13-year-old girlnearly drowned in Kane Wash. Family members recovered her from seven feet ofwater, began CPR, and were able to get a pulse. Rangers Lisa Slobodzian,Nate Card and Mark Henderson responded and began advanced life support whiletransporting her to Wahweap and Page Hospital. She was then flown toUniversity Medical Center in Las Vegas, where she remains in criticalcondition. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/12]
Thursday, August 20, 1998
98-523 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
J.D., 55, of Riverside, California went diving for an oil cap at therear of his houseboat in Cottonwood Canyon on the evening of August 18th. When he failed to resurface, other members of his group tried to find him andadvised the park. Ranger Steve Luckeson, ranger/diver Russ Miller and diveteam leader Pat Horning responded by boat and helicopter and recovered hisbody in 12 feet of water at the rear of the houseboat. J.D. had earliercomplained of the exhaust from the boat's engine. Carbon monoxide has sincebeen confirmed as a contributing factor in the drowning. [Phil Hibbs, ActingCR, GLCA, 8/19]
Monday, August 24, 1998
98-527 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Multiple Boat Accidents and Rescues
Downlake District rangers were dispatched simultaneously to several boataccidents with serious injuries just after 2 p.m. on the afternoon of August15th. The first incident was at Padre Bay, where a stationary personalwatercraft (PWC) was struck by a second PWC operating at high speed. Aneight-year-old girl suffered head and back injuries and a fractured pelvis; a25-year old male also had a fractured pelvis, along with possible hip and legfractures. One was flown by helicopter to the hospital in Page, the otherwas taken to the same location by boat and ambulance. The same alert tonethat sent Wahweap rangers responding to the first incident was also used todispatch Dangling Rope rangers to a report of a seven-year-old boy who wasbeing transported to their location via a private vessel. The operator ofthe boat he was in had taken a sharp turn; the boy had struck his head on theboat, then been ejected into the lake. The boy was taken to Page Hospital bypatrol vessel and park ambulance. While en route to this call, the firstrangers to respond from Dangling Rope were diverted to an accident in the SanJuan Arm of the lake in which a single boat had run into a rock wall,injuring four people. An 18-month-old with a fractured clavicle and hisfather were flown to Page Hospital, the remaining two victims weretransported to Page via patrol vessel and the park ambulance. While rangerswere in the midst of receiving and triaging patients in Wahweap, a privatevessel arrived with a 28-year-old male who had complete paralysis on one sideof his body from a tubing accident in Face Canyon. While he was beingtreated, the boat's operator was evaluated and subsequently arrested forboating under the influence of alcohol. His blood alcohol level was over .20at the time. While these incidents were underway, rangers also responded toa fire alarm at the Wahweap Lodge (later discovered to have been caused bychildren pulling an alarm) and a report of an 18-year-old woman with chestpain and difficulty in breathing. All of these incidents were reportedwithin an hour. Two medical flight services from outside the immediate areawere utilized because the normal provider, Classic Helicopters, was returningfrom Flagstaff at the time, having transported a snake bite victim whosuffered serious side effects after being bitten in Navajo Canyon four hoursearlier. During this earlier incident, rangers also responded to, treated,and transported a boy with a second-degree rope burn to the palm of his handand investigated a boat accident in which a small speedboat fell off atrailer on to a very congested launch ramp. Shortly thereafter, Wahweaprangers responded to an MVA with injuries. A vehicle on Lake Shore Drive wasrun off the road, lost control on the shoulder, crossed the center line, andstruck the guardrail in the opposite lane. The guardrail saved the vehicle'soccupants from going over a steep, 200-foot embankment into the lake. Bothoccupants of the vehicle were treated and transported to Page Hospital viapark and city ambulances. A total of 13 patients were transported to thehospital by three helicopters, two ambulances, and three park vessels; tenrangers were involved, and were assisted by six different agencies andprivate medical flight services. The rangers extend their thanks to parkdispatchers for providing outstanding support. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, WahweapSubdistrict, GLCA, 8/21]
Wednesday, September 2, 1998
98-548 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Sexual Assault Investigation
On August 22nd, a 35-year-old female concession employee reported that she'dbeen sexually assaulted in the park on the previous night. She said thatshe'd gotten off work at 10:45 p.m., then began walking home - a distance of12 miles - because she didn't have a ride. She'd gone about two miles when avehicle stopped and the driver offered her a ride. She said that she did notrecognize either of the two men and was unable to give a detailed descriptionof the vehicle. After driving a few miles, the male in the front passengerseat slid his seat back against her legs, trapping her in the back, thenbegan forcibly fondling her. She was driven to a remote location, removedfrom the car, and sexually assaulted by one of the men. She said that shethen lost consciousness and awoke later at a relative's home. Severalquestions remain unanswered, and it also appears that the assault likely tookplace outside the park in a remote part of the city of Page. Ranger MayaSeraphin is coordinating the NPS investigation and working with county andcity officers. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, GLCA, 8/28]
Thursday, September 3, 1998
98-560 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
S.E., 38, of Arvada, Colorado, drowned on the afternoon of August30th while attempting to untangle a rope from a dual propeller houseboat onthe San Juan Arm of Lake Powell in Paiute Canyon. He had successfullyuntangled one propeller and was working on the other when he disappeared. The park's dive team found his body in eight feet of water. [DavidSandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/2]
Tuesday, September 8, 1998
98-243 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up: Search for Felons
On August 31st, park visitors reported seeing two men in the park who matchedthe descriptions of M.P. and J.M., wanted for the murder of apolice officer and assaults on other officers and the superintendent ofHovenweep NM. The visitors had beached their personal watercraft at theshoreline in a rugged, remote area in Desha Canyon where the shore bordersNavajo lands. The site is several miles from any regular roads. Thevisitors were walking up the canyon when they saw the men watching them frombehind bushes about 60 feet uphill and 100 feet away. They were carrying afive gallon water jug and long objects covered by rain gear that may havebeen rifles. There were no boats in the vicinity. The canyon is notfrequented by backpackers, nor did the men have any backpacking equipmentwith them. The visitors waved to the men, but decided to leave the area whenneither waved back. They then reported the incident to rangers at theDangling Rope marina, providing accurate descriptions of the men. Thisinformation, along with prior evidence indicating that M.P. and J.M. hadfood and ammo caches at Lake Powell, was relayed to the FBI command post inCortez, Colorado, and to Navajo tribal police. Navajo police tactical teamsbegan land-based operations in the area; rangers set up perimeters withpatrol vessels to protect visitors who might be entering the area. A specialevent team with all-risk management overhead was also brought in to assurevisitor safety over the holiday weekend. The IC at the time of the reportwas Joe Sumner; Chris Pergiel was operations chief. Additional informationwill follow. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/4]
Thursday, September 10, 1998
98-581 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - PWC Accident; Drowning
J.H., 34, of Rancho Mirage, California, and a friend left theircampsite in Anasazi Canyon on separate personal watercraft (PWCs) aroundmidnight on September 3rd. J.H. failed to return from the trip. Friendsbegan searching for him and found his PWC about a quarter mile from thecampsite around 7 a.m. They called for assistance through a visitor with amarine band radio. Rangers Pete Dalton and Mark Henderson responded. Henderson found and recovered J.H.'s body from about six feet of water. Hehad sustained head injuries and there was damage to his PWC. [DavidSandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/4]
Thursday, September 10, 1998
98-582 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
D.E., a 10-year-old girl from Durango, Colorado, drowned on theafternoon of September 6th when she fell into flash flood waters in Ice CreamCanyon. She was standing about 15 feet above the flood waters with herbrother when the sandstone rock beneath her sloughed away, causing her tolose her footing. Her 12-year-old brother jumped in to attempt a rescue, butthe force of the water and debris swept him away with his sister. The girlwas found by her uncle within 15 minutes; she was in six feet of water undera large pile of debris. CPR was begun by family members and nearby campers. Staff from Aramark Concession Services were first on scene with a physicianwho continued CPR efforts, but they were unable to revive her. Rangers JimTraub and Jay Drinkwater also responded and set up a landing zone for themedevac helicopter. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/4]
Tuesday, September 15, 1998
98-243 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up: Search for Felons
On August 31st, visitors reported seeing two men in the park who matched thedescriptions of M.P. and J.M., wanted for the murder of apolice officer and assaults on other officers and the superintendent ofHovenweep NM. The visitors had beached their personal watercraft at theshoreline in a rugged, remote area in Desha Canyon where the shore bordersNavajo lands. The FBI and Navajo police were notified, and Navajo policetactical teams began land-based operations in the area. Rangers set upperimeters with patrol vessels to protect visitors who might be entering thearea. A special event team with all-risk management overhead was alsobrought in to assure visitor safety over the Labor Day weekend and to helphandle the possible involvement of many law enforcement agencies and mediarepresentatives. Tactical teams found no sign of the two men anddiscontinued their search on the evening of Saturday, September 5th. Theyconducted tracking operations for over 60 hours and believe that the two menare no longer in the immediate area. The ICS team demobilized the followingday, and the closure of Desha Canyon was lifted. Mona Divine was IC for theincident; the SET team was led by Rick Guerrieri. Recommendations by theteam have been submitted regarding possible future incidents involving thetwo fugitives and impacts on NPS areas. Superintendent Joe Alston expressedhis appreciation for the professionalism and expertise shown by all membersof the combined team assigned to the incident. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR,9/6 and 9/14]
Tuesday, September 15, 1998
98-591 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Search; Drowning
V.C., 51, of Newton, Connecticut, was riding in a ski boatbeing towed by a houseboat near Stateline marina on the afternoon ofSeptember 9th. V.C. attempted to swim from the ski boat to thehouseboat, a distance of less than 50 feet, but began calling for help whileen route and soon disappeared. A distress call was sent out via marine bandradio within four minutes and members of the park dive team were on scenewithin another 12 minutes. The visitors reporting the incident could notspecify where they'd last seen him, however, so the search area covers 20 to30 acres, with depths ranging from 200 to 300 feet. Search operations areunderway using the park's ROV (remote operated vessel), which has a camera onboard; a sonar side scanner may also be employed. The IC is Chris Pergiel;ops chief is Pat Horning. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/10]
Wednesday, September 16, 1998
98-596 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Suspected Suicide, Concession Employee
J.W., 19, of Salt Lake City, was found dead yesterday morning onthe floor of her dormitory trailer in the park. J.W., who had worked as aconcession employee at Hite for a month, had gotten into a fight with herboyfriend the previous evening. Evidence indicates a probable overdose fromassorted substances found at the scene. J.W. had a history of suicidethreats; a suicide note was found near her body. An investigation isunderway. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/15]
Thursday, September 17, 1998
98-243 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up: Search for Felons
Although the search continues for M.P. and J.M., wanted forthe murder of a police officer and assaults on other officers and thesuperintendent of Hovenweep NM, a review of the incident has already beenheld to discuss and evaluate the initial phase of the operation. The reviewwas held in late August in Cortez, Colorado, site of the original shooting. The review included a discussion of the operation, a viewing of the shootingscenes, examination of three of the eight police vehicles hit by gunfire onMay 29th, and a retracing of the route taken by the men as they fled towardHovenweep NM. Superintendent Art Hutchison walked the group through theshooting incident that took place in the park. The field review concludedwith a trip to the point where the fugitives ditched their stolen vehicle andthe site along the San Juan River where a county deputy was shot. Rangersfrom Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Rocky Mountain, Archesand Canyonlands participated along with local deputies, investigators,incident management personnel, a BLM ranger, staff from WASO and FLETC, andthe FBI case agent. All parties agreed that the major problem with theoperation was communications - too many people in the field with non-compatible radios. Overall, participants agreed that the operation wentfairly smoothly, considering that between 600 and 700 people from 54 agencieswere involved in the incident. Although there were many environmentalhazards and the risk of 'friendly fire' accidents, there were no significantinjuries to searchers during the manhunt. The FBI is now the lead agency. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, Southeast Utah Group, 9/6]
Thursday, September 24, 1998
98-591 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up: Search for Drowning Victim
The body of V.C., 51, of Newton, Connecticut, was recoveredfrom 230 feet of water by the park's dive team on September 20th. V.C. was riding in a ski boat being towed by a houseboat nearStateline marina on the afternoon of September 9th. He attempted to swimfrom the ski boat to the houseboat, a distance of less than 50 feet, butbegan calling for help while en route and soon disappeared. Although thepark's dive team was on scene within 15 minutes, they were unable to findhim. A 12-day search ensued. A commercial remote operated vehicle (ROV) andhigh resolution sonar images were employed to find his remains. Weather,water depth, underwater terrain features, and limited visibility were factorsin the search. The commercial companies involved were Inshore Divers ofPittsburgh, California, and Marine Sonic Technology of White March, Virginia. The incident commander was Mike Archer; Pat Horning was operations chief. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/24]
Wednesday, October 14, 1998
98-664 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle
Ranger Maya Seraphin made a traffic stop near the Glen Canyon bridge around 9p.m. on October 7th. The park dispatcher determined that the vehicle wasstolen, but was unable to contact and advise Seraphin. Backup units wereaccordingly dispatched from the Page police department. When they contactedSeraphin at the scene, the driver jumped into the stolen car and drove off. Seraphin and the officers pursued. The driver of the stolen vehicle crashedthrough a locked gate onto a service road and made it about a mile down theroad before losing control of and rolling his vehicle. He then fled on foot. A search ensured which involved rangers, Page canine units, and state, countyand Navajo police. One of the dogs found the man, who was arrested. He hasnot yet been positively identified. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, GLCA, 10/9]
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
99-158 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Rescue
While hiking up the steep Hole-in-the-Rock trail on April 16th, 58-year-oldS.H. of Denver, Colorado, lost her footing and fell backwards aboutfour feet, sustaining a fracture to her left lower leg in the process.Hole-in-the-Rock is a historic site where Mormon pioneers blasted andchiseled a steep and narrow route through a cleft in the cliffs high abovethe Colorado River in order to cross Glen Canyon and continue their journeyto southeastern Utah. The road has eroded away and boulders have fallen,leaving the trail a boulder-filled gully which climbs about 600 feet inelevation over a distance of a quarter mile from the present Lake Powell. S.H. was about 150 yards from the top when she fell. Escalante subdistrictranger Jim Bowman and maintenance mechanic Phil Engleman arrived in the areaa short time after the incident and were notified of the accident by S.H.'scompanions. It took over four hours to complete a steep-angle, technicalraising operation due to the logistics entailed in making two helicoptertrips to ferry in climbing and medical gear and personnel to assist. Becausemembers of the park's climbing team were at Canyonlands NP instructing atechnical rescue class, the Page fire department team was utilized to conductthe rescue. Rangers Nate Card and Tim Thompson also assisted. S.H. was aclient of High Desert Adventures, a park concession, and was on a backcountrytrip in the Escalante Canyons area at the time of the accident. She landedbackwards on her day pack, which almost certainly prevented head and neckinjuries. [CRO, GLCA, 4/29]
Monday, May 10, 1999
99-167 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Hazardous Material
Visitors from Salt Lake City found a wooden, lead-lined box in Lost EdenCanyon near Bullfrog in late April. Within the box was another, smallerlead-lined box which contained a "wafer" with a handle on it. They left thewooden box in the area where it was found and took the small box and waferback home with them. On May 2nd, they returned to Lake Powell to retrievethe wooden box. When they returned to the scene, they found not only theoriginal wooden box but also a canister-like object that was approximatelyseven inches tall, seven inches in diameter, and weighed 60 to 70 pounds. The wooden box and the canister were taken to the Halls Crossing RangerStation and turned over to rangers Russ Miller and Steve Luckesen. The UtahState Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control,arranged to have a Utah Highway Patrol hazmat responder pick up the objectsand transport them to Salt Lake City for further investigation. Theinvestigators determined that the containers held medical-grade gammaradiation nodes used in radium therapy. The technology used for this type oftreatment is between 40 and 50 years old. It's possible that these boxes wereleft in the canyon before the creation of Lake Powell. Both the canyon areaand the NPS ranger station showed no signs of contamination and have beenreopened. State officials say that there is no evidence that radioactivecontaminants got outside of the packages. Preliminary investigation revealsthat the amount of radiation exposure by individuals who had contact withthese items is not much more than what would be received from naturalbackground radiation. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 5/6]
Friday, May 28, 1999
99-221 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Disturbed Person; Assault on Ranger
Rangers David Schifsky and Greg Wozniak and deputy J.J. Bradford responded toa call of a mentally unstable man wandering through campsites and scaringvisitors in the undeveloped camping area at Bullfrog Bay South. The man,subsequently identified as B.C., 20, of Kaysville, Utah, was under theinfluence of alcohol and threatened suicide. B.C. was staggering and saidhe felt nauseous and was going to vomit when he suddenly stood up straightand sprinted down the beach. A hundred-yard chase ensued and ended withWozniak and Bradford wrestling B.C. to the ground. B.C. was handcuffed andtaken to a holding facility at Bullfrog. While being searched, B.C.assaulted Schifsky and Bradford. He was then taken to the county sheriff'sdepartment and charged with public intoxication and assault on a peaceofficer. Nobody was injured in the incident. [Dave Walton, SubdistrictRanger, Bullfrog Subdistrict, GLCA, 5/26]
Friday, June 4, 1999
99-233 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Memorial Day Weekend
The park had another busy Memorial Day weekend. A multi-agency task forceworked together to manage the park over the weekend, including park staff andrepresentatives from five county sheriff's departments from Arizona and Utah,the Arizona Highway Patrol, the Utah Highway Patrol, wildlife and state parkagencies from both states, the Coast Guard auxiliary, and the Navajo tribalpolice. Together, they made 47 arrests and issued 150 citations. Theincreased protection coverage, however, limited violent encounters to justone assault. Rangers also responded to 34 EMS calls, eight SAR incidents,and several hundred visitor assists. There was one drowning on Mondayevening. Both statistics and observations by park staff confirm a continuingtrend toward a more traditional, family-oriented environment for parkvisitors. This has come about because of inter-agency cooperation andsupport, extended hours of patrol coverage, check points, campingreservations at selected beaches, and the continued closure of Hobie CatBeach, a notorious problem spot in previous years. [CRO, GLCA, 6/2]
Monday, June 7, 1999
99-239 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
T.C., 32, a visitor from New Zealand, drowned in the waters of OakBay on the afternoon of May 31st. T.C. was attempting to untangle a ropethat had fouled one of the propellers of a houseboat while the vessel wasbeached during a period of high winds. At some point, he lost consciousness. His friends saw that he was motionless, pulled him from the water, and beganCPR. Rangers soon arrived and arranged a helicopter medevac. He waspronounced dead at Page Hospital. Carbon monoxide fumes may have been afactor in the drowning. [Nate Card, IC, GLCA, 6/3]
Tuesday, June 22, 1999
99-287 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Sexual Assault
A 32-year-old female concession employee was sexually assaulted by a male concession employee in the concession dormitories at Bullfrog around 2:20 a.m. on June 13th. The male is a foreign national who is in the United States on a work visa. Two other concession employees were passing by when they witnessed the attack and pulled the man off his victim. They provided shelter for her and called for park rangers. Rangers David Walton and David Schifsky located the suspect and took him into custody. Ranger Leanne Apple and advocate (rape counselor) Tya Ward provided medical care and crisis support for the victim. Multiple felony charges have been filed against the assailant. The case has been transferred to the Kane County Sheriff's Department. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 6/21]
Friday, July 16, 1999
99-377 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Death of Employee
Ranger Will Lebon, 50, died Sunday morning, July 11th, of complications fromcancer. Will joined the park service in 1991 after retiring from a 23-yearcareer in the Army with the rank of command sergeant major. He served twotours in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action, earned the Purple Heart,and was decorated four times for valor in combat - the Vietnamese Cross ofGallantry, two Bronze Stars, and the Silver Star. Will worked at GrandCanyon, Zion, and Glen Canyon. He was a strong advocate for personal fitnessand was the park's physical fitness coordinator. At the age of 45, he scoreda 500 on the PEB while attending FLETC. At Glen Canyon, Will participated innumerous technical rescues; on two incidents, he was credited with saving thelives of the rescued victims. His entire professional career of 31 years wasspent in service to the United States, protecting his country and itsresources. Will is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, P.L.,and leaves behind his treasured Harley-Davidson. [David Sandbakken, LES,GLCA, 7/15]
Monday, July 19, 1999
99-381 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - ARPA Case
D.D., a teacher at Kellogg Middle School (KMS, city and state notgiven), organized and supervised an archaeological field trip to the park fora group of KMS students in the early spring of 1994. The trip was known atthe school as the "Lake Powell Expedition, 1994." The students belonged to aschool archaeological society that D.D. organized and supervised as advisor. The student club was organized and conducted in conjunction with an inter-disciplinary curriculum (history, language arts, math and science) thatfocused on the study of ancient civilizations which was called "Digging thePast." The field trip was approved by the school's principal, thesuperintendent of the school district, and the district's board of education. At no time during either the planning stages of this student group activityor the field trip itself did D.D. or anyone associated with the school seekguidance, assistance, a student briefing, or any information concerningarchaeological resource protection and/or the federal laws and regulationspertaining to them. The itinerary for the expedition included a visit to anarchaeological site known as Crumbling Kiva Ruin, located just west of thebetter known Defiance House archaeological site in Forgotten Canyon. D.D.actively encouraged and counseled the students to search for, find, andremove prehistoric artifacts at the ruin. The students disturbed the surfaceand subsurface of several structures within the ruin by digging withcollapsible shovels and removing several artifacts. On May 6, 1999, D.D.entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Officethat included the following:
o Restoration to the park in the amount of $1,079.
o Supervised probation for 18 months.
o A requirement to write, edit and submit a manuscript for publication to the National Council for the Social Studies, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Middle School Association, and the Society for American Archaeology's Public Education Committee. The manuscript, which will be entitled "A Case Study: Students on Field Trip Damage Federal Archaeological Site - Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned by Their Teacher," will be reviewed by the Archeology and Ethnography Program, WASO. D.D. will also have to make oral presentations on the manuscript to the Rocky Mountain Regional Council, the National Council for the Social Studies (at their spring, 2000, conference in Colorado), and the Idaho Middle Level Association or Utah Middle School Association.
o Payment of $1,065 in restitution by the school district to cover the park's investigative costs.
Assistant U.S. attorney Wayne Dance was the prosecutor and instrumental inarriving at the successful resolution to a very difficult case. [JimHouseman, CI, GLCA, 7/9]
Wednesday, August 4, 1999
99-414 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
D.L., 43, of Roosevelt, Utah, drowned while swimming near the beachcamping area at Bullfrog on the afternoon of July 12th. D.L. was a chaperonfor a Boy Scout group that had just arrived. He was attempting to swim to anisland about 40 yards offshore when he began struggling, turned around toreturn to shore, then disappeared. Members of the group found him near theshoreline in six feet of water and began CPR. Rangers Dave Walton, SteveLuckesen and John Waterman began advanced life support efforts upon arrival. D.L. was flown to the Bullfrog Clinic by helicopter, where he was pronounceddead. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 7/21]
Friday, August 6, 1999
99-427 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT) - Rock Slide with Fatality
A four-member fisheries crew from the Moab Field Office of the Utah Divisionof Wildlife Resources was camped at mile 57.7 on the San Juan River on theevening of July 29th when a thunderstorm passed through the area with heavywinds and rain. M.A., 41, entered his tent to keep it from blowingaway. Co-workers saw numerous waterfalls in the area after the thunderstormpassed. At 8:50 p.m., a rock slide landed on M.A.'s tent and a boulderstruck his head, inflicting a fatal injury. Two members of the crew traveleddownstream to the Clay Hills pullout to report the incident; the remainingcrew member was evacuated by helicopter the following morning. M.A.'s bodywas flown out by helicopter to the incident CP at Gooseneck State Park. There have been two other near-miss rockslides this year followingthunderstorms. On August 2nd, rangers Karyl Yeston (ARCH) and Marc Yeston(CANY) held a CISD session in Moab for the three employees who witnessed theincident and coordinated another session for other co-workers. [JimHouseman, CI, GLCA, 8/5]
Monday, August 23, 1999
99-500 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Larceny
Ranger Jared St. Clair began an investigation on August 4th into the reportedtheft of numerous license plates from the parking lot at Wahweap Lodge. Investigation revealed that a group of French nationals on a commercial tourhad 188 stolen plates in their possession. Some had been stolen in Moab,Utah. Fifteen members of the group were issued citations for a total of$3,400 in fines, all paid in cash. The tour company's name is UFOVAL,Federation Des Deuvres; they operate out of Delaplaine, France. Consulateauthorities were notified of the incident. The consulate requested andreceived passport identifications of those who were involved. [DavidSandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/20]
Monday, August 23, 1999
99-502 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Falling Fatality
J,S., 19, a German national, was camping with his girlfriend's familynear the Dirty Devil River in the Hite Subdistrict on August 16th. At 8p.m., J.S. said that he was going on a hike to photograph the area. Hefailed to return. The park was notified and a search was begun at 10 p.m. It was suspended at 1:30 a.m., then resumed the next day. Ranger Phil Akersboarded a helicopter and located J.S.'s body at the base of a 50-footoverhang. Grand Canyon NP's helicopter was employed to extract the body. Investigators determined that J.S. was attempting a night descent down ahazardous chute when he slipped off the overhang. The incident wasinvestigated by rangers and Garfield County officers. Ranger Aaron Kania wasIC. [CRO, GLCA, 8/20]
Wednesday, September 1, 1999
99-528 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
Concession employee D.H., 47, was the victim of a fatal accident while welding at the Wahweap tour boat dock on the morning of August 27th. He was standing on an unstable raft adjacent to the dock while welding, and evidently was burned (burn marks were found above his sternal notch) and fell into the water and drowned. His body was recovered in 24 feet of water by fellow employees. Rangers responded and provided emergency medical support. He was declared dead at the scene on medical advice. The investigation is continuing. [Phil Hibbs, DR, Downlake District, GLCA, 8/30]
Tuesday, September 14, 1999
99-552 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
B.T., six, from Grand Junction, Colorado, arrived in the BullfrogSouth primitive area with members of her family at 4 p.m. on the afternoon ofSeptember 8th. While her grandparents and other family members wereunpacking and setting up camp, B.T. went down to the shoreline to playwith the family dog. She was being watched by her uncle, who lost track ofher for about five minutes. The family sought help from nearby campers, whobegan a frantic search of the 12-foot-deep water. The park received a 911call at 4:27 p.m. Rangers from the park and from the Utah Parks andRecreation Department began a ground and water search and were assisted bytwo ARAMARK divers. The divers found the girl's body in 12 feet of water, 10feet from shore. Rangers Dave Walton, Dave Schifsky and Mike Mayer beganadvanced life support measures. She was pronounced dead en route to theBullfrog Clinic through a medical radio patch with Good Samaritan Hospital inPhoenix. The incident was investigated by the park and county sheriff'soffice. [Jim Houseman, CI, GLCA, 9/10]
Friday, October 29, 1999
94-557 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Follow-up: BASE Jumping Fatality
On October 8th, D.M. of Truckee, California, began a three-monthjail sentence for aiding and abetting the fatal illegal BASE jump of P.T.at Lake Powell on September 15, 1994. D.M., head of a businesscalled Gravity Sports Ltd., was the organizer and leader of "Cliff Camp '94,"which was advertised as "an accelerated course in fixed object jumping."After the fatal jump, D.M. hid in the rocks, leaving the others on thetrip to deal with the rangers investigating the death. D.M.'s full rolein the jump was not known until November 12, 1994, when he was the subject ofa two-day cliff rescue by rangers at Lake Powell (94-644). After the rescue,BASE equipment and videos were seized, including a commercial video called"Gravity Storm '94." The video showed "Cliff Camp '94" and the beginning ofP.T.'s jump. In addition to the jail sentence, D.M. was ordered to pay$2,225.88 in restitution and given a term of 60 months probation. His companywas ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. This is the last of three BASE jumpingcases from 1994 and 1995. Both of the other cases resulted in circuit courtdecisions. In U.S. v. Albers, in which the defendants were found guilty ofair delivery and disorderly conduct, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the searchand seizure of houseboats fell under the Carroll Doctrine. In U.S. v. Oxx,in which the defendants were found not guilty because the judge found thatthe government did not prove that the defendants did not have a permit, theTenth Circuit ruled that 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3) clearly prohibits BASE jumping atGlen Canyon NRA and other national parks. Fred Morelli, the defendant'sattorney in all three cases, has filed appeals. Morelli has stated that heplans to stage a jump at Lake Powell. [CRO, GLCA, 10/28]
Monday, December 6, 1999
99-719 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Suicide
On November 30th, C.C., 40, a former AMFAC and Grand Canyon Natural History Association employee, was reported missing to Flagstaff PD and Grand Canyon NP rangers by her sister. C.C. had recently broken up with her boyfriend, quit her job, and moved to Flagstaff. She gave away several items of furniture and talked to friends about "not going on." On December 3rd, a hiker found C.C.'sdaypack, fleece jacket and two water bottles abandoned at the Old Lees Ferry River Crossing site, a quarter mile upstream from the boat ramp. The items were placed under a tamarisk tree about 12 feet from the river. The water temperature was 46 degrees. C.C.'s 1991 Ford Explorer was then found in the boat ramp parking lot; it contained several items that led investigators to believe that she had committed suicide. A Lees Ferry self-service entrance receipt dating from November 27th was found in her car. On December 4th, search and rescue efforts were begun with a helicopter, bloodhounds, and park divers. On December 5th, C.C.'s body was found near her abandoned belongings in six feet of water, ten feet from shore. Foul play has so far been ruled out. The search and investigation were conducted jointly with the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. Lees Ferry subdistrict ranger Mike McGinnis serving as IC. [CRO, GLCA, 12/5]
Thursday, March 16, 2000
00-095 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Special Event
On March 14th, two opposing groups exercised their First Amendment rights in the park. The Glen Canyon Action Network sponsored a demonstration advocating the removal of the Glen Canyon Dam and the return of the Colorado River to a free-flowing condition. About 150 people participated. The second group, the Friends of Lake Powell, sponsored a demonstration, attended by about 650 people, advocating the status quo and emphasizing the importance of the dam to the economic health of the town of Page and of northern Arizona. The park, Coconino County Sheriff's Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety worked together to insure that the events were conducted safely and without mishap. There were no incidents. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/15]
Tuesday, June 6, 2000
00-249 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Memorial Day Weekend Incidents
The holiday weekend, which is traditionally one of the liveliest anywhere in the system, was busy but manageable. There was 24-hour protection coverage in the two busiest subdistricts, Wahweap and Bullfrog, made possible through the assistance of a number of neighboring parks - Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde, Curecanti, Dinosaur, and Canyonlands. County and state agencies also helped out. A total of 811 case incidents were recorded over the weekend, including a rape, nine weapons violations, ten disorderly conducts, 59 alcohol-related violations, ten boat and jet ski accidents, and 26 EMS calls. An interagency drug task force spent the weekend in Bullfrog and made eleven drug arrests. Another 27 drug arrests were recorded by Utah Highway Patrol and Kane County officers. Cocaine, mushrooms and "Ecstasy" were commonly found. Only one major SAR occurred. Rangers reunited a 15-year-old girl with her family after she spent a night stranded on a ledge 1,000 feet above the lake. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 6/2]
Wednesday, June 21, 2000
00-304 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Houseboat Fire
On June 16th, a fire broke out on the 70-foot houseboat "Hi Priority,"which was tied up in the buoy field in Wahweap Harbor. A caretaking crewwas on board at the time and immediately abandoned ship. The firestarted in the area of the onboard refrigerators and propane tanks onthe top deck. Fifteen foot flames were emitted under pressure from thepropane tanks, and the fire spread to the kitchen and living room.Concession employees at the marina immediately took their fireboat tothe scene and applied water to the exterior of the boat, helping to coolthe propane tanks but having no effect on suppressing the fire. The NPSfireboat arrived and applied water to the propane tanks as it made itsapproach. The fireboat was tied off at the rear deck of the houseboatand park firefighters made an interior attack. The fire was suppressedwithin eight minutes from time of ignition, limiting its spread to justthe kitchen and living room area. Overhaul operations continued whilethe houseboat was towed to the Wahweap main launch ramp. The veneer andcabinetry in the kitchen and living room was heavily charred, but thestructure and hull remain intact. Damage is estimated at $250,000. Later inspection showed there to be 250 gallons of fuel in after-markettanks on the roof close to the propane tanks and approximately 600gallons of fuel in the main below deck tanks. The investigationcontinues. Ranger Shawn McNally acted as incident commander, Jim Traubwas operations. During the week prior to this incident, there was anexplosion subsequent to refueling a houseboat which resulted in propertydamage estimated at $75,000. The specific cause is still underinvestigation. [Brian O'Dea, Visitor Protection Specialist, GLCA, 6/20]
Saturday, July 8, 2000
00-368 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT) - Homicide
On July 5th, a park concessioner reported that one of the company's administrative assistants - J.M., 51 - had failed to report to work that morning. A welfare check of his residence in Bullfrog was conducted. He was found dead, and foul play was suspected. A joint investigation with the county is underway. A Utah state crime lab team processed the crime scene and an autopsy was performed in Salt Lake City on July 6th. The death has been ruled a homicide. [Brian O'Dea, Protection Specialist, GLCA, 7/6]
Thursday, July 20, 2000
00-411 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - PWC Fatality
F.B., 59, of Glenwood, Colorado, died as a result of injuries sustained in a boating accident in Warm Creek Bay on July 17th. G.B. was operating a personal watercraft (PWC) and was thrown when he collided with another boat. Rangers Nate Card and Janice Ross responded along with a Classic Lifeguard medivac helicopter. An investigation is underway. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 7/19]
Friday, August 4, 2000
00-448 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Double Drowning
Park dispatch received a cell phone call at 9:30 p.m. on August 2nd reporting the possible drowning of two brothers in the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell. The boys, D.D. and L.D., ages seven and ten, were swimming at the rear of a houseboat, underneath the rear platform, when they disappeared. The boat's generator was running at the time and carbon monoxide poisoning may have been a factor in their deaths. Due to inclement weather, no helicopter service was available, so a three-hour boat ride in stormy weather was required to get rangers, park divers and a county deputy to the scene. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 8/3]
Thursday, August 17, 2000
00-448 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Double Drowning
The coroner has determined that the two boys, ages eight and eleven, who reportedly drowned in the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell on August 2nd died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The park has determined that there may be certain hull and generator exhaust configurations on houseboats that produce areas that can accumulate lethal levels of this gas. At least nine people have died to date from carbon monoxide poisoning on Lake Powell. It appears that the problem is exacerbated when generators are running and people are at or near the back of the houseboat or in the water in that area. If you're in a park with houseboats that has had fatalities or near misses that correspond with this scenario, please contact Char Oberg at 520-608-6208 or via cc:Mail. The park has issued a safety alert on this problem. [Brian O'Dea, Visitor Protection Specialist, GLCA, 8/14]
Tuesday, August 29, 2000
00-539 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
A five-year-old boy from Orem, Utah, was reported missing from his family's campsite at Hansen Creek north of Bullfrog Marina around mid-day on August 21st. He was found in about three feet of water, 15 feet from shore. CPR was begun by family members and continued by rangers until the boy was medevaced to Page Hospital. He was then flown to Salt Lake City, where he died on August 23rd. [David Sandbakken, CI, GLCA, 8/24]
Saturday, September 2, 2000
00-550 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Rescue
Rangers and Coconino SAR team members were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Highway 89 in Blue Pools Canyon on August 18th. T.J. had driven her car off the road around 5 a.m. on August 17th. The vehicle went down an embankment and slammed into a narrow canyon about 60 feet down at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was not visible from the highway. T.J. was able to extricate herself from the vehicle, but was unable to get out of the canyon due to the nature of her injuries and the high angle of the canyon walls. Friends looked for her for two days and finally found her at 10 p.m. on the 18th. T.J. had suffered two broken arms, a broken shoulder, a punctured lung and broken ribs. Daytime temperatures reached into the high 90s, causing her to also suffer from dehydration. She was evacuated from the canyon via a high-angle rescue and flown to Flagstaff on a Classic Lifeguard helicopter. [Brian O'Dea, PR, GLCA, 8/29]
Thursday, October 12, 2000
00-642 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
D.S., 53, of Scottsdale, Arizona, fell from the back of a houseboat in Rock Creek Canyon on October 7th and is presumed to have drowned. Park dispatch received a marine call reporting a man overboard. Rangers were on scene within 30 minutes and began a search by vessel and helicopter. The search was still underway at the time of the report Tuesday. The park's remote operated vehicle (ROV) is being utilized. The search area is about a square kilometer, with an average depth of 250 feet. Extremely rocky terrain and deep underwater canyons are making the search difficult. Witnesses report that D.S. was leaning on a small gate at the stern of the houseboat when it opened and he fell into the lake. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 10/10]
Wednesday, February 7, 2001
01-040 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Manslaughter Conviction
On February 1st, T.E., 30, was convicted of manslaughter in connection with his girlfriend's 1999 downing at Bullfrog Marina and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The jury deliberated for eight hours before declaring T.E. guilty of the second degree felony. D.F., 26, drowned when the truck T.E. was driving plunged into the lake on July 18, 1999. T.E. told rangers that the truck's brakes and steering failed, causing it to go over a cliff and into the water. T.E. jumped from the truck, but D.F. was unable to escape. Her body was recovered less than an hour later. Evidence indicated that T.E. altered the truck's brakes and steering mechanisms so that they would malfunction. The two had been dating for less than a month and had been at odds for three days before D.F.'s death. A coworker told rangers that T.E. said he was going to get drunk and kill D.F.Besides the prison time, T.E. was ordered to pay $1,850 in fines and $12,500 to a crime victim's relief fund and to D.F.'s mother. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 2/1]
Thursday, February 15, 2001
01-051 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Multiple Boat Fire
A fire was discovered in the covered boat slips at Bullfrog Marina on the afternoon of January 24th. Four boats and the roof over the slips were fully engulfed in flames when park units arrived. The vessels were towed away from their slips to prevent the fire from spreading to other boats. Six other vessels were damaged by extreme heat. The total damage has been placed at $152,000. The state fire marshal was called in to investigate the fire, and determined that it was started by an extension cord attached to a 30-foot Bayliner moored to one of the slips. Assisting park staff were a local deputy, employees of Bullfrog Resort and Marina and Offshore Marina, and a fire brigade from Ticaboo, Utah. [Mike Mayer, Acting CR, GLCA, 2/14]
Thursday, March 8, 2001
01-081 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Felony Arrest
Rangers and sheriff's deputies arrested A.C. at a motel in Page, Arizona, on the afternoon of February 16th. A.C. was wanted on an NPS warrant for disorderly conduct/lewd and obscene behavior. At the time of the arrest, A.C. was in bed. Underneath the blanket was a loaded M-16 rifle with a laser sight; also found in the room were an Uzi submachine gun with a suppressor, an AR-15 rifle, and a Ruger .22 caliber pistol with a suppressor attached. Rangers notified the U.S. Attorney's Office and ATF subsequent to the arrest. They were instructed to seize any other Class III firearms in A.C.'s possession or storage. On February 22nd rangers and deputies seized a .50 caliber machine gun, two .30 caliber Browning machine guns, two Thompson .45 caliber submachine guns, an H&K MP5, an AK-47, a Mark II Sten gun, and over 13,000 rounds of ammunition, including armor piercing rounds. Felony charges are now pending with ATF. [Mike Mayer, Acting CR, GLCA, 2/28)
Thursday, May 10, 2001
01-197 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Employee Serious Illness
Cindy Ott-Jones, the park's chief ranger, has returned home following hospitalization for a serious illness. She will remain at home for some time to regain her strength. She and her husband R. appreciate all the support, care and messages of concern that they have received from everyone in the NPS family. [Rick Jones, GLCA, 5/9]
Sunday, June 3, 2001
01-245 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - HazMat Incident
On May 19th, the park's structural fire team responded to a report of a thousand-gallon liquid propane tanker leaking near the fuel dock in Wahweap. Visitors were evacuated from all of the nearby boat docks and road intersections were blocked within a half-mile radius. A local gas company was called to assist, but was unable to either stop the leak or pump the remaining propane in the tank to another tanker. Park staff consulted with the state hazmat commander and decided to tow the leaking tanker away from the developed area to an isolated location where they would be little potential of the leak igniting or the lake becoming contaminated. This operation forced the shutdown of the concession boat rental operation and disruptions to boat launching and recovery for about six hours. Officers from the county and state assisted with traffic control and road blocks. Ranger Eric Scott was IC. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 6/1]
Sunday, June 3, 2001
01-246 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - ARPA Warrant Executed
Rangers led by criminal investigator David Sandbakken and special agent Todd Swain executed an ARPA-related search warrant on the morning of May 17th and seized artifacts from the premises of a hunting guide who is well know in the area. This action marked the culmination of a two-year-long investigation which also involved the park's archeologist. Charges are pending with the U.S. Attorney's Office. Details to follow. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 6/1]
Sunday, June 3, 2001
01-247 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drug Arrest
Ranger Heather Yates, who is working in the park on a detail from Wrangell-St. Elias NP, contacted campers C.W. and his female companion in Crosby Canyon on the morning of May 18th and saw drug paraphernalia in plain view. During the subsequent search, Yates seized one and a half ounces of cocaine and 10 grams of marijuana along with various other drug paraphernalia. C.W. was arrested and charged with state felonies for possession of controlled substances. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 6/1]
Wednesday, June 13, 2001
01-272 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Sexual Assault; Arrest
An 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at Lone Rock Beach around 2:30 a.m. on May 28th. She was sleeping in a hammock next to her family's camper when a man woke her up, threatened her with a knife, removed her clothing, then tried to rape her. The woman fought back, though, and the hammock fell over during the ensuing struggle. The woman's assailant ran off. The park was already in ICS for the Memorial Day weekend and rangers were immediately assigned to the incident. Ranger Shawn McNally was the initial IC, and turned over command to ranger Billy Shott after 13 hours on duty. Rangers Heather Yates and Julie Yucker were assigned tracking duties and were able to locate the suspect several hundred yards away, hiding in his tent, by following his signature footprints on the sandy surface. Yates and Yucker took him into custody. Using Reid interview techniques, visitor protection specialist Brian O'Dea obtained a confession from the man. He is currently being held on felony charges for forcible sexual assault under Utah state statute. [David Sandbakken, SA, GLCA, 6/7]
Thursday, June 14, 2001
01-276 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Multiple Drug Arrests
On June 3rd, a multi-agency drug task force consisting of county, state and federal law enforcement personnel concluded a major undercover operation within the Bullfrog Sub-District at Lake Powell. Rangers participated in both undercover capacities and uniformed support of the operation. Technical surveillance was provided by a special agent from the Ranger Activity Division's Technical Investigations Unit. The task force effort resulted in 18 arrests on 20 felony counts, including distribution of controlled substances and cultivation of marijuana. Of the 18 arrested, six were concession employees. [David Sandbakken, SA, GLCA, 6/12]
Friday, June 15, 2001
01-278 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Death of Employee
Halls Crossing seasonal fee collector Janet Nielsen, 51, was preparing for work on June 7th when she experienced the sudden onset of a severe headache. Ranger/EMT David Van Nest and park medic Steve Luckesen treated her and arranged a medevac due to the severity of the symptoms. During the flight on Classic Lifeguard's aeromedical helicopter, she became unresponsive. A CT scan at Page Hospital showed that she was suffering from a subdural bleed. Nielsen was transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center, where she died the following day of a subdural hematoma secondary to an aneurysm. Due to the remoteness of the duty station, NPS personnel are currently assisting her husband P.N., a concession employee, with logistics for her funeral and other arrangements. [CRO, GLCA, 6/14]
Monday, July 2, 2001
01-328 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
C.E., 18, of Centerville, Utah, is missing and presumed drowned following a "teak surfing" accident in Bullfrog Bay on the morning of June 27th. C.E. was last seen by members of his party while body surfing behind a 20-foot ski boat travelling between 10 and 15 mph. Preliminary investigations have revealed that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been a contributing factor to this fatality. C.E. was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. This is the first known incident of this particular activity on Lake Powell. Members of C.E.'s party reported that "teak surfing" is done behind the back of a boat - participants hang on to the (teak) swim platform, then let go to body surf the displacement wave created by the boat. The search area is approximately 10 acres in size, with water depths from 50 to 80 feet. The park dive team completed 57 dives into zero visibility water by the end of the second operational period, but without success. The park has requested relief divers from Maricopa County and a side-scan sonar device. Search efforts have been complicated by the proximity of the search area to a developed marina and breakwater that are anchored by many underwater cables and lines. The search IC is ranger Steve Luckesen. The park offers an additional note on this new and dangerous activity: "The sport of 'teak surfing,' as described to GLCA investigators, is extremely dangerous due to the proximity to the rear of the boat and direct contact with the exhaust fumes from the boat. This accident involved a modern ski boat with a center prop drive. The boat was weighted in the stern with bladder bags of water and the occupants of the boat were standing at the back. This creates a very low stern and large wake from the rear. With this configuration, a slow-moving boat creates a large center displacement wave. Teak surfers hang off the end of the small wooden swim platform until the wake gets large enough to let go and begin surfing on the wake. Surfers can move around on the standing wake by body surfing and can move forward and backward and even re-catch the swim platform. This activity is done without a life jacket (life jackets inhibit body surfing) and at relative slow speed within a few feet of the boat, making the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning very high. Glen Canyon has already received information that teak surfing is becoming popular in other areas of the country. Teak surfing is an incredibly dangerous and deadly sport." [Mike Mayer, GLCA, 6/29]
Saturday, July 7, 2001
01-328 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up: Drowning
After nearly four days of searching in near zero visibility conditions, the body of C.E., 18, of Centerville, Utah, was found and recovered. The dive operations consisted of over 45 hours of bottom time in 132 dives by members of the Glen Canyon and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office dive teams. The park was also assisted in the search by Gene Ralston and Associates, which provided side-scan sonar, and Utah State Parks. The body was discovered in 60 feet of water near the outer boundary of the designated search area. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/2]
Saturday, July 7, 2001
01-339 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
Park dispatch received a call via marine band radio on the evening of July 1st, reporting a drowning in the Halls Creek Bay area. The victim was a two-year-old girl from Cedar Valley, Utah. Witnesses said that family members had finished dinner and were cleaning up when the child wandered outside the houseboat. They noticed that she was missing within minutes and spotted her face down in the water. CPR was begun. Ranger/paramedics Steve Luckesen, Dave Walton and Richard Moore responded by boat and were on scene within nine minutes. When they arrived, a dentist from a nearby camp was performing CPR. The rangers began advanced life support and transported her to the clinic at Bullfrog. Resuscitation efforts continued for another 45 minutes before being called off by clinic staff. This was the second drowning in the park in six days. [Mike Murray, ACR, GLCA,
Sunday, July 8, 2001
01-344 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Water-Related Fatality
M.A., 24, of Littleton, Colorado, failed to resurface after jumping from a cliff into the Escalante arm of Lake Powell on the evening of July 4th. Park divers recovered his body in 80 feet of water early on the following morning. Witnesses said that M.A. and a companion jumped into the lake from a 70-foot-high cliff. The other jumper had no problems, but M.A. hit the water sideways. This was the third accident-related fatality in the Bullfrog Subdistrict within 10 days. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/5]
Friday, July 13, 2001
01-351 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Significant Resource Damage
On June 6th, ranger David Van Nest received a visitor report of possible illegal ORV use near Clay Hills Crossing, a remote backcountry area on the San Juan River. An overflight by N2PS, the park plane, confirmed the report. Van Nest contacted a group of seven adults and six juveniles with several MX-type motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles camped near the river takeout area. The group was hostile towards Van Nest from the outset. Two members of the group refused commands to stop and fled the scene. Van Nest was able to issue mandatory appearance citations to Elizabeth Bergman, 37, and Steven Atencio, 36, both of Parker, Colorado, for off-road travel, and also identified most of the other individuals before he chose to release the group due to the lack of available backup. The full extent of the damage became apparent the next day when a follow-up overflight was conducted. At least three oval areas resembling racetracks and multiple other new trails covering more than eight square miles were observed on a mix of NPS and BLM lands. Resource management personnel are currently conducting a full assessment of the damage to vegetation and archaeological resources. Additional charges are pending. [Richard Moore, PR, Halls Crossing, GLCA, 7/12]
Sunday, July 22, 2001
01-374 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Diving Fatality
On Tuesday, July 17th, park visitor S.S. was reported missing as a result of a cliff diving accident that occurred shortly after 5 p.m. S.S., 33, of Greeley, Colorado, was vacationing with friends on the San Juan Arm of the lake near Wilson Creek. Witnesses said that he attempted a backflip from a 30-foot-high cliff, but struck the water on his stomach, went underwater, and did not resurface. Rangers arrived on scene and began dive operations that night. The water depth in the area where S.S. disappeared declined sharply to a shelf at 117 feet, then dropped again for an unknown distance. The initial search of the shelf was unsuccessful. The following morning, the dive team deployed Glen Canyon's remote-operated vessel (ROV), which is equipped with a camera and retractable arm for recovery, and discovered S.S.'s body at a depth of 273 feet. This is the second cliff jumping fatality this year at Lake Powell. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/19]
Wednesday, August 1, 2001
01-403 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Tour Boat Evacuation
The "Desert Shadow," an Aramark tour boat, was underway on Lake Powell with 66 passengers and crew on board on the morning of June 27th when the passenger compartment began to fill with smoke. The captain ordered lifejackets donned and the passengers evacuated to the boat's upper deck. Rangers Jim Gould, Jim Traub, and engineer Dick Martin responded in the park's fireboat along with a second Aramark boat, the "Canyon Explorer." They were on scene within eight minutes of the initial report. The passengers were evacuated to the second boat in mid-lake by Aramark personnel, while NPS firefighters ventilated the vessel with positive pressure. Once the vessel and engine compartment were cleared of smoke, they were able to enter and determine that the smoke had been caused by a failed turbocharger on the port engine. There were no injuries during the evacuation or operation. There was no additional damage to the "Desert Shadow," and it returned to port under its own power. {Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/30]
Friday, August 17, 2001
01-452 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT) - Drowning; Monoxide Poisoning
Park dispatch received a call reporting a person missing from a houseboat in Friendship Cove on August 2nd at 4 p.m. C.S. had last been seen just after noon, when the person calling had left C.S. on his houseboat. When the person returned at 4 p.m., he found the engine cover up, both engines and the generator running, and tools scattered about in the engine area. C.S.'s body was later recovered from the lake. The autopsy report indicates that drowning was the cause of death, with carbon monoxide poisoning (38%) as the secondary factor. Rangers Jim Gould, Brandon Weathermon and Julie Yucker investigated. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 8/16]
Tuesday, August 28, 2001
01-475 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
On August 20th, N.C., 48, drowned while swimming in Lake Powell. N.C. was swimming while the houseboat he was on drifted in Gunsight Canyon. He swam for several minutes, showing no signs of distress; as the houseboat maneuvered to pick him up, though, he slipped below the surface of the water. A throw ring was tossed to him, but he was unable to grab it. A member of the party jumped in to assist, but N.C. had already disappeared. His body was found in 100 feet of water via side scanning sonar provided by the NPS Submerged Cultural Resource Unit in Santa Fe. The body was recovered with the park's remote operated vessel. The IC for the incident was ranger Jim Gould. This was the park's tenth fatality for the year. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 8/27]
Friday, September 14, 2001
01-509 - Servicewide - Follow-up: Terrorist Attacks
Further updates have been received on the status of NPS areas and/or staff responses to Tuesday's terrorist attacks:
o Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - The Hayden visitor center is closed; all other facilities are open.
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]
Friday, September 28, 2001
01-509 - Servicewide - Follow-up: Terrorist Attacks
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 Glen Canyon - The dam access road and visitor center are open. The Chains overlook is closed. Tours of the dam have been suspended.
[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]
Friday, October 5, 2001
01-541 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Special Event
On September 15th, the first annual National Public Lands Day event was held at Lake Powell in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day. A total of 110 volunteers united to remove graffiti and cleanup trash in the park. About 20 miles of shoreline were cleaned of 300 pounds of garbage, including two full portable toilets. Wire brushes and spray bottles were used to remove nearly 600 inscriptions from sandstone along the lake's shoreline. Volunteers from local businesses and service organizations worked side by side with park and interagency personnel. [Eileen Martinez, Subdistrict Interpreter, Wahweap Subdistrict, GLCA, 10/3]
Wednesday, February 6, 2002
02-031 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT) - Houseboat Fire
Rangers responded to a fire on a houseboat at Wahweap Marina just after 10 a.m. on Monday, February 4th. Employees of Lake Powell Resorts and Marina were first on scene and removed the houseboat from the private slips area and towed it to the main ramp, where the fire was attacked and knocked down. "Gettin' Bye," a 59-foot Stardust Cruiser, sustained substantial damage, and a boat in the adjacent slip sustained minor scorching. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. [Marianne Karraker, GLCA, 2/5]
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
02-078 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT) - Boating Accident with Fatality
Park dispatch was notified of a fatal boat accident 40 miles up San JuanCanyon around 2 a.m. on March 25th. Rangers Greg Moss and Steve Luckesenresponded 85 miles by boat; when they arrived on scene, they found thatT.H., 53, of Aurora, Colorado, was in critical condition with aruptured spleen and lacerated liver. T.H was stabilized and taken to anearby helispot. His wife, R.H., 43, had suffered massive headinjuries and was declared dead at the scene. T.H was flown to the traumacenter in Flagstaff and is expected to recover. The preliminaryinvestigation, conducted by the NPS, San Juan County Sheriff's Office andUtah State Parks indicates that T.H's vessel hit a vertical canyon wallat a high rate of speed after dark. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 4/1]
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
02-136 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - MVA with Fatality
Four-year-old Z.F. was run over by an F-250 four-by-four pickup drivenby her father while sitting on the beach at Bullfrog North Campground onthe evening of April 27th. Ranger Dave Schneider was first on scene andfound that the girl had major traumatic injuries to her head, neck andchest and was not breathing. Rangers Greg Kouns, Brian Sacia, and JasonBowens joined Schneider and performed CPR for 45 minutes; a ClassicLifeguard helicopter flew in from Page with additional EMS staff. The girlwas subsequently pronounced dead. Witnesses said that she was sleeping in alow beach chair with a blanket wrapped around her when her father, Walter,pulled into the campsite and drove over her. Alcohol was a contributingfactor. A joint investigation by the NPS and Garfield County Sheriff'sOffice is underway. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 4/29]
Friday, May 31, 2002
02-197 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drug Arrests
On May 26th, a multi-agency drug task force comprised of county, stateand federal law enforcement officers concluded a major undercoveroperation within the Bullfrog Subdistrict. Rangers participated in bothan undercover capacity and as part of the uniformed response. A specialagent from WASO Ranger Activities Division's technical investigationsunit provided technical surveillance. The operation resulted in tenfelony arrests on a host of charges, including distribution ofmarijuana, cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. During the operation,information was obtained that resulted in the execution of a searchwarrant at night on a houseboat in a remote area of the lake.Significant quantities of controlled substances, four kegs of beer, 20cases of beer and two cases of liquor were seized. [Brian O'Dea, SA,GLCA, 5/27]
Monday, July 8, 2002
02-284 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
A group of ARAMARK employees went swimming in Crappie Cove northwest ofBullfrog Marina on the afternoon of June 24th. A member of the group,C.F. of Honduras, was attempting to swim across the cove, adistance of about 60 feet, when he appeared to get a cramp, yelled forhelp, then went under. Another member of the group quickly ran to a nearbyhouseboat, whose occupants contacted authorities via marine band radio.Rangers were on scene shortly thereafter, and divers made their first diveabout two hours after the accident first occurred. C.F.'s body was found15 feet from shore in about 65 feet of water. Alcohol was not a factor.[Lisa Ford, GLCA, 6/28]
Thursday, July 18, 2002
02-321 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
C.T. of Clichy, France, went for a swim in the Chains areaaround 6 p.m. on July 14th. When he failed to return to his tour group'svan by 7 p.m., he was reported missing. A hasty search of the lake andshoreline was begun immediately, utilizing Coconino County SAR volunteers.The search focused on the area near the point on the lake shore whereC.T.'s sandals were found. Divers were brought in the next morning andfound his body in 15 feet of water just out from the point where he waslast seen. C.T. had multiple prescription inhalers with him to treat arespiratory condition, but it's not known at this time if his medicalproblem was a contributing factor. IC was ranger Jared St. Clair; alsoparticipating in the operation were Wahweap SDR Eric Scott and dive teammembers Pat Horning, Chad Nelson, Mike Burnett, Rick Moore, Jim Gould andJulie Yucker. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 7/16]
Wednesday, August 28, 2002
02-421 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
On the afternoon of August 17th, park dispatch received a call reportingthat a nine-year-old girl had drowned in the Halls Creek Bay area of thepark. Family members were conducting CPR when Halls Crossing SDR SteveLuckesen arrived on scene, but they were not successful. The girl wasreportedly washing her hair alongside a beached 26-foot Searay cabincruiser, utilizing the warm water from the exhaust port while thegenerator was running. A girlfriend who was also washing her hair thereleft to eat lunch. The victim was found to be missing shortly thereafterand subsequently located in two-and-a-half feet of water next to theboat. The victim's girlfriend was later treated at the Bullfrog Clinicfor carbon monoxide poisoning. An hour after oxygen therapy was begun,her monoxide level registered at 18%. The victim's blood carbon monoxidelevel was later found to be 39%. This brings the total known carbonmonoxide related fatalities within the park since 1994 to twelve. [CindyOtt-Jones, CR, GLCA]
Thursday, October 03, 2002
02-507 - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT) - Falling Fatality
Park dispatcher Joe Anderson overhead an SOS call on marine bandradio late on the evening of September 25. A member of a group on ahouseboat beached at Oak Canyon had contacted dispatch in Window Rock,Arizona, and reported that a man had fallen overboard and wasunconscious. Rangers Brian Bloom and Anne Maker responded from DanglingRope Marina. When they arrived, they found that a paramedic from anearby boat had begun efforts to resuscitate R.M. of Anaconda,Montana. A medical helicopter from Page also responded. Medical staff onboard assessed R.M. and pronounced him dead. R.M. was evidently onthe upper level of the houseboat when he fell overboard into LakePowell, hitting his head along the way. Alcohol may have been acontributing factor. [Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, ChiefRanger]
Friday, October 04, 2002
02-510 - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT) - Drowning; Monoxide Poisoning
The park received a marine band radio report of a missing person inthe Knowles Canyon area on the afternoon of September 28. Halls Crossingsubdistrict ranger Steve Luckesen, Bullfrog ranger Dave Schneider and aUtah state park ranger responded. They found that K.K. ofLakewood, Colorado, had disappeared in 40 feet of water while attemptingto clear a tangled rope from the propeller of a private house boat.K.K. surfaced several times in the compartment under the stern deckbefore disappearing. The boat's generator was not running at the time,but had been shut off only a minute or two before K.K. started diving.Park divers Pat Horning, Chad Nelson, Rick Moore, Julie Yucker and EricSmith made over 80 dives in very rough terrain with zero visibility overa three-and-a-half day period without finding any sign of K.K.. Thehouseboat had been moved before park staff arrived, adding to thedifficulty of the search. K.K.'s body surfaced late on the afternoonof October 1. Initial lab reports show an extremely high level of carbonmonoxide in his blood. Steve Luckesen was IC.
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
02-516 - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT) - Attempted Homicide
Rangers Matt Fisher and Ben McKay responded to a report of a stabbingvictim at the Wahweap ranger station on September 12. R.C.,who had been stabbed with a pair of scissors, had been brought there byhis brother, L.C.. R.C. was found to be suffering from asucking chest wound. He was stabilized and taken to a local hospital.The suspected assailant was identified as C.B., who was foundnear the crime scene. C.B. was seen walking out of a concessiondormitory with the scissors in his hand, and was overheard saying thathe needed to find a place to bury them. At the time of contact,C.B.'s blood alcohol level was .333. Rangers Eric Scott and Jared St.Clair tracked C.B.'s movement from the crime scene through the desertand found the scissors down a 30-foot embankment. The park isinvestigating jointly with the county sheriff'soffice. [Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Friday, October 25, 2002
02-554 - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT) - Fifteen Visitors Poisoned by Carbon Monoxide
Fifteen visitors were poisoned by carbon monoxide while vacationingon Lake Powell in two separate incidents on the morning of October 4.The first call came in via marine band radio, reporting that nine peopleand a dog were all vomiting. Wahweap rangers Eric Scott, Jared St.Clair, Brian Bloom and Matt Fisher responded to the privately-ownedhouseboat, which was located in Crosby Canyon. Six of the boat'soccupants were flown to Page Hospital, two were transported by parkstaff, and one was treated on scene. The dog recovered quickly. Carbonmonoxide levels ranger from 19% to 43%, yet all survived. As the dustwas settling from this early-morning callout, dispatch received anothercall from Bullfrog North Central dispatch center reporting that sixpeople were heading for the Bullfrog public launch ramp, all of themwith signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. They were treated and releasedfrom Bullfrog Clinic. Ranger Brian Sacia and district ranger Greg Mossassisted. Carbon monoxide levels ranged from 18% to 24% in these sixvictims. Both houseboats are older models - mono-hulls with aconstruction style which provides avenues for the gas to migrate beneaththe hull and seep into cabin areas. Fans in the two boats had either notbeen turned on or had been disconnected, and the generator in the CrosbyCanyon houseboat had been left on all night. [Submitted byCindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
02-577 - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT) - Major Drug Arrest
On October 24, Arizona DPS officer Stewart Shupe stopped a minivan onHighway 89 inside the park at the Glen Canyon Bridge for a speedingviolation. The driver was identified as E.D.; thepassenger/owner was identified as D.A.. Their behavior andinconsistent statements caused Shupe to become suspicious, and herequested and received consent to search the van. When Shupe began thesearch, however, D.A. attacked him. Shupe had to strike him severaltimes and employ pepper spray to gain control. E.D. approached Shupe,but ran away when Shupe pointed his weapon at him. Shupe then radioedfor help, and rangers Julie Yucker, Jared St. Clair, Matt Fisher andErik Larson responded. They found Shupe uninjured and D.A. in custody.Ranger and DPS officers began a search for E.D., employing both aircraftand dogs. E.D. was tracked to a nearby neighborhood, where the dogs losthis trail. Seven ounces of black tar heroin and a .22 rifle were foundin the initial search of the van. D.A. was charged by the state withseven felony counts of drug possession, weapon possession, and assaulton an officer; his bond was set as $145,000. The state is also seekingarrest warrants for E.D.. The van was parked and secured in the NPS firestation and searched the following day. A DPS narcotics unit fromFlagstaff searched the van with assistance from rangers. The dashboardwas found to have an electronically controlled hidden compartment whichcontained eleven kilos of cocaine and seven pounds of methamphetaminewith an estimated street value of $305,000. The state is seeking to fileadditional charges against both D.A. and E.D. DPS is leading theinvestigation. [Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant ChiefRanger]
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Manhunt For Killer of Garfield County Deputy
A Garfield County deputy was killed in a shootout around 3:30 p.m. onSunday afternoon on a dirt road five miles south of Escalante. DeputyDavid Jones stopped a 1994 white Ford pickup on Alvey Wash Road toinvestigate two men suspected of driving under the influence. Aftermaking the stop, Jones called in information on the truck and asked forbackup and a tow truck. When the tow truck arrived five minutes later,the driver found that Jones had been shot. Park dispatch was notified ofthe incident about ten minutes later. Rangers were asked to help findthe suspects, who were thought to be southbound toward the park. RangerShawn McNally headed to Warm Creek Road on the park's north boundary andestablished an incident command post. Many local agencies responded withofficers and equipment. The park's airplane and Classic Helicopter, alocal contract medical helicopter, were called in to provide airsupport. The pickup was found about ten miles north of the park in anextremely remote part of south central Utah. It was traveling onfour-wheel-drive roads and headed toward the park. While ranger/pilotJim Traub orbited over the pickup and provided directions, athree-person ranger/deputy team was placed about a half mile down theroad from the pickup. As the vehicle passed them, they were able topositively identify it and its occupants and obtain the Utah licenseplate number. Blood was on the passenger side door, and a high-poweredrifle was seen inside the truck. A second team of Arizona DPS officerswas flown in and placed further down the road. They stopped the truckand arrested the pair without incident. One of the two men had gunshotwounds in his arm and chest, sustained during the shootout with thedeputy; a bullet was lodged in his right lung. The wounded man was flownto Page hospital, then transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center. Specialagent Brian O'Dea conducted the first interview of the wounded man atthe hospital and confirmed that he was the one who had shot the deputy.Officers from many jurisdictions worked together to find and arrest thetwo men. The other involved rangers were Eric Scott, Steven Clary, JimNichols, Dave Bauer, Matt Micale and Brenda Russell. Memorial servicesfor Jones are set for 1 p.m. on Friday in Escalante. He leaves a wifeand family.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Searchers Find and Rescue Overdue Hiker
On the afternoon of April 18th, park dispatch received a call overmarine band radio concerning an overdue hiker in Bridge Canyon. Thehiker, J.P., was scheduled to be picked up early on the morning ofApril 17th at Rainbow Bridge. Overnight temperatures were near freezingwith storms and high winds in the area. Several other hikers in the areareported that they had come across J.P.'s camp and his backpack twomiles from the scheduled pick-up point. His camp was just outside of theRainbow Bridge NM boundary on the Navajo Nation. Both the Navajo Nationand San Juan County Sheriff's Office asked for assistance in locatingJ.P.. Wahweap rangers Jared St. Clair, Stephen Clary and Shannon Hoperesponded to Rainbow Bridge by boat and met with a hiker who had seenJ.P.'s camp. Pilots Tug Kangus and Jim Traub searched the area from theair, but their efforts were hampered by strong thunderstorms and narrowcanyon walls. The responding rangers, guided by the airplane, hiked therugged canyon to J.P.'s camp. Although J.P. was not there, the camp wasfound to be in disarray and it appeared that J.P. was in distress.Classic Lifeguard Aeromedical Helicopter Service joined the search.Shortly after reaching the camp, both the ground team and an observer inthe helicopter saw two hikers signaling for help about 300 yards up thecanyon from the camp. The hikers had found J.P. sitting in the coldwaters of a nearby creek. He was suffering from hypothermia and wasconfused, disoriented and wearing only a pair of shorts. J.P. hadexperienced hallucinations, believing he had been kidnapped and heldhostage. He was warmed and flown to Page Hospital, where he remained fortwo days. The items in his camp were collected and packed out by therangers.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Memorial Day Weekend Incidents
The park had a busy but relatively safe and manageable holidayweekend. Over 380 case incidents were reported over the four-dayweekend, beginning with a memorable Thursday evening in which a 33-footSea Ray with one person on board ran aground on the lake's rocky coast,ending up well out of the water and turned completely around. Theextremely intoxicated operator did not remember how he got on the rock.Prop marks showed where the boat left the water and how the boat's speedand moving propellers had spun the Sea Ray 180 degrees. The operator wasflown to a hospital in Grand Junction. Over the weekend, there were alsoeight accidents (six boat, one vehicle and one PWC), 19 EMS calls, eightdrug and 17 alcohol cases, 97 service calls, 186 traffic incidents, 48boating calls, a vessel fire, a search and rescue operation, and a totalof eleven arrests. The park's 24-hour dispatch center served the nine ormore agencies working around Lake Powell, while simultaneously providingservices to Bryce Canyon NP, marine band users, and 911 backup for thecity of Page. Due to the lake's low level (95 feet below normal), parkstaff were also prepared for very long launch lines, but these did notoccur, much to the relief of both visitors and staff. Assisting the parkwere personnel from Kane County SO, San Juan County SO, Utah HighwayPatrol, Utah State Parks, Utah Fish and Game, Coconino County SO,Arizona DPS, Arizona Game and Fish, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
[Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger, Glen Canyon NRA]
Monday, June 02, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Cliff Jumping Fatality
Park dispatch received a marine band radio call on the evening of May29th reporting that a 29-year-old man from the rental vessel K-9in Cha Canyon was not breathing and that CPR was in progress. Through athree-way vessel-to-dispatch relay, dispatcher Matt Micale was able todetermine that the man had been injured in a cliff jumping accident.Rangers and a deputy sheriff responded; Richard Moore, Dangling Ropesubdistrict ranger, was IC. Investigation revealed that Toby JackThompson evidently had problems in mid-flight while jumping about 45feet into the lake. He was immediately brought to shore and CPR wasbegun. Medical personnel on a Classic Lifeguard helicopter subsequentlydeclared Thompson deceased. San Juan County SO is investigating.
[Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Life Saved Through Effective EMS Response
Just before noon on May 31st, park dispatch received a call forassistance over marine band radio. The caller reported that he wasarriving at the Wahweap Marina boat ramp with a man who'd been recentlypulled from the lake. Park medics Erik Larson and Richard Moore were onscene within a minute and found that 32-year-old H.L. wasunconscious and not breathing. Efforts to maintain an open airway werehampered by H.L.'s recent neck surgery and the constant need forsuction. Despite these challenges, the medics - assisted by EMTsJared St. Clair and Brian Lake - were able to successfully intubateand revive him. H.L. was then flown to Flagstaff Medical Center, wherehe continues to recover.
[Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, ChiefRanger]
Friday, June 13, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Drowning Near Iceberg Canyon
A group of nine Columbia University medical students flagged down apassing vessel near Iceberg Canyon on the afternoon of June 11th andreported that a member of their group had disappeared while swimming andhad not been seen for 30 minutes. D.H., 25, of Vancouver, BritishColumbia, had jumped into the lake from a 50-foot cliff, surfaced,signaled he was fine, then begun swimming back to shore. While en route,he disappeared from view. Members of the group searched for him in thelake; when they failed to find him, they contacted dispatch. Members ofthe dive team recovered D.H.'s body in 40 feet of water. Kane County SOis investigating along with the park. Ranger Jason Bauwens was IC forthe incident.
[Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Marijuana Seizure and Arrests
Rangers Brian Lake and Samuel Arnberger made a traffic stop on a 1991Chevy pickup on Highway 89 at 2 a.m. on July 9th after observing erraticdriving behavior. Lake contacted the driver and passenger - R.H.,43, and J.G., 53 - and asked and received consentto search the truck. The rangers found that the driver's side door hadevidently been removed, then reattached with tape. Arnberger opened thehood of the truck and found a large duffel bag and a smaller bag,secured with tape and emitting a very strong odor of raw marijuana. Thebags contained 13 bread-loaf sized bundles of marijuana. The two menwere arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
[Submitted by Eric Scott, Subdistrict Ranger, WahweapSubdistrict]
Monday, July 21, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Drowning In Halls Creek Bay
An emergency call came into park dispatch via marine band radio onthe evening of July 10th, reporting that a three-year-old boy wasmissing in the Halls Creek Bay area. The boy was with a large houseboatgroup and had last been seen on the shore. He was not wearing a lifejacket. Acting Uplake District DR Steve Luckesen organized an air, landand water search, Park underwater recovery team members Eric Smith andLaurie Axelsen found the boy's body in four feet of water alongside thehouseboat. The 30 people in the group were having a reunion. Theyincluded the members of several families, and about two-thirds of themwere children.
[Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
Monday, July 21, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Rollover Accident With Two Fatalities
A one-car rollover accident occurred on Highway 89 near the Lone RockBeach access road on the afternoon of July 15th. Park visitors reportedthe accident to fee collectors at Lone Rock. According to witnesses, atire blew on the car, causing it to roll over, then burst into flames.Both occupants were killed. Rangers, Wahweap Engine 1, and local firedepartments responded. The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating.
[Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Houseboat Fire at Bullfrog Fuel Dock
Park dispatch received a 911 call on the morning of July 26threporting a vessel fire at the Bullfrog Marina fuel dock. Firefightersarrived minutes later and found a large, privately-owned houseboatengulfed in flames. The fire consumed the entire boat, a large sectionof the fuel dock, and one gas pump. It took firefighters on the parkfire boat and an engine crew about a half hour to extinguish the flames.Assisting were to other departments. The fire appears to have originatedin the houseboat's engine compartment when vessel was started afterfueling. It then spread to the dock and boat, burning the boat to thewaterline. At one point, the boat broke loose from the fuel dock, butthe firefighters used the front rams on the park fireboat to push thehull to shore before it could sink.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer,Assistant Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
July Fourth Incident Summary
The Fourth of July weekend was busy but manageable, with majorincidents occurring during the days before and after the holiday. Duringthe three-day holiday weekend itself, there were 397 case incidents,including 17 boat accidents, three motor vehicle accidents, 15alcohol-related incidents, six DUI's and 13 arrests. EMS calls forservice included 18 for basic life support and eight for advanced lifesupport. Major highlights of the weeks before and after the holidayinclude the following:
- On the afternoon of July 3rd, dispatch received a 911 call reportingsix carbon monoxide poisoning victims. Rangers Jason Lux and Chad Marinresponded and evaluated the two adults and four children who'd beenaffected. They reported that they had been sleeping in their RV with thegenerator running and had experienced headaches, nausea and loss ofconsciousness. Breath sample results ranged from 12.9% carboxyhemoglobin(COHb) to 23.6% COHb. At the Bullfrog Clinic, all six victims wereplaced on high flow oxygen and monitored until their COHb levels droppedto acceptable limits. The monoxide poisoning may have resulted from theair conditioning unit pulling in exhaust from a newly installedgenerator, but faulty installation of the generator may havecontributed.
- On that same day, dispatch received a report of a PWC wave-jumpingaccident in Wahweap Bay involving teenagers in the water, one of whom asunconscious. Rangers Leslie Wells, Kristopher Davis, Jeff Rhame andStephen Clary responded along with a state game warden. A 13-year-oldwas found holding his 16-year-old cousin above water, assisted by tourboat mechanics from the park concessioner. The force of the accidentcaused the 16-year-old to break off the PWC handlebars with his head.The 13-year-old, who was a passenger, was thrown into and over hiscousin, landing on the front of the PWC. The older boy was flown toFlagstaff Medical Center; his younger cousin was fully immobilized andtransported to Page Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuriesand later released.
- On July 6th, dispatch received a second-hand report of a ski boatwith a seriously injured person on board traveling towards WahweapMarina from Last Chance Bay. Two NPS vessels and a Classic Lifeguardhelicopter were dispatched to search for the boat. It was located inWarm Creek Bay, where the operator had ended up after making a wrongturn. A nine-year-old girl was found to be suffering from multiple deeplacerations and other injuries due to contact with a boat propeller.Ranger/paramedic Leslie Wells provided initial care; the girl was thenflown to Flagstaff Medical Center. Another responding ranger eventuallyfound the scene of the accident in Last Chance Bay. Witnesses said thatthey had been in the process of mooring a large houseboat on a beachwith both engines operating in forward gear when the girl entered thewater to swim and was sucked into the engine wash. She was wearing alife jacket at the time, which most likely saved her life.
- On July 9th, R.B., 47, of Twin Falls, Idaho, suffered firstand second degree burns on approximately 35% of his body when his boatexploded at Hite Marina fuel dock after he attempted to jump start thevessel due to a dead battery. An onboard halon system extinguished thefire with no damage to the vessel. Park medic Kerry Haut treated R.B.,who was then flown to the University of Utah Medical Center. Preliminaryinvestigation indicated that the explosion was caused by a fuel leak,combined with the spark from the battery.
- During the early morning hours of July 11th, a fire was reported ata Halls Crossing concession housing unit. The trailer's occupant escapedunharmed, but the front half of the trailer was fully engulfed in flamesby the time the Halls Crossing fire crew arrived four minutes later. Thefire was controlled within an hour, and adjacent buildings were saved.It appears that the fire was started by a short in a wall socket.District ranger Steve Luckesen was IC.
- On July 12th, dispatch received a report of a houseboat on fire inBullfrog Bay. Firefighters responding by boat found the boat fullyengulfed in flame. The fire was contained within an hour. None of theoccupants was injured. It appears that the fire started at a propanerefrigerator.
[Submitted by Chief Ranger's Office]
Friday, August 22, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Drowning in Last Chance Bay
On the afternoon of August 12th, dispatch received a marine bandradio call reporting that a 15-year-old girl who'd been swimming behinda houseboat was missing in Last Chance Bay. The park's underwaterrecovery team was called in to search for the girl, who had last beenseen at a point where the lake is between 190 and 400 feet deep. Thepark's remote operated underwater recovery unit and a side-scanningsonar device were employed in the effort. It wasn't until August 15ththat her body was found at a depth of 383 feet. It appears that she wasswimming behind an idling houseboat when a monsoon-type storm hit thearea, causing high waves to blow up on the lake. All indications arethat carbon monoxide poisoning was not a factor. Ranger Jared St. Clairwas IC for this complicated search operation; Pat Horning headed theunderwater recovery team.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Acting ChiefRanger]
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Drug Arrests
Over the course of Labor Day weekend, a drug task force comprised ofrangers and local officers targeted the use and distribution of illegaldrugs at Lone Rock Beach Campground. Following three days of undercoverwork by task force members, a pre-dawn raid was conducted on thecampground. The operation resulted in 16 arrests and the filing of 25felony drug charges and 14 misdemeanor drug and weapons charges. Mostcommon were possession and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine,mushrooms and marijuana.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Acting ChiefRanger]
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Rescue of Boy Seriously Injured in Fall
On January 17th, a county deputy asked rangers to provide medical andtechnical rescue assistance to reach and extricate a 12-year-old boy whohad been injured in a fall in a canyon near the community of Ticaboo,about a dozen miles north of Bullfrog. The boy had slipped on slickrockand bounced and fallen over 100 feet, sustaining a fracture of the femurof one leg and the tibia/fibular of the other. He ended up on a steepand hazardous slope near the edge of another cliff. Rangers and flightmedics from Classic Lifeguard packaged the boy and utilized a low-anglebelay to evacuate him to a point accessible by helicopter. The entireoperation took about three hours; assisting were members of the Ticaboand Off Shore Marina VFD's, the Classic flight crew, and state officers.Ranger Greg Kouns directed the SAR operation, assisted by rangers JasonBauwens and Kerry Haut.
[Submitted by Laurie Axelsen, SubdistrictRanger, Bullfrog Subdistrict]
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Technical Rescue of Injured Climber
The park received a 911 call at 7:45 a.m. on May 22nd, advising thata 31-year-old woman had fallen while climbing and was stranded on a100-foot cliff above the lake in Warm Springs Canyon within BullfrogSubdistrict. The caller reported that the woman wascomplaining of ankle pain, but that she evidently hadn't suffered anylife-threatening injuries. Six rangers responded Tim Sveum (IC),Greg Kouns (ops), and Jason Bauwens, Laurie Axelsen, Andrew Fitzgeraldand Shuni Roth. A county deputy joined them. A Classic Lifeguardhelicopter was used to transport them and their gear to the top of the300-foot cliff. The SAR team set up a bolted anchor system to lowerrescuers and a litter down to the woman, who complained of back, ankleand wrist pain. She was lowered to a park boat, taken to a landing zone,and airlifted to a hospital.
[Submitted by Tim Sveum, Park Ranger]
Friday, June 18, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Nine Arrested Following Brawl At Lone Rock Beach
In the early hours of June 6th, dispatch received a phone call fromLone Rock beach reporting a fight in progress involving up to ten youngadults. Rangers Eric Scott, Jared St. Clair, Erik Larons and FernandoJones and field training ranger Naomi Shibata responded. When theyarrived at Lone Rock, the brawlers had already fled and were hidingin several camps along the beach. Rangers obtained witness descriptionsof the participants and subsequently located seven adults and twojuveniles who'd been involved in the melee. All were highly intoxicated.The seven adults were booked into the Coconino County jail in Page andcharged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication; the twojuveniles were cited for disorderly conduct and released to relatives.The fight evidently started between a man and a woman, then escalatedinto a brawl between two groups.
[Submitted by Eric Scott,Supervisory Park Ranger]
Monday, July 19, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Power Outage Strands Hundreds of Visitors
The Dangling Rope Marina lost power around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July5th. The outage affected the entire marina and developed area. Themarina, accessible only by water, is a very popular refueling and supplystop for visitors boating on Lake Powell, and is a necessary fuel stopfor the numerous day-use visitors traveling over 50 lake miles toRainbow Bridge National Monument. The electrical power failure resultedin all water, sewer, communication, fire suppression and fuel deliverysystems being shut down. Since gasoline couldn't be dispensed, well over400 people in approximately 100 boats were left stranded without gas onthe last day of the major holiday weekend. Many visitors were unable toreturn to their camping sites. Day use visitors not prepared for anovernight trip had special needs, such as food, water, shelter,medication and health concerns. The daytime temperature was over 100degrees, with limited shade on the docks. Families with children orelderly were especially susceptible to the heat. At times, nearly 50boats per hour were entering the marina in search of fuel and/orsupplies. Some of the visitors with special needs abandoned their boatsto be evacuated in concession tour boats. Due to limited docking space,others had to leave the marina area and were forced to camp along thenearby shoreline to await the return of services. The park put ICS intoeffect to manage the evacuation of those visitors requesting same and toprovide logistical support to meet the needs of visitors and personnelworking to re-establish electrical power to resolve the crisis. Aself-contained generator system, potable water tanks and portable vaulttoilets were ordered from St. George, Utah an effort thatentailed transporting equipment and technical specialists by truck,barge and helicopter to the site. Several rental houseboats werechartered and docked at the marina to provide temporary accommodations,shelter and comfort stations for visitors. The marina concessionaire,unable to maintain refrigerated perishables, supplied meals at no costto the stranded visitors. Rangers, park volunteers, concession employeesand maintenance personnel spent two days and nights aiding visitorsduring this incident. During the evening of July 6th, NPS personnel anda private electrical contractor located and repaired a break in thethree-quarter-mile long underground power line. Electrical servicewas restored to the fuel docks, but other concession services remainedclosed until supplies were restocked later in the week.
[Submitted bySteve Luckesen, District Ranger, Uplake District/Incident Commander]
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Drowning and Near Drowning
Two brothers ages twelve and nine were walking along asteep slickrock shoreline near the mouth of Moqui Canyon when the olderboy slipped and fell into the lake. His younger brother attempted tosave him, but also slipped and fell in. The boys were not strongswimmers and were unable to climb back up the steep shoreline. The olderboy was unable to help his brother, who disappeared under the water. Theolder boy's uncle heard his cries for help and was able to rescue him,but couldn't find the nine-year-old. The uncle took the older boy toBullfrog and reported the incident to rangers. The twelve-year-old wasthen flown from the Bullfrog Clinic to a hospital in Price, where he wastreated as a near drowning victim. Rangers/divers Laurie Axelsen, JasonLux and Derek Dalrymple found the missing nine-year-old in 22 feet ofwater within the hour. The older boy was released form the hospital thenext day and is expected to fully recover. The park and county sheriff'sdepartment are investigating.
[Submitted by Steve Luckesen, DistrictRanger, Uplake District]
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
High-Speed Pursuit of Drunk Driver
Ranger Jared St. Clair stopped a vehicle at Lake Powell Motel onHighway 89 inside the park for a speeding violation just after8 p.m. on July 2nd. The dispatcher told St. Clairthat the vehicle's registration was expired and that the vehicle wasuninsured. When St. Clair approached the vehicle, he noted that thedriver Lyle Holiday and passenger were both intoxicated.Holiday was also seen to be making furtive movements to reach under hisseat for an unknown object. St. Clair ordered him out of the car, butHoliday declined to comply and took off at high speed, nearly hittingthe ranger. A pursuit ensued in which rangers St. Clair and BrendonVoss, Coconino County deputies and Arizona DPS officers chased Holidayfor almost 24 miles at speeds up to 115 mph. Holiday at that point lostcontrol of the vehicle and crashed. The passenger was ejected; Holidaywas trapped inside. Following extrication, he was airlifted to ahospital in Flagstaff in critical condition. The passenger was flown toa hospital in Page, where he was released the following day. Chargeswere to be filed against Holiday for criminal damage, felony flight andaggravated DUI. The county sheriff's office is investigating. Thepassenger was charged with possession of a controlled substance andminor consumption of alcohol.
[Submitted by Rick Bennett, DistrictRanger, Downlake District]
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Assault on Ranger, Navajo Officer
Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting shots fired from LoneRock beach at 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, July17th. The caller reported hearing a loud gunshot, then a voice yelling"I will shoot anyone who comes near me." Rangers Kenny Barend, BrendonVoss, Amy Mowat, Jared St.Clair and Navajo Nation canine officer RobWilliams responded. The camp was located on the far south end ofthe beach. All of the 15 or so people within were ordered onto theground, then checked for weapons. Barend and Voss found D.J.hiding with his girlfriend in a tent within the camp and ordered themout. As D.J. was coming out, the rangers saw a Remington 700 22/250rifle in plain view. D.J. was handcuffed and his rifled was retrieved.D.J. admitted that he'd fired the rifle into the air and that he'd alsothreatened two men in the next camp. As other tents were being checkedand cleared, Williams came into contact with C.Q.C.Q.'s wife left the tent, as ordered, but he became combative andstruck Williams twice in the upper torso with a closed fist. Williamsresponded by spraying him with pepper spray. St. Clair joined Williams,at which time C.Q. began swinging at and hitting both men. Williamsand St. Clair used their expandable batons to strike C.Q. severaltimes on the arms, legs and back; although he continued to resist, theywere able to get him into handcuffs. According to witnesses, theincident began when R.N. and a companion from the next camp weredrinking with people at the D.J./C.Q. camp. When R.N. and hiscompanion were asked to leave, they declined to do so. R.N. insteadbecame angry and struck one of the campers in the head, causing a briefloss of consciousness. D.J. then retrieved his rifle, fired a shot inthe air, and threatened to shoot R.N. if he did not leave. R.N. waslocated in his camp and arrested for assault; D.J. was arrested for useof a weapon that endangers the public, disorderly conduct, and minor inpossession of alcohol; C.Q. was arrested for two counts of assaulton a peace officer and transported by park ambulance to Page Hospitalfor treatment of injuries incurred during his arrest. One other man wascited and released on scene for a weapons violation. St.Clair andWilliams sustained only minor injuries during the altercation withC.Q. and were treated by paramedics on scene. The case isbeing prosecuted by both Kane County Sheriffs Office and the NationalPark Service.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Chief Ranger]
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Multiple Monoxide Poisonings
The park was notified of possible carbon monoxide poisonings on ahouseboat at Antelope Point Marina around 7:30 a.m. on July 23rd. Interpretive ranger Dale Devries was first on scene and made theassessment that there was at least eight victims and that three of themhad previously been unconscious. Two Page FD ambulances were dispatchedalong with the Park Service ambulance from Wahweap. The ambulancesarrived just after 8 a.m. All of the victims were triaged with anexpelled carbon monoxide breath monitor, then transported accordingly.Nine people were taken to the hospital, where seven were treated;another three passengers remained on the boat. According to the captainof the 55-foot Stardust houseboat, the group had been camped in the WarmCreek area the previous night. There were lots of bugs, so they'd closedall the windows and doors and turned on the air conditioner. Thegenerator was on, but the main engines were off. Around 3 a.m., one ofthe teenage girls on board began to show symptoms, and others sooncomplained of dizziness, nausea and headaches. At first light, they madefor Antelope Point. The boat had no carbon monoxide detectors, and thecaptain was not aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning thathave been identified with houseboats. He said that he'd been coming tothe park since 1995 and that he'd felt tired and always seemed to have aheadache after spending time on the boat. An investigation was conductedand revealed that the boat's original rear exhaust system had beenreplaced with a starboard side exhaust system. Evidence indicates thatthe side vent for the generator exhaust is too close to the enginecompartment vents, and that exhaust gets pulled into the enginecompartment from the blower units when there's no breeze and getstransmitted through spaces in the through-hold fittings, collecting inthe crawl space and percolating up through the floor.
[Submitted byBrian O'Dea, Special Agent]
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Multiple Vehicles Burn in Parking Lot Fire
During the early morning hours of August 28th, park dispatch receiveda call from security employees at the Wahweap Lodge who reported that amotor home was on fire in the parking lot and that the fire wasspreading to other vehicles. Rangers Ben McKay, Kenny Barend,Shawn McNally and Eric Scott and maintenance employee Heath Beardresponded with the park structural fire engine. When they got to thescene, they found that the motor home, three vehicles and a boat werefully involved. Engines from Page and Big Water Fire Departmentsalso responded and aided in suppression efforts. Initial indicationsthat someone may have been inside the motor home were proven false afterfire investigators from Coconino County Sheriff's Office arrived. Theinvestigators determined that the fire started in the center of themotor home and possibly involved electrical systems and/or a propaneleak. Lost were a 2001 Safari Motor Coach, a 2000 Cadillac Escalade, a2000 Ford Expedition, two rental cars, a 1994 19-foot Maximum ski boatand trailer, and a second boat trailer. Several nearby vehicles receivedminor heat damage. Preliminary damage estimate approximately$260,000. The investigation continues. Ranger Shawn McNally wasIC.
[Submitted by Eric Scott, Subdistrict Ranger, WahweapSubdistrict]
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Fatal Aircraft Crash
Lee's Ferry rangers received a report of an aircraft going down abouta mile south of the Marble Canyon airstrip at 11 a.m. on September 4th. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter wasfirst on scene, followed by rangers and Coconino County SO officers. Thebodies of T.R. and M.R., both 40, of Huntington Beach,California, were found near the wreckage. It appears that the accidentoccurred sometime before 6:30 p.m. theprevious day. The aircraft was an experimental single-engine, two-seaterbuilt by the pilot. Evidence indicates that the engine was not runningat the time of the crash, possibly because the plane ran out of gas. TheR.s were on their way to Bullfrog, Utah, when the accidentoccurred. She was a safety engineer for Boeing Corporation. Thesheriff's office and FAA are investigating.
[Submitted by KerryHaut, Subdistrict Ranger, Lee's Ferry Subdistrict]
Monday, September 27, 2004
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Fatal Cliff Jump
On Saturday, September 11th, 23-year-old J.H., an Englishnational, jumped feet first off a 65-foot cliff into Lake Powell nearAntelope Point Marina. J.H. was part of a Trek America tour and wasvisiting Glen Canyon for a day of swimming. He was the first to jumpfrom the cliff. The tour director jumped in after J.H. in an attemptto find him when he failed to surface. Park divers searched the area toa depth of 100 feet but found no ledges for the body to rest on. Thepark's remote-operated submersible vehicle (ROV) found and recoveredJ.H.'s body at a depth of 273 feet on Monday morning. In reviewing adigital video of J.H.'s jump, investigators noted that his body wasbent forward at the time of entry and that he was looking down at hisfeet. During the autopsy, the medical examiner determined that he'dsustained a skull fracture and ruled that he was killed instantly fromimpact with the water.[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Chief Ranger]
Friday, April 22, 2005
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Two College Students Die in Backcountry Slot Canyon
On the morning of Sunday, April 17th, dispatch was advised of asearch in progress in the Choprock and Neon Canyon areas of theEscalante drainage within Glen Canyon NRA. Two BYU students in theirmid-twenties had entered the recreation area via the BLM Egypt trailheadon Wednesday evening to complete a circuit loop of the canyons. When thetwo failed to return on time, the family notified the Garfield CountySheriff's Office. Searchers from the park and from the sheriff's officewere supported by rangers and a helicopter from Grand Canyon, localvolunteer rescue groups from Tropic and Boulder, Utah, and ClassicAviation from Page, Arizona. A total of three helicopters and 32searchers were involved. The bodies of the two students were found andeventually removed from Choprock canyon, one of the most technical,difficult slot canyons in southeast Utah - a canyon that isinfrequently hiked due to the advanced skills required. The recoveryefforts occurred in a long narrow slot section of the canyon thataveraged 18 inches wide at the recovery site. The canyon at thatlocation is over 200 feet deep, trends east and west, and receives nosunshine. Temperatures in the narrow, dark canyon were hoveringaround 40 degrees, with a water temperature in the low 40s. At thebottom of the slot, a log jam dam created a debris-filled pool 40 yardslong, eight to 10 feet deep and less than two feet wide. The NPSrecovery team of Brett Timm, Laurie Axelson, Derek Dahlremple, BillWoverton, and Cathy Burns were starting the difficult process ofremoving the first victim when they found the second victim under thefirst and lying on the bottom of the pool. The cause of death is thoughtto be a combination of hypothermia and drowning. The medical examinersreport is pending.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
DUI and Resisting Arrest Incident
On the evening of April 17th, ranger Amy Mowat saw a vehicle beingdriven recklessly on Lone Rock Beach. Mowat contacted the operator,J.S., and determined that he was intoxicated. When sheattempted to take him into custody, he resisted arrest, refusing tofollow commands and becoming increasingly agitated. He began movingtowards Mowat in a threatening manner, so Mowat sprayed him twice withher pepper spray, but without any visible effect. J.S. then stumbledand fell to the ground, where he began fighting with Mowat. J.S. wasarrested for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs andviolating a lawful order. On April 21st, he pled guilty to the lattercharge and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a year's supervisedprobation and was banned from entering Glen Canyon NRA, Lake Mead NRAand Grand Canyon NP for one year.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, ChiefRanger]
Monday, November 28, 2005
Glen Canyon NRA
Suicide
On the morning of November 22nd, rangers noted that avehicle parked at a scenic overlook near Glen Canyon Dam had evidentlybeen there overnight. A check revealed that it was a rental car fromFlorida, and that the renter - a 58-year-old Florida man - had exceededthe length of his rental agreement. Investigation revealed that it mayhave been parked at the location for several days. Shortly thereafter,Page PD advised the park and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office that alocal motel had reported that a suicide note had been found in a roomthat the man had rented. A search was begun below the dam and his bodywas spotted by an observer in an Arizona DPS helicopter. The body wasrecovered and removed from the river gorge by helicopter. [Mark Law,LES]
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Glen Canyon NRA
Suicide in Park
On December 7th, rangers and Coconino County deputiesinvestigated a report of an apparent suicide that had occurred in asemi-remote area of the park that borders BLM land. A local cattlerancher had found a 64-year-old man from Page, Arizona, dead in hisvehicle with a gunshot wound to his head. He'd also apparently shot andkilled a pet dog that was found near him inside the vehicle. The man hademptied two five-gallon cans of gasoline on the vehicle's engine andthroughout the interior of the vehicle, but it had failed to ignite. Nosuicide note was found. A joint NPS-county investigation continues.[Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Teenager Dies in PWC Accident
A 15-year-old boy died following a personal watercraft accident on LakePowell on the evening of Sunday, April 16th. The boy, from Reno, Nevada, wasvisiting the park with friends. He was riding a personal watercraft near WarmCreek Bay, just north of Antelope Island on the Utah side of Lake Powell, whenhe collided with another member of his group around 6 p.m. The victim's partycalled the National Park Service using their marine band radio. Rangers and ahelicopter from Classic Lifeguard Helicopters in Page immediately responded. Theboy was flown to Page Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The rider of thepersonal watercraft that struck the teenager was taken to Page Hospital forevaluation but was uninjured. This was the park's first fatal accident thisyear. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist, and Kevin Schneider, PublicAffairs Officer]
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Injured in Kite Tubing Accidents
Two people were injured in separate, unrelated "kite tubing" accidents in thepark last weekend. In both cases, the victims were riding kite tubes towed byboats when they lost control of the device. Each then fell into Lake Powell fromheights of between 10 and 40 feet. Kite tubes are large, round inflated tubesthat are towed by boats at 20 to 40 mph. The user holds onto the kite tube as itrises into the air from 15 to 60 feet. Controlling a kite tube is extremelychallenging and the slightest upset in its balance causes it to fall into thewater. The first incident occurred on Friday, June 2nd, at approximately 2:30p.m. near the Bullfrog area. A 29-year-old man from St. George, Utah, was ridinga kite tube when he lost control and fell from a height of 35 to 40 feet whilemoving at approximately 35 to 40 mph. He suffered a broken neck and was flown byhelicopter from the Bullfrog Medical Clinic to St. Mary's Hospital in GrandJunction, Colorado. He was the third person in his party that day to be injuredwhile kite tubing, but the other two sustained only minor injuries and were nottreated. On the afternoon of Saturday, June 3rd, a 14-year-old girl fromHouston, Texas, fell from 10 to 15 feet from her kite tube while being towed at20 to 25 mph. She lost consciousness when she struck the water. Park rangersimmediately responded to the incident and she was flown by helicopter fromIceberg Canyon to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. After furtherexamination at the hospital, she was released without serious injuries. Thesewere the third and fourth accidents this year involving kite tubes. The firstaccident occurred on April 7th and resulted in a punctured lung caused by brokenribs; the second was on May 22nd, when another person sustained injuries to thechest and back while using a kite tube. Both of these incidents involved kitetube riders losing control of the device and falling into the water while movingat a high rate of speed. The individuals involved in these accidents were alsotransported by helicopter to the hospital. This is the first season that parkrangers at Glen Canyon have seen kite tubes on the lake. Please see the relatedsafety alert on kite tubing in this issue for additional information and forlinks to two TV news videos on kite tubing accidents. [Kevin Schneider,Management Assistant]
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
PWC Operator Killed By Lightning
A man operating a PWC near the launch ramp at the Wahweap Marina during anapproaching thunderstorm was struck by lightning and killed on the afternoon ofJuly 30th. Lightning struck K.V., 48, of Gilbert, Arizona, directly onthe left shoulder, capsizing the PWC and throwing him into the water. Othermembers of his party were in the immediate area and were able to pull him fromthe water, begin CPR, and transport him to the main launch ramp. Rangers were onscene within minutes and transported K.V. via ranger ambulance to thehospital in Page. An intensive effort was made to resuscitate him, but provedunsuccessful. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Friday, August 11, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Two-Year-Old Boy Drowns In Lake
A two-year-old boy from Logan, Utah, drowned on Wednesday in Lake Powell. Theboy and his family were camped with their houseboat in Warm Creek Bay. They hadcome aboard the houseboat to dry off after getting wet from rainstorms and toeat lunch. They boy had been wearing a life jacket earlier, but it was taken offso he could change into dry clothes. In the ensuing moments, the boydisappeared. The family immediately began searching the area and contacted thepark, using their marine band radio to request assistance. A Classic Lifeguardhelicopter was dispatched to the scene and rangers responded by boat. Otherboaters in the area heard the call and also came to the family's aid. About twohours after he disappeared, the boy surfaced and rangers and Classic Lifeguardparamedics began CPR. The boy was flown to Page Hospital, where he waspronounced dead. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Friday, August 18, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Concession Employee Dies After Near-Drowning Incident
A young man from Uzbekistan passed away on Saturday, August 12th, fromcomplications resulting from a near-drowning incident that occurred on LakePowell on July 21st. K.A., 23, was using a water trampoline near theWahweap main launch ramp when he jumped into the water and began struggling.After K.A. went underwater, bystanders began diving down in an attempt to findhim and pull him to shore. After being submerged for at least seven to tenminutes, he was found by a Dutch visitor and brought to shore, where othersbegan performing CPR. Rangers responded and continued CPR. K.A. was flown byClassic Lifeguard helicopter to Page Hospital, then flown to Dixie RegionalMedical Center in St. George, Utah. K.A. remained in the hospital in criticalcondition until his death. Although the trampoline was marked "Life VestRequired," K.A. was not wearing a life jacket at the time. He reportedly didnot know how to swim. K.A. was working in a seasonal position for Aramark, thepark concessioner, in the food and beverage department at Lake Powell Resort.This was the fourth fatality of the year at Glen Canyon. [Kevin Schneider,Public Affairs Specialist]
Friday, September 1, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Employee Killed In Off-Duty Accident
Early yesterday morning, Kirby Yocum, 24, was killed in a car accidentoutside the park. Kirby worked in the entrance station at Halls Crossing as aseasonal fee collector. This was his first job with the National Park Service.He was from Griffin, Georgia, near Atlanta. "Our hearts go out to Kirby's familyand friends," said superintendent Kitty Roberts. "He was an exuberant young man,bounding with energy. Kirby's dream was to be a park ranger. The National ParkService family will miss Kirby greatly." The accident took place around 3 a.m.,when Kirby and friends were returning to Halls Crossing after a weekend trip toAspen, Colorado. The vehicle rolled over at a steep curve on Utah Highway 95near Blanding. Kirby was riding in the passenger seat. [Kevin Schneider, PublicAffairs Officer]
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Woman Drowns When Boat Breaks Apart
N.H., 40, of Fruita, Colorado, drowned in Lake Powell on Friday,September 15th, after the boat in which she was riding hit a wake at high speed,causing the hull to split and dumping the two occupants into the water. Her bodywas found the following afternoon at a depth of 387 feet, about 30 to 40 feetfrom the site of the accident. The other person in the boat was rescued from thewater by the Desert Odyssey, a tour boat operated by Lake Powell Resortsand Marinas. N.H. was an employee of Marine Max of Grand Junction, Colorado.Marine Max holds a commercial use authorization allowing it to launch andretrieve boats on Lake Powell for its customers. Employees of the company werevisiting the park for a corporate retreat when the accident occurred. The causeof the accident is under investigation. [Kevin Schneider]
Monday, October 16, 2006
Glen Canyon NRA
Rainbow Bridge Trail Reopens
The trail to Rainbow Bridge was reopened on October 13th after maintenancecrews made significant progress in repairing the trail to the site, closed dueto flood damage since October 6th. Flood waters washed out sections of thetrail, creating unsafe conditions. Meanwhile, Lake Powell has risen more thanfour feet due to regional floods, an increase almost unheard of for this time ofyear. [Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Plunges To Death From Dam Overlook
On the evening of Thursday, January 18th, visitors in thearea of a popular scenic viewpoint near Glen Canyon Dam reported ahighly intoxicated man at that location to both Page Police Departmentand the park. Rangers responded and found the 19-year-old at the canyonrim, threatening to jump. He said he was distraught due to an argumentthat he'd had with his girlfriend earlier in the day. Ranger LaurieAxelsen talked with the man for more than a half hour in an attempt toget him to move away from the rim, but he suddenly moved forward, wentover the edge and fell about 500 feet to his death. Due to darkness andthe extremely hazardous topography, a recovery effort was not begununtil the next morning, when the body was extricated by a team ofrangers and members of the Coconino County Sheriff's Office with theassistance of an Arizona DPS helicopter. [Mark Law, Law EnforcementSpecialist]
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Accident Killing Two Ruled A Murder/Suicide
On January 28th, a Natural Bridges NM volunteer who wasvisiting Glen Canyon noticed what appeared to be a motorvehicle on its roof immediately below a 60-foot cliff atMuley Point. Natural Bridges ranger Lofton Wiley and SanJuan County Sheriff's Office deputies responded and foundthat there were bodies inside the car, a rented FordExplorer. The Explorer was winched to the top of Muley Pointthe next day and the bodies were extricated. Subsequentinvestigation has revealed that in all probability thedriver deliberately steered the Explorer over the canyonrim. The driver was a 66-year-old man with dual Taiwaneseand Japanese citizenry; the passenger was a 26-year-oldJapanese woman. The pair were in a relationship that hadbeen deteriorating.[Submitted by Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Three Survive Airplane Crash Into Lake Powell
A single-engine Cirrus SR-22 with three people on boardcrashed into Lake Powell on Saturday, February 24th. Onboard were pilot R.B., his brother L.B., and R.G., anOlympic gold-medalist in wrestling. The plane crashed intothe lake at Good Hope Bay, a remote location between Hiteand Bullfrog. Fortunately, none of the three men wassignificantly injured in the crash. They swam in the44-degree water for about an hour before making it to shore,then spent a night in the backcountry without fire orshelter. On Sunday morning, they flagged down a passingfisherman, who took them back to Bullfrog. Ranger-medics atBullfrog evaluated them and found that they were okay,though hypothermic. The incident has received nationalattention because of Gardner's fame. He recorded a historicupset in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, when he wona gold medal in wrestling in a significant upset. For a newsstory with additional details, click on "More Information"below.[Submitted by Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant]More Information...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Three Survive Airplane Crash Into Lake Powell
A single-engine Cirrus SR-22 with three people on boardcrashed into Lake Powell on Saturday, February 24th. On board were pilotR.B., his brother L.B., and R.G., an Olympic gold-medalist in wrestling.The plane crashed into the lake at Good Hope Bay, a remote locationbetween Hite and Bullfrog. Fortunately, none of the three men wassignificantly injured in the crash. They swam in the 44-degree water forabout an hour before making it to shore, then spent a night in thebackcountry without fire or shelter. On Sunday morning, they flaggeddown a passing fisherman, who took them back to Bullfrog. Ranger-medicsat Bullfrog evaluated them and found that they were okay, thoughhypothermic. The incident has received national attention because ofGardner's fame. He recorded a historic upset in the 2000 Olympics inSydney, Australia, when he won a gold medal in wrestling in asignificant upset. For a news story with additional details, click on"More Information" below. [Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant]HYPERLINK "http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5306376" http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5306376
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Canadian Woman Dies In Kayaking Accident
A Canadian woman died on the afternoon of Tuesday, March27th, when her kayak overturned in Padre Bay on Lake Powell. M.M., 41,of Edmonton, Alberta, was kayaking with a friend about 100 yards offshore when heavy winds and four-foot swells caused her boat to capsize.M.M.'s friend's boat also capsized, but he was able to swim safely toshore. He could not rescue M.M. because of the dangerous waterconditions and lost track of her in the weather and confusion. M.M.'s15-year-old son was nearby in camp when the incident occurred. The twomen spent Tuesday night along the shore of the lake near DominguezButte, then flagged down a passing concession-operated boat thefollowing morning. The captain of the boat contacted rangers, whoimmediately responded and began a boat search for M.M. The park'saircraft also began an aerial search. M.M.'s body was spotted from theaircraft around 12:30 p.m. The cause of death is under investigation.M.M. was wearing a lifejacket, but winds were blowing strong on Tuesdayas storms passed over the area. Gusts at Wahweap Marina exceeded 45 mphat times. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Wisconsin Man Dies In Rollover Accident
N.P., 22, of Prescott, Wisconsin, was killed in a singlevehicle rollover accident along Lakeshore Drive near the South EntranceStation around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 29th. N.P. was driving hisFord pickup at a high rate of speed when he lost control. The truckrolled several times and he was ejected. A group of friends who were ina vehicle behind N.P.'s truck witnessed the accident and called 911.Rangers, Coconino County deputies, Arizona DPS officers and city of Pageparamedics all responded. Alcohol appears to have been a contributingfactor. The sheriff's office is investigating. [Lindy L. Mihata, LawEnforcement Specialist]
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Driver Killed In Rollover Accident Near Halls Crossing
A 37-year-old man died in a single vehicle rolloveraccident on Route 276 south of Halls Crossing around 9:30 p.m. on April6th. S.K. of Park City, Utah, was driving alone in a Dodge pickup at ahigh right of speed when he swerved off the right side of a curvedsection of road. When he attempted to pull the pickup back onto theroad, he lost control and it rolled several times. S.K. was not wearinga seatbelt and was killed instantly. Visitors came upon the accident andcalled 911. Rangers responded along with Utah Highway Patrol officers.S.K. was traveling to Bullfrog to meet his 15-year-old daughter andfriends when the accident occurred. He was a well known internationalKung Fu (weapons) master who trained and competed at the world level.Alcohol appears to have been a factor in the accident. The accident isunder investigation by the Utah Highway Patrol. [Lindy L. Mihata, LawEnforcement Specialist]
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Carbon Monoxide Claims Life Of Young Girl
M.E. and her friend, K.T., both sevenyears old, were swimming near two 30-foot cabin cruisers at theircampsite on the shoreline of Lake Powell in Padre Bay on the morning ofSaturday, July 7th. Both boats' engines were running with propellersdisengaged to recharge their batteries. K.T.'s mom was showering,using hot water from the boat motor, when she noticed K.T.unconscious in the water and sinking. She immediately jumped into thewater to rescue K.T. K.T. quickly regained consciousness once shewas pulled from the water. As the group was attending to K.T., theyrealized M.E. was missing and a search was organized to look for her.They found her unconscious on the lake bottom in about five to ten feetof water. The group contacted the National Park Service. Park rangersand a medevac helicopter from Classic Helicopters in Page, Arizona, weredispatched to the scene. Paramedics from Classic Helicopters were thefirst on scene and began CPR on M.E. A second medevac helicopterarrived to assist in the response. Both girls were flown to the PageHospital, where M.E. succumbed to drowning caused by carbon monoxidepoisoning. Intense oxygen treatments at the Page Hospital weresuccessful in treating K.T., who was later released and will make afull recovery. Both girls were from Flagstaff, Arizona. Carbon monoxideis an odorless, colorless gas that is produced by all motors. Dangerouslevels of carbon monoxide can become trapped near the swim platform ofsome boats, or anywhere near the engine's exhaust. At the time of theaccident, the wind was calm, which prevented the carbon monoxide fromdispersing. People should never swim anywhere near a boat's exhaust.This is the first fatality related to carbon monoxide at the park since2002. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Thirty-Four Visitors Treated For Monoxide Poisoning
Late on the evening of July 10th, rangers in the UplakeDistrict received a report of several children aboard a houseboat havingdifficulty breathing, with CPR being conducted on one of them. Carbonmonoxide poisoning was immediately suspected, and the rangersaccordingly began gathering available medical oxygen kits. An airevacuation helicopter from Page was requested as rangers responded fromBullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas. As rangers were about to leaveBullfrog, they learned that a speedboat was en route to the marinacarrying four children in need of medical attention. They accordinglyremained at Bullfrog and left the response to the Halls Crossingrangers. On board the speedboat were six adults and four children,ranging in age from 19 months to three years old. The children were allcrying, and the adults reported that they'd all been unresponsive 15 to20 minutes previously. The adults were also exhibiting symptoms ofcarbon monoxide poisoning - dizziness, nausea and headaches. All tenwere put on oxygen and taken to the Bullfrog clinic. Meanwhile, HallsCrossing rangers arriving at the scene reported that there were about 26more people aboard a houseboat who were displaying carbon monoxidepoisoning symptoms. They were triaged, and rangers sent 24 of them byboat to the medical facility at Bullfrog. Of the 34 individualstransported to the clinic, 21 required oxygen therapy forcarboxyhemoglobin levels above 10%. Fortunately, rangers had recentlyattended a mass casualty training session, and the park, anticipatingthis type of incident, was prepared with equipment for treating masscarbon monoxide poisonings. The people treated had all been aboard anolder homemade houseboat that was equipped with a gasoline poweredgenerator. The exhaust for the generator was vented underwater near theback deck of the boat. Investigators were told that the victims had beenin the water swimming in the vicinity of the generator's exhaust outletjust prior to going inside the houseboat. In addition, a residentialstyle central air conditioning system was installed aboard the houseboatand was found to have been a contributing factor. This incident occurredthree days after another carbon monoxide poisoning on Lake Powell, wheretwo children were poisoned and a seven-year-old girl drowned as aresult. Human senses can not detect carbon monoxide, which is why thereare more than 40,000 case of carbon monoxide poisoning annually and whycarbon monoxide poisoning is the most common type of fatal poisoning inthe United States. Prevention through public education remains the firstline of defense. Do not confuse carbon monoxide poisoning withseasickness, intoxication or heat stress. If someone complains ofirritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness or dizziness, immediatelysuspect carbon monoxide poisoning. [Lindy Mihata, Acting ChiefRanger]
Monday, July 23, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Firefighters Assist In Suppression Of Gas Station Blaze
Park dispatch received a request for assistance at astructural fire in a gas station in Page on the afternoon of July 18th.Eight NPS firefighters responded with the park's Wahweap-based engine.When they arrived, they found heavy black smoke emanating from the backof the store. Page Fire Department was on scene and had begun its attackat the back of the store with positive pressure ventilation at the frontdoor. Park fire captain Chris Cook established a unified command withPage FD. Rangers Jeff Rhame and Kean Mihata entered the front of thebuilding and worked their way into the back, where they extinguishedremaining flames. Other assisting firefighters were Laurie Axelsen,Shawn McNally, Scott Larson, Jared St. Clair and Heath Beard. The firewas completely extinguished by late afternoon. The cause is underinvestigation. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Monday, July 23, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Explosives Found By Visitors Safely Detonated
While firefighters were dealing with a gas station blazeon the afternoon of July 18th, a park visitor reported finding apossible explosive device in Rock Creek Bay. Ranger Chad Hunterresponded and confirmed the presence of 30 oil perforating charges, sixblasting caps and approximately 50 feet of detonation cord connected toa power source. Hunter established a perimeter until officers from KaneCounty Sheriff's Office and an explosive ordnance disposal team from St.George arrived the following morning. The devices were determined to beunstable and were detonated on site with three controlled explosions.The investigation is on-going. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Friday, July 27, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Ranger Intervenes In Assault With Taser, Saves Life
Ranger Shawn McNally saw an RV being driven erratically onLakeshore Drive late on the evening of July 23rd. The RV went off theestablished road and barely stopped short of hitting a cliff face. Adisheveled and partially clothed woman ran screaming from the passengerside of the RV back to McNally's patrol vehicle. As she was attemptingto get into his patrol car, a man, later identified as the woman'shusband, came running from the driver's side of the RV, tackled her andknocked her to the ground, and began choking he with one arm whilepunching her in the head with the other. During the assault, the mancontinuously yelled death threats at the woman. McNally quickly movedinto a position where he could use his taser on the man withoutendangering the woman. All his commands to the man to stop wentunheeded, so he fired the taser, hitting the man in the lower back andfreeing the woman. McNally had to activate the taser several times toget the man's full compliance. Ranger Jake Olson then arrived on sceneand assisted with the arrest. After the arrest, the man repeatedly toldMcNally that he'd intended to drive the RV off the Glen Canyon DamBridge, killing them both. This was the second time that Glen Canyonrangers have saved visitors lives by employing tasers. The case has beentransferred to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. [Lindy Mihata,Acting Chief Ranger]
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Family Members Injured In Rollover Accident
Park dispatch was notified of a serious motor vehicleaccident with an unknown number of injuries a mile north of the LoneRock access road off Highway 89 on August 11th. Rangers Eric Scott andCraig Janicki soon arrived on scene and found that a sport utilityvehicle that had been towing a camping trailer had rolled over and waslying on its roof. Many visitor had stopped to assist, including twodoctors, a registered nurse, an EMT, and three retired police officers.Three of the members of a family of four - two adults and theirtwo-year-old and one-month-old children - had been injured in theaccident. The father was trapped in the SUV and had to be extricated;the two-year-old had a fractured femur, jaw and other facial bones; andthe mother suffered minor bruises. The baby, who was in a car seat, wasnot hurt. As the patients were being triaged and treated, two ClassicLifeguard helicopters and an engine and ambulance from Big Water, Utah,headed to the scene. Ranger Scott Larson, Arizona DPS officers andCoconino County deputies also responded. The two-year-old and fatherwere flown to the trauma center in Flagstaff. The mother and infant weretaken to Page Hospital, where they were treated and released. Thefather's right lung had collapsed due to fractures to his ribs and healso suffered from multiple fractures to his vertebrae and his ankles.Traces of methedrine and THC were found in his blood, though he had notbeen driving the vehicle. The accident occurred because the trailer'sbrakes had not been hooked up. The mother had been driving when thetrailer started to swerve. As she sped up to straighten it out, thetrailer pushed the SUV off the road. Ranger Eric Scott was IC. [LindyMihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Friday, August 24, 2007
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Rangers Respond To Fatal Out-Of-Park Shooting
On the afternoon of August 19th, park dispatch advisedrangers that a man who'd been target shooting near theMarble Canyon water tanks had been shot in the head. RangersKerry and Deanne Haut from Glen Canyon and Paul Ehlert fromGrand Canyon responded to the incident, which was outsidethe park's boundary. Efforts by the rangers and ClassicLifeguard helicopter medical personnel to resuscitate S.K.proved fruitless and he was declared dead at thescene. S.K. died of a single gunshot wound to his headform a .38 revolver. Preliminary investigation indicatesthat it was self-inflicted and that S.K.'s fiancéwitnessed the shooting. The county sheriff's office isinvestigating.[Submitted by Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
One Dead, Six Seriously Injured In Boating Accident
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 25th, a group ofseven friends were returning to Bullfrog Marina from the Hansen Creekarea aboard a 23-foot powerboat. The operator was apparently distractedand not paying attention, causing the boat to slam head-on into a rockwall at 30 to 40 mph. The eight responding rangers found that all of theboat's seven occupants had suffered major injuries, and that one of them- Danielle Sorensen, of Delta, Utah - was not breathing. They began CPRon her while they treated the other six victims. A flight nurse fromClassic Lifeguard Helicopters later pronounced Sorenson dead. The othersix victims, ranging in age from 20 to 25, were flown from the scene ofthe accident to regional medical centers in Colorado, Utah, and NewMexico. All are expected to recover. The Kane County Sheriff's Officeand the National Park Service are investigating the accident. [KevinSchneider, Management Assistant]
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Dies In Wakeboarding Accident
C.D., 20, of Emmett, Idaho, was wakeboarding inthe remote San Juan arm of Lake Powell around 6:30 p.m. on Friday,August 24th. He had just completed a flip when the front part of thewakeboard went underwater, causing him to fall forward and strike hisface on the water. C.D. soon began experiencing seizures. His friendsgot him to a nearby houseboat, which happened to have two nurses onboard. They used a marine band radio to call for help and beganresuscitation efforts on C.D.. Classic Lifeguard Helicopters flew tothe scene and transported C.D. to the Flagstaff Medical Center, wherehe succumbed to his injuries. [Kevin Schneider, ManagementAssistant]
Monday, September 10, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Fireworks And Drugs Seized From Houseboat
The information receptionist at park headquarters receivedan anonymous call on the afternoon of Friday, September 7th, reportingthat drugs and between $4,000 and $5,000 worth of fireworks could befound in the hold of the houseboat Canyon Breeze, located atAntelope Point Marina. The houseboat was set to be leaving the marinathe following day. Later on Friday, the park received another report,this one from a known person, reporting that a large number ofindustrial grade fireworks were being loaded onto the houseboat.Rangers, special agents, Coconino County deputies, and a dog and handlerfrom the Kane County Sheriff's Department contacted the people on thehouseboat the next day. Forty large cases containing assorted fireworkswere confiscated along with 110 grams of high quality marijuana andmethamphetamine paraphernalia. The fireworks have been valued at about$4,000. Two arrests were made for drug possession and a third personreceived two citations for possession of fireworks and drugs. TheCoconino County Sheriff's Office is prosecuting the case. The fireworkswill be destroyed in a controlled training setting by the county'sexplosive ordnance disposal team. The investigation was led by specialagent Brian O'Dea, with assistance from rangers Eric Scott, Jared St.Clair, Jordan Barthold and Chad Hunter. [Linda Mihata, Acting ChiefRanger]
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
One Swimmer Rescued, Second Succumbs
On September 12th, J.L., 64, was swimming withfriends from a houseboat to a small island about 75 yards away when hebegan showing signs of distress. He slid underwater, but was immediatelyretrieved by two of his friends. They took him to the island, where CPRwas begun. Another man in the group - D.M., 50 - also haddifficulties while swimming. He was rescued by nearby boaters aftersinking below the surface of the lake. He was breathing but unresponsiveat first, then regained consciousness after being brought aboard thehouseboat. Rangers Steve Luckesen, Bryan Yetter, Scott Ryan and GordonOlson soon arrived on scene with a Kane County deputy, a Utah state parkranger, and a Classic Lifeguard helicopter. Rangers were assisted by anAir Force doctor who was in the area with his family. Resuscitationefforts on J.L. were unsuccessful after an hour's effort and he wasdeclared dead at the scene. D.M. was flown to a hospital in GrandJunction, Colorado. J.L. was with a group of friends who werevacationing at Lake Powell to celebrate the life of a friend who hadjust passed away from cancer. The fatality is under joint investigationby the National Park Service and Kane County Sheriff's Office. The leadinvestigator fro the park is ranger Scott Ryan. [Lindy Mihata, ActingChief Ranger]
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
One Killed, One Missing After Rock Slab Falls On Boat
A visitor was killed on Friday, September 28th, when arock slab fell on a boat at Lake Powell; another person is missing andpresumed drowned. Park dispatch was contacted by visitors who reportedfinding a capsized vessel under a small sandstone alcove within LakeCanyon. They had reportedly passed the vessel in the same locationapproximately 20 minutes earlier and had waved to the two passengers onboard. Rangers quickly arrived on the scene and soon recovered the bodyof a woman. The alcove under which the boat was located is approximately20 feet wide by 20 feet high. It appears that the rock slab,approximately 250 square feet in size, fractured from the alcove walland fell on the bow of the boat, causing it to capsize. The accident isstill under investigation and the park's underwater recovery team isassisting in the search for the missing person. Water depths at theaccident site are approximately 150 feet. Rangers are still working toidentify the victims and to provide notification to next of kin. The ICis Greg Kouns. [Marianne Karraker]
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Update: Additional Details On Fatal Rock Fall On Boat
On Friday, September 28th, a rock slab fell on a boat onLake Powell, killing one person. The search continues for a secondperson who is missing and presumed drowned. Park dispatch was contactedby visitors who reported finding the capsized vessel within Lake Canyon.They had reportedly passed the vessel as it sat under a small sandstonealcove approximately 20 minutes earlier and had waved to the twopassengers on board. The alcove under which the pontoon boat was locatedis approximately 20 feet wide by 20 feet high. It appears that the rockslab, approximately 250 cubic feet in size, fractured from the alcovewall and fell on the bow of the boat, causing it to capsize. RangersScott Sample and Jennifer VanDragt responded and soon recovered the bodyof M.S., 59, of Calhan, Colorado. CPR was performed, but was notsuccessful. She was declared dead at the scene. The park's underwaterrecovery team, led by Pat Horning and Rick Moore, is still searching forD.S., 64, also from Calhan, Colorado. The search is beinghampered by poor visibility, the presence of trees underwater, and thewater depth, which is estimated at 150 feet. Family members haveconfirmed that the S.s were together on a two-week vacation to LakePowell when the accident occurred. The incident commander is ranger GregKouns. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Helicopter Crashes Onto Houseboat
The park received a cell phone call around 10 a.m. onOctober 2nd, reporting that a helicopter had crashed on a houseboat inthe mouth of Last Chance Bay on Lake Powell. Rangers Jared St. Clair,Shawn McNally and Chad Hunter and firefighters Chris Cook and HeathBeard responded by boat. Pilot R.S. and his wife, V.S.,were taking off from the beached 75-foot houseboat in their Robinson 44helicopter when the tail rotor began malfunctioning. R.S. tried tocompensate, but the helicopter slammed back onto the houseboat becausehe'd failed to remove the rear tie-down strap prior to takeoff. R.S.is an experienced pilot who frequently flies to and from his houseboat,which is equipped to handle landings and takeoffs. V.S. wasflown by Classic Lifeguard Helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center fortreatment of traumatic injuries. R.S. declined medicaltreatment. A significant amount of the helicopter's fuel leaked into thelake, and appropriate measures were taken to clean it up. A contractorremoved the main rotors and tail rotor from the lake. The FAA isinvestigating. The IC was Jared St. Clair. [Lindy Mihata, Acting ChiefRanger]
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Search In Progress For Missing Three-Year-Old
On Monday, October 8th, rangers Jennifer VanDragt andChris Valdez responded to a report of a missing three-year-old girl atthe Bullfrog Subdistrict marina slips. The girl and her four-year-oldbrother had been chasing each other around the houseboat at the time ofher disappearance. Neither was wearing a lifejacket. VanDragt and Valdezarrived within ten minutes of her estimated time of disappearance. Parkstaff, concession employees, and visitors all searched for the girl, butwithout success. Additional personnel were called in, including thepark's dive team, two search dog units from the Arizona Department ofPublic Safety, a Utah State Parks ranger, and a county deputy. Thepark's underwater recovery team, led by Pat Horning, Kean Mihata andJordan Barthold, was hampered by poor visibility in its first attempt tolocate the child. The depth is estimated at 110 feet in the area whereshe disappeared. Both dogs made hits on the water surface area near thedock and the handlers believe that little girl is in the water at thatlocation. The search continues. The IC is Chris Valdez. [Lindy Mihata,Acting Chief Ranger]
Friday, October 12, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Update: Body Of Missing Three-Year-Old Found
The body of three-year-old K.B. was found bydivers early yesterday afternoon in Lake Powell just off BullfrogMarina. She had been the subject of an extensive search since shedisappeared while playing with her four-year-old brother at the marinaon October 8th. A land search and investigation into K.B.'sdisappearance was conducted to rule out a possible abduction while parkdivers focused on the area of the lake near the marina. The park'sunderwater recovery team, led by Pat Horning, Kean Mihata and JordanBarthold, was hampered by poor visibility and deep water (about 110feet) in its first attempt to find her. Both search dogs brought in toassist hit on the surface area near the dock where she was playing,suggesting she was in that location. On October 9th, additional diverswere brought in, and the park's remotely-operated underwater searchvessel (ROV) was employed. On October 11th, state and county dive teamsjoined the effort and a second ROV with a tripod sonar device wasbrought in. Binks' body was found with the latter. The IC's were ChrisValdez and Jeff Kracht. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Glen Canyon NRA
Firefighters Extinguish RV Fire
The park received a report of a recreational vehicle onfire along Highway 89 north of the Lone Rock access road on theafternoon of October 3rd. Rangers Shawn McNally and Jared St. Clair andfirefighters Heath Beard and Chris Cook responded and found a37-foot-long RV fully engulfed in flames. A tank attack with foam wasbegun and the fire was completely knocked down within three minutes oftheir arrival. The driver had been operating the RV on a flat tire priorto discovering smoke coming from the rear engine compartment. He pulledover and got out, along with his wife, before the vehicle becameengulfed in fire. Neither was injured. Firefighters from the Greenhavenand Big Water volunteer fire departments provided additional support atthe scene. Traffic control was provided by Arizona Department of PublicSafety and Kane County Sheriff's Office. The IC was ranger ShawnMcNally. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Fire Destroys Concessioner Dormitory
Park dispatch received a call regarding a fire in progressat the Wahweap concession employee housing area at 8 p.m. on Sunday,April 6th. Responding firefighters arrived to find Dormitory #1 engulfedin flames. The building housed 21 occupants and 20 were soon accountedfor. The missing person, who was unconscious inside the building, wasquickly found and rescued by park and city of Page firefighters, takento Page Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, then flown byhelicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center. The concessioner, Aramark/LakePowell Resorts and Marinas, has five dorm buildings at this location.Residents displaced by the fire have been accommodated in other dorms.Park firefighters were supported by the Page and Greenehaven firedepartments. The fire has been contained. The cause is unknown and aninvestigation is being conducted. [Marianne Karraker]
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Firefighters Save Resident's Life In Dorm Fire
Additional details have been received on the fire thatdestroyed the concession employee dorm at Wahweap on Sunday evening (seeyesterday's edition for the original report). When respondingfirefighters arrived at the dorm, they found it filled with smoke withflames showing on the exterior. The 24-unit building was quicklysearched without result and an exterior attack was begun. About 30minutes into the fire, the concession risk manager reported that one ofthe residents could not be accounted for. A decision was made to sendtwo teams of rescuers to check specific dorm rooms. Park firefighterJeff Wilson and Page FD firefighter PJ Marlow made a forced entry intoone of the rooms and found the missing person by using a thermal imagingdevice to penetrate the dense smoke. He was evacuated, taken byambulance to Page Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation, then flownto Flagstaff Medical Center. He remains there in critical condition.Initial attack was made by NPS fire captains Shawn McNally, Heath Beard,Eric Scott and Chris Cook and firefighters Jared St. Clair and JeffWilson. Additional assistance was by provided by firefighters LaurieAxelsen, Kean Mihata, Scott Larson, Lance Mattson, Brent McGinn and BenDavis. Three mutual aid engine crews provided critical support.Suppression operations lasted for over six hours. The concessioner,Aramark-Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, has four other dorm buildingsat this location, all of which were protected. The 21 residentsdisplaced by the fire have been accommodated elsewhere. In addition tonumerous NPS personnel, firefighters from Page Fire Department andGreenehaven Fire Department also responded. The cause is still unknown;an investigation is currently underway. The IC was Shawn McNally. [BrentMcGinn, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Plane Makes Emergency Landing On Sandbar
Park dispatch received a report of missing plane in theBullfrog area late on the evening of Sunday, April 6th. According to theFAA, the plane had taken off earlier in the day from Durango, Colorado,but failed to return as scheduled. Attempts to find it at known landingstrips proved unsuccessful. On the morning of April 7th, the operator ofa tour plane reported sighting the plane and pilot on a sandbar in ZahnBay on the San Juan River. The uninjured pilot was picked up by ClassicHelicopter, based in Page, Arizona. The pilot said that he'd made anemergency landing due to equipment failure. He at first attempted towalk out, then returned to the plane and manually activated itsemergency locating transmitter. The park and county sheriff's officerare conducting a joint investigation. [Marianne Karraker, PermitsCoordinator]
Monday, April 28, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Plane Damaged In Landing At Closed Backcountry Airstrip
A private plane was damaged last Thursday morning when thepilot attempted to land it at a closed backcountry airstrip just northof Zahn Bay on the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell. The single engine 2008Husky aircraft evidently ran off the closed runway, causing it to flip.The pilot sustained minor injuries in the accident. He was flown byanother private aircraft to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. Thepassenger in the damaged aircraft was uninjured. The National ParkService, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation SafetyBoard, and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office are investigating theincident. [Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, June 9, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Couple Rescued After Four Days Stranded In Backcountry
Park dispatch received a call routed through 911 from KaneCounty dispatch on May 31st regarding people stranded in the backcountryand needing medical attention. A Pennsylvania couple in their 60s hadrented a two-wheel drive sedan and were vacationing in the Glen Canyonarea. They planned to drive from Big Water to Escalante, both smalltowns in southern Utah, via a rugged four-wheel drive road. They laterreported that the GPS unit in their vehicle advised that they couldtravel this route. About 45 miles from Big Water, though, the vehiclebroke down after the oil pan was ripped out and the engine seized. Thecouple had several bottles of water and soda with them, but no food norother means of survival. After being stranded for four days with daytimetemperatures in the high 80s, they were able to flag down a visitor on adirt bike who called 911 on his cell phone. Classic Lifeguard launchedtwo helicopters from Page to fly the couple out. They were extremelydehydrated and were kept at the hospital overnight for observation. Thecouple never stopped at any of the various visitor centers to ask forinformation, nor did they did turn back when they came upon signs onthis backcountry road which said that the road was impassable. If theyhadn't encountered the person on the dirt bike, it's likely that theywould have perished. Rangers are increasingly dealing with visitors whor*ly on navigation systems which may provide misleading information,often with tragic results. While navigation systems such as GPS unitscan be fine tools, nothing can replace up-to-date information frominformed personnel as well as using common sense when out in remoteareas. [Eric Scott, Acting District Ranger]
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Teenager Drowns In Farley Canyon
A 17-year-old boy drowned in Farley Canyon while swimmingwith family and friends on the afternoon of Sunday, June 15th. A groupof family and friends were celebrating Father's Day in Farley Canyon, aremote location within the park, when the accident occurred. D.B.was swimming with a 14-year-old friend across the lake to thecanyon's far shore, approximately 100 yards away, when he began toexperience difficulty about 35 yards from shore. He began flailing inthe water and yelling for help to the nearby friend. The friend tried tohelp him, but was being submerged in the water by D.B., who was tryingto climb up onto him. The friend was able to break away and attempted toinstruct D.B. to turn on his back without success. Meanwhile, otherfamily members began swimming towards D.B., but he went under thewater and did not resurface before they could reach him. According tofamily members, no one had ever seen D.B. swim before. He was notwearing a life jacket. Neither drugs nor alcohol nor foul play aresuspected. Park divers Jordan Barthold and Pat Horning recoveredD.B.'s body the next day at a depth of 19 feet. The incident commanderwas Brett Timm. [Linday Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
One Dead, Seven Ill From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Just before 3 a.m. yesterday morning, park dispatchreceived a distress call on marine band radio from a 75-foot Aramarkrental houseboat moored in Rock Creek Bay. Eight people were on board -an extended family from Arizona - and all were apparently suffering fromcarbon monoxide poisoning. Glenn Howeth awoke during the night, foundone of his grandsons passed out on the floor of the vessel, andrecognized that something was wrong. He was able to rouse his grandsonand together they started to evacuate others to the outside deck. Duringthis process, Howeth, who had a significant cardiac history, suffered anapparent heart attack. Howeth's grandson, a paramedic, performed CPR onhim, but to no avail. Ranger Chad Hunter responded with a ClassicLifeguard helicopter, while supervisory ranger Laurie Axelsen made anight run in a patrol boat from the Dangling Rope Ranger Station. Theother seven family members were flown by helicopter to the hospital inPage. Six were transferred to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St.George, Utah, for treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. As of yesterdayevening, they'd gone through two treatments, with a third scheduled forthis morning. Two of them showed signs of decreased mental ability andwill undergo additional testing before being released. The houseboat wassecured on scene and an investigation was conducted by special agentBrian O'Dea and Uplake district ranger Steve Luckesen. Extensive testingwas performed on scene. Aramark has 25 houseboats of this type on thelake, and is working to ensure that they are all safe. The investigationcontinues. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Swimmer Presumed Drowned In San Juan River
Park dispatch received a report on the evening of June25th that someone had drowned in the San Juan River near the NavajoReservation. The location was identified as downstream of Piute Farms.B.S., 23, of Kayenta, Arizona, had been visiting withfriends in the area. Preliminary reports indicate that he entered theriver to assist others who were having difficulty swimming, then wentunder and did not resurface. It's not known if he was wearing a lifejacket. The other four swimmers were able to return to shore and summonhelp. Personnel from several agencies, including the Navajo PoliceDepartment, San Juan County Sheriff's Office, Utah Highway Patrol, andarea emergency medical and fire personnel, responded to assist NPSstaff. B.S.'s body has not yet been recovered. [Marianne Karraker,Public Affairs Specialist]
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Suicide At Lone Rock Beach
On June 24th, the Coconino County Sheriff's Officecontacted rangers and asked them to help find a possibly suicidal58-year-old Michigan man who'd abandoned his car in the community ofGreenhaven, an area of private property within park boundaries. Effortsto find him proved unavailing; subsequent efforts with dogs and ahelicopter also proved fruitless. On the evening of June 26th, visitorswalking down a rocky slope near the south end of Lone Rock Beach sawwhat appeared to be a body in the water near the shoreline and flaggeddown a passing boater, who investigated and confirmed their discovery.Rangers found the body of a man standing upright in about eight feet ofwater. There was an apparent gunshot wound under his chin. Investigationrevealed that this was the man that Coconino County had been searchingfor. Since the beach is in Kane County, the sheriff for that county wasnotified and the body was retrieved. Divers from the park and CoconinoCounty searched the area where the body had been found and recovered thehandgun he'd used to shoot himself. The man was unemployed and had beenliving out of his vehicle. He'd contacted his family several times overthe previous two years and threatened suicide. A check of the gunrevealed that it had been stolen in 1991 in Texas. The two counties areinvestigating. [Eric Scott, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Park Fire Brigade Responds To Vehicle And Boat Fires
Between July 21st and July 30th, the NPS structural firebrigade at Wahweap responded to four incidents - a boat fire, a vehiclefire, and two near fires:
On the evening of July 21st, a houseboat in Wahweap Marinacaught fire while the family on board was cooking dinner. The firespread quickly and involved the kitchen area of the boat. Concessionemployees were able to do some initial suppression on the fire and getthe houseboat untied from the marina. The park brigade responded with afire boat and pulled the houseboat away from the marina to avoidcollateral damage to other vessels. Initial attack was conducted and thefire was contained to primarily the interior of the houseboat. A large300 gallon gas tank and two propane tanks were on the roof of thehouseboat. Firefighters cooled the gas tank immediately to reduce therisk of explosion. The ignition source was probably electrical in thekitchen area and ignited either propane fumes from the tanks directlyabove, or possibly from an overflow on the 300 gallon gas tank whichvented gasoline during the high temperatures that day. The boat sufferedextensive damage to its interior but was not destroyed. Captain JaredSt. Clair was the IC.
On the evening of July 26th, a fire started in a camperparked in one of the parking lots near the NPS fire station at Wahweap.The fire burned quickly and soon spread to two vehicles, one on eitherside of the camper. During the response from the NPS structural firebrigade, the propane tanks in the camper exploded, as did several othersmall camping propane cylinders. Fire captain Jared St. Clair was firston scene, followed by captains Shawn McNally, Eric Scott, Chris Cook andfirefighter Scott Larson. Initial attack was made using two attack lineswith foam and water. A fourth vehicle, a new Chevrolet 4x4, was damagedfrom the heat but was saved. The other brigade members involved in thesuppression and mop-up activities were Grant Stolhand, Chad Hunter,Craig Janicki, Ben Davis, and Jeff Wilson. The Page Fire Department alsoresponded with an engine. The cause of the fire is still underinvestigation, but the preliminary findings are that the fire may havebeen started by leaking propane in the camper. There were no injuries,but three vehicles were completely gutted by fire. The investigation isbeing jointly conducted by NPS rangers and the Coconino County Sheriff'sOffice. Jared St. Clair was the IC
On July 29th, the Wahweap fire brigade responded to areport of a 32-foot vessel with fuel in the bilge. The NPS fire boatresponded and the vessel was escorted to the Stateline launch ramp,where the fuel was pumped out of the bilge without incident. Vesselswith fuel in the bilge often catch fire quickly if the persons on boarddo not recognize the problem immediately and shut off their engines andall electrical power.
On the morning of July 30, the Wahweap fire brigaderesponded to a report of a trailer fire in the Wahweap trailer village.The fire had apparently been extinguished by the concession employeeoccupants with a garden hose when the NPS engine arrived on scene. Thefire was on the bottom exterior of the trailer and had apparently beenstarted by a cigarette butt thrown on the ground amongst some dead grassand debris. There were many other cigarette butts on the ground in thissame location.
[Eric Scott, Acting District Ranger]
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Woman Charged With Theft, Forgery And Money Laundering
In late November of 2006, Brian O'Dea, the NPS specialagent at Glen Canyon, received a complaint of possible violations ofpark regulations associated with commercial use. Through a review ofbilling statements, emails, interviews, and a preliminary investigation,he determined that G.I., 42, of West Jordan, Utah, wasconducting a business operation on Lake Powell involving the houseboatDesert Ruby without a permit. The investigation showed that aperson was being paid $1800 per year and allowed to use the houseboat inreturn for managing it under a company called Desert Ruby LLC. Duringthe investigation, O'Dea also learned that G.I. had managed threedifferent houseboats on Lake Powell and had embezzled an estimated$65,000 from the three multiple-owner boats. Without the knowledge ofthe approximately 75 owners of the three boats, she obtained debit cardsand bought personal items with them, then made up false documents whenthe owners asked to see them. Once the authentic bank records wereobtained, it was apparent that she had forged and issued 23 checkstotaling $230,815.71 from her then current employer, InteriorDevelopment of Midvale, Utah. The checks were laundered through DesertRuby Inc. O'Dea took the case to the United States Attorney's Office,then, upon their direction, to the Utah Attorney General's FinancialCrimes Unit. It was agreed that the prosecution would be handled by thestate. The victims reported that G.I. spent $238,150.88 inunauthorized expenditures, with an additional $26,346.97 in unknownexpenses. G.I. had made $188,340.04 in unauthorized deposits into thevictim's bank account. The investigation also showed that G.I. hadbeen convicted of stealing American Express travelers' checks from heremployer, American Express, in 1998. The company lost $220,000 and shewas sentenced to one to 15 years in prison, but ultimately didn't do anyjail time and was placed on 36 months' probation. On August 26th, theUtah Attorney General's Office filed a 21-page criminal informationagainst G.I. on eight counts of felony theft, 14 counts of felonyforgery, three counts of felony money laundering, and one count of a"pattern of unlawful activity," also a felony. Second degree felonies inUtah carry a one to 15 year sentence and a penalty of up to $10,000 oneach count. Third degree felonies carry a zero to five year sentence andup to a $5,000 penalty on each count. G.I. in this case had eightsecond degree felony counts and 18 third degree felony counts filedagainst her. The August 26th filing of the criminal information in SaltLake City effectively released the case facts and charging documentworldwide via the internet. The filing of the charges via information isthe Utah state equivalent to a federal grand jury indictment. While thiscase is being prosecuted by the Utah Attorney General's Office, theinvestigation was led by the NPS Investigative Services Branch and byO'Dea, with critical assistance provided by NPS crime analyst JoanYorkey and Utah Attorney General's Office special agent Steven Sperry.The case is pending arraignment and plea agreement or trial in Salt LakeCity. [Brian S. Smith, IMR Special Agent in Charge]
Friday, September 5, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Visitor's Life Saved Through CPR, Prompt Use Of AED
Park dispatch received a report via cellular phone late onthe morning of August 31st that CPR was in progress on a man on a boatat Oak Bay on Lake Powell. Several rangers responded from Dangling RopeMarina, approximately 10 miles away. Rangers Chad Hunter and Seth Palmerwere first on scene. Hunter located the speedboat and found the manlying in the stern. Hunter immediately applied an AED and delivered oneshock, restoring the 67-year-old man's pulse and breathing. A pediatricemergency room doctor on boat the boat had begun CPR about 20 minutesbefore the rangers arrived, bringing oxygen and a bag valve mask thatenhanced the CPR efforts. The man was flown to Page Hospital, then takento Flagstaff Medical Center. He was conscious and talking to staff inthe ER in Page. [Linda Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Killed, Two Injured In Flashflood In Grand Staircase-Escalante
Garfield County dispatch received a 911 call around 5 p.m.on September 10th reporting that a flashflood had swept through EgyptThree, a narrow slot canyon within Grand Staircase-Escalante NationalMonument, which borders the park. The caller said that two canyoneershad been injured and that two others had been swept away. A GarfieldCounty deputy and the county SAR team responded. They were assisted byGlen Canyon rangers Jeff Kracht, Lance Mattson, Grant Stolhand, ChadHunter, Steve Luckesen and Gordon Olson and Bryce Canyon rangers MarkHnat, Rayne Rohrbach and Tim Sveum. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter wasdispatched to the scene and the crew located the bodies of K.C. andG.C., both 60, of Walnut Creek, California. They were foundapproximately a quarter mile downstream from the point where they'd beenswept away. Their bodies were recovered the following day by a UtahHighway Patrol helicopter, personnel from the Garfield County Sheriff'sOffice, and a local canyoneering guide. The C.s were canyoneeringwith their son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law when the flashflood occurred. Both the daughter-in-law and son-in-law were injured andhad to be flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St George, Utah,where they were treated and released. Egypt Three is visited bycanyoneers from all over the world. Flash floods are common this time ofyear. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
College Student Dies In Boating Accident
On the afternoon of Saturday, September 20th, dispatchreceived a report that a person on a boat near Face Canyon hit his head,fell overboard, and failed to resurface. Rangers Grant Stolhand and EricHerndon responded along with a Utah State Park ranger. The rangers foundthat L.R., 19, of Seattle, Washington, had been standing on thebow seat of a rental runabout boat, holding onto the bow line forbalance, while the boat was on plane. When the boat operator sloweddown, L.R. was ejected. The operator and a passenger onboard heard athud and stopped the boat. They couldn't find L.R., and, aftercircling the area for about five minutes, called for assistance onmarine band radio. L.R. was visiting the lake with college friendsfrom California. The park and Utah Highway Patrol dive team areconducting dive operations in an effort to find and recover the body.[Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Rangers Provide ALS To Severely Injured Woman Following Boat Accident
On the afternoon of September 21st, park dispatch receiveda report of an accident between a jet ski and a boat that had left awoman spitting up blood and slipping into shock. The incident occurredin the Gunsight Bay area on Lake Powell. Ranger/medic Laurie Axelsen andranger/EMTs Chad Hunter and Ryan Gallagher responded. They found a youngwoman in the back of an open bow boat with a severely compromised airwaydue to facial fractures, missing teeth and a broken lower jaw who wasalso bleeding and vomiting blood and suffering from neck and back pain.The rangers maintained spinal protection, manually suctioned the blood,maintained her airway and provided ALS for over an hour until a ClassicLifeguard helicopter could reach the scene. Together, EMS personnel madea difficult intubation in the dark on shore prior to transferring thewoman to the trauma center in Flagstaff. The accident is beinginvestigated by a state park ranger. [Lindy Mihata, Law EnforcementSpecialist]
Friday, September 26, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Boat Burns Following Explosion
On Monday, September 22nd, park personnel and state andcounty dive teams were in the process of searching for a drowning victim(see report in yesterday's edition) when dispatch reported a vessel fireabout ten miles up lake in Friendship Cove. An explosion had occurred onthe 25-foot vessel which had two people onboard. When rangers got there,they found a red and white vessel onshore near a tent camp, fullyengulfed in flames. All passengers and tent camp occupants wereaccounted for and okay. The park's aids to navigation vessel, which isequipped with a portable pump, soon arrived on scene. Rangers and diveteam members extinguished the fire, using a single hose line draftingfrom the lake. Water was lobbed from the upwind side until the flameswere knocked down. When the accident occurred, the boat's main enginewas off and the trolling motor was in use. The operator heard anexplosion behind him and the fire followed. Preliminary investigationsuggests that a newly-installed battery may have caused the explosion.Laurie Axelsen was IC. [Lance Mattson, Emergency Services Manager]
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Missing Boat Accident Victim Found After Lengthy Search
The body of a missing 19-year-old man was recovered fromLake Powell near Gregory Butte on Thursday, October 9th. L.R. ofSeattle, Washington, was standing on the bow seat of a runabout onSaturday, September 20th, when he fell overboard and disappeared.Divers, side-scan sonar and an underwater robot were employed in theeffort to find his body. The search area spanned 183 acres and thesearch required the efforts of about 35 people from a number ofa*gencies. Evident indicates that he suffered a fatal head injury when hewas hit by the boat from which he had fallen. For a copy of the originalreport, click on the link below. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
Monday, December 22, 2008
Glen Canyon NRA
Major Fire Burns Numerous Boats At Marina
A fire that broke out at the Halls Crossing Marina on thenight of Thursday, December 18th, destroyed up to 20 vessels, butfirefighters were able to save another 130 boats. At least three vesselsare known to have sunk. As of midday on Friday, no casualties had beenreported, but fire investigators were still checking the burned area.Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting flames coming from coveredslips at the marina just before midnight on Thursday. Rangers andconcession employees quickly responded via both land and water. Becauseof the small number of employees present at this time of the year,additional park staff were flown in from other areas to help fight theblaze, including personnel from Natural Bridges NM and from parkheadquarters in Page. Fire personnel used the Park Service fire boatboth to fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out of from theirslips in the marina. Other burning vessels were cut loose and pushedaway from the slips by firefighters on the docks. The fire wascontrolled by 3 a.m. "We are saddened by the loss of the boats and otherfacilities, but commend our NPS staff and everyone else who responded soquickly to this emergency for saving so many other vessels," saidsuperintendent Stan Austin. "People don't realize the challenges ourstaff face in a remote area like Halls Crossing, which is a two-hourdrive from Blanding, Utah, and nearly five hours from park headquartersin Page. Without the dedication and expertise of our fire responders,this fire would have been even more devastating." Although there wasextensive damage to the marina facilities, no firefighters were injured.Park Service investigators, along with investigators from the federalBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Utah State FireMarshal's office, are investigating. [Patrick O'Driscoll, Public AffairsOfficer]
Monday, December 29, 2008
Glen Canyon NP
Investigation Continues Following Marina Fire
State and federal agencies investigating the December 18thfire at the Halls Crossing Marina have determined that fewer boats weredestroyed than previously thought - 15 vessels rather than 20. Three ofthe 15 sank, at least one of them in water 200 feet deep. A total of 153water craft were docked at the marina, about 95 river miles up LakePowell from Glen Canyon Dam, when the fire broke out sometime after 11p.m. on December 18th. The fire destroyed the marina's "F" dock,charring boat slips and melting part of the roof covering the dock. Afew other boats sustained minor damage, but most were saved by the quickactions of those who first responded to the fire, including NationalPark Service and marina concessions staff and other volunteers. Aninitial assessment has placed the value of the loss of boats andfacilities at between $3 million and $5 million. The remains of thoseboats and some of the others have been moved to a secure area forexamination by investigators from the Utah State Fire Marshal's Officeand the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), which isassisting because the fire was at a federal facility. The remains of "F"dock, one of six sets of docks at the marina, are cordoned off and notopen to boats or the public. The portion of "D" dock containing boatslips numbered 11 and higher also is off-limits, according to the marinaconcessioner, by order of the fire investigators. That prohibitionincludes all individuals, slip holders and insurance companyrepresentatives. Investigators have so far found no evidence that thefire was deliberately set. The Utah fire marshal continues to categorizethe fire's cause as unknown. Investigators have left the scene for nowbut will return after the first of the year to continue their work,which will likely continue into February. The marina is in one of themore remote locales within the recreation area, which encompasses morethan 1.25 million acres in southern Utah and northern Arizona along thecourse of the Colorado River. Scott Ryan, chief ranger at NaturalBridges NM, has begun to assess the site for any potential environmentaldamage so that appropriate clean-up measures can take place. Anyone withinformation about the fire or needing to contact investigators should doso through the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office. The phone number is801-284-6350. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Life Saved Through Use Of Taser
On March 27th, the Kane County Sheriff's Office asked thepark for assistance in dealing with a 23-year-old man armed with asword. When rangers arrived on scene, they were advised that the man hadbeen involved in a dispute with his father. The rangers could see himthrough an open front door and noted that he was holding what proved tobe a three-and-a-half foot long katana-style sword (a curved, slenderblade often referred to as a 'samurai sword'). The man threatened boththe rangers and a Big Water marshal who was also on scene. The man wasordered to put the sword down, but refused to do so. The rangers andmarshal negotiated with him and he eventually dropped the blade, thenturned and began to walk away, ignoring commands from the rangers tostop. The man then reached toward an obvious bulge in his right frontpocket. While one ranger provided cover with his rifle, a secondemployed his taser to incapacitate the man. He was then taken intocustody. A search revealed that the bulge was a five-inch-long,fixed-blade hunting knife. Custody of the prisoner was transferred tothe Kane County Sheriff's office. This use of a taser, or electroniccontrol device (ECD), resulted in the third instance of a life saved ina potentially lethal confrontation in the past seven months by NPSrangers. Previously, rangers from Mammoth Cave used a taser against aknife-wielding man and a New River Gorge ranger used a taser to keep awoman from jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge. A "life saved"incident is any incident in which a taser is used to prevent someonefrom taking his/her own life or the life of another or when deadly forceby an officer would otherwise be justified. The ECD program began in2001, when rangers in several parks began carrying tasers as alternateintermediate weapons. These parks had great success with tasers, whichimmediately reduced the number of injuries to both protection rangersand those they were confronting. By 2006, about 20 parks were utilizingtasers. In September of that year, a national ECD policy was adoptedfollowing a Washington Office review to ensure consistency in policythroughout the NPS. Since that time, the number of parks with ECDprograms has risen to 115, with about 1100 trained users. Information onECD's can be found on InsideNPS at HYPERLINK"http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?lv=3&prg=801".Anyone with questions about ECDs should contact Sarah Davis-Reynolds,NPS lead ECD instructor, at 304-671-9083. [Lindy Mihata, Law EnforcementSpecialist Glen Canyon; Sarah Davis-Reynolds, WASO]
Monday, April 27, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Rescued, Two Drown And Two Missing In Boating Accident
Park dispatch was notified of an overdue six-personboating party on Lake Powell late last Saturday afternoon. A ranger soonfound and rescued two people - J.B. and H.B. of St. Pete Beach,Florida - from the shore at Padre Butte. The B.s reported that theirboat sank after taking on water during a wind storm. They were treatedfor hypothermia. An intensive search by boat and air was begun for theother four members of the group. The bodies of two of them - K.P.of St. Petersburg, Florida, and M.A.T. of PrescottValley, Arizona - have been found; the other two - T.T. ofPrescott Valley and R.P. of St. Petersburg - are stillmissing. The search is being conducted with the assistance of Utah StateParks and the Kane County and San Juan County sheriff's departments.Investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Weather isbelieved to have been a contributing factor. [Brian Sweatland]
Monday, May 4, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Body Of Boating Victim Found, Search Continues For Another
A rental boat with six people on board swamped and sank onSaturday, April 25th. Winds were gusting to 55 mph at the time and waveson the lake were four-feet high. Nobody in the group was wearing alifejacket. Two of the six made it to shore and the bodies of two otherswere found shortly thereafter. Search operations have continued eversince. On April 27th, the body of T.T. was recovered from LakePowell, but efforts to find the sixth and final victim - R.P.- have so far been unsuccessful. Sidescan sonar has been employed andsearchers have continued looking along the lake's shoreline. Based oninformation from the survivors and results of previous searches, itappears likely that the body will be found in the near future. The parkwill again employ its ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) tosearch a likely area today. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Rafter Drowns In Cataract Canyon
M.D.C., 37, of Nederland, Colorado, was thrownfrom a raft and into Big Drop Two, a dangerous rapid, while passingthrough Cataract Canyon on a rafting trip on the afternoon of May 16th.He was able to hold onto the raft at first, but let go for unknownreasons. Without the raft's high flotation, he was pulled under thesurface of the violent rapids and drowned. His body was recovered by apark concessioner and brought downriver, then transferred to the statemedical examiner's office. [Bryan Yetter, Subdistrict Ranger]
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Rangers Carry Out Multiple Rescues During Severe Storm
Rangers made three nearly simultaneous rescues on LakePowell on Memorial Day after an unusually powerful thunderstorm struckBullfrog Bay area in late afternoon with wind speeds of 50 to 60 milesper hour. At 4 p.m., Halls Crossing rangers Brian Yetter, Eric Herndon,and G. M. Yancey were notified of a woman with spinal injuries withinthe Halls Crossing buoy field. While responding to that call, theyoverheard a vessel with four women on board calling "Mayday" via marineband radio from buoy 101, reporting that they were out of gas andsinking. Yetter diverted the NPS vessel and responded immediately,During the ten minute trip to that buoy, the 25-foot Boston Whaler tooklarge waves over its cabin. The sinking vessel was found within a50-foot-wide cove bounded by 100-yard-high walls. Yetter was able tocome alongside the 25-foot cabin boat while Herndon and Yancey securedthe vessels and helped the women into the park boat as the two vesselscontinually crashed into each other. Following the rescue, the rangersdetermined that the park boat had taken on large amounts of water anddecided to beach it at a safe location and wait out the storm. When theweather abated, a Coast Guard Auxiliary unit detailed to Lake Powell forholiday operations was able to pickup the women and transport them toBullfrog Marina. While this rescue was underway, Bullfrog rangers CarmenBarnard and Moses Rinck launched a second park vessel to support Yetterand his crew. While responding to buoy 101, Barnard and Rinck spotted apartially sunken ski boat with two people aboard and rescued them justas the ski boat went under. One of the two people was later treated forhypothermia. Following the wind event, Yetter and Herndon returned tothe woman with the possible spinal injury. Following a thoroughevaluation, she was transferred to the park's fireboat, captained bysupervisory ranger Steve Luckesen, a park medic, and transported to theBullfrog clinic, where she was later evacuated by air. Patrols both upand down the lake revealed no additional storm victims. [Max King]
Monday, June 8, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Fourth Boating Accident Victim Recovered
Park divers recovered the body of R.P. - thelast of the victims of the boating accident that claimed four lives inApril - late on the morning of Wednesday, June 3rd. His body was foundat a depth of 442 feet using side scan sonar and recovered by divers andstaff employing a remote operated vehicle. The April 25th accidentoccurred near Padre Butte on Lake Powell. The incident began when GlenCanyon dispatch received a call of an overdue boating party of six. ANational Park Service ranger soon arrived on scene and rescued twosurvivors, who reported that their boat had swamped after taking onwater in a wind storm. Two bodies were also recovered at that time. Thepark immediately launched an intensive interagency search and rescueoperation for the two remaining missing boaters. The body of the fifthvictim was located and recovered on April 27th. The search continued forR.P. and involved both the Kane and San Juan County Sheriff's'Offices, Utah State Parks, and the Utah Department of Public Safety. Thesearch for the boat continues; the cause of the accident remains underinvestigation. [Brian Sweatland, Chief of Planning, Compliance andExternal Affairs]
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Boats Burn And Sink At Wahweap Marina
Dangling Rope district ranger Laurie Axelsen and parkranger Jamey Brazell were returning from patrol just before midnightlast Friday when they noticed flames from one of the boat docks atWahweap Marina. The rangers immediately radioed park dispatch and wentinto action to isolate the fire by removing surrounding boats from thetwo boats that were ablaze. An NPS fire crew soon arrived on scene witha fire engine and a fire boat; they were supported by units from thePage Fire Department. The blaze was brought under control withinapproximately 30 minutes. Two privately-owned, 37-foot cabin cruiserswere lost in the fire. The actions of the rangers and the quick responseby firefighters prevented additional damage to the docks and other boatsin the marina. Aramark is conducting the clean-up associated with thefire. Coconino County is leading the investigation into the cause of thefire. The incident commander was Shawn McNally. [Brian Sweatland, PublicAffairs Officer; Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Helicopter Pilot Arrested
On Friday, June 12th, rangers were on patrol at a largewakeboard competition being held on Lake Powell when they saw ahelicopter approach and hover within 500 feet of six beached houseboats,15 ski boats, several personal watercraft, 20 to 25 swimmers andapproximately 100 persons on shore. Several passengers then jumped fromthe helicopter into the water, after which the helicopter landed atop anearby houseboat. Ranger Jared St. Clair contacted the 33-year-oldpilot, out of St. George, Utah, and subsequently arrested him forillegal air delivery of passengers and creating a hazardous condition.Since an initial warning in 2003, the pilot has received four citationsconcerning the operation of his helicopter in the park, including twolast year. He was scheduled to appear in federal magistrate's courtyesterday. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Monday, June 29, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Fire Destroys Boat At Wahweap
On June 25th, park firefighters responded to reports thata ski boat was on fire at the Stateline launch ramp. The owner, a LosAngeles firefighter, had just launched his vessel after fueling at theWahweap gas station. Prior to starting the inboard/outboard engine, heraised his engine cover to vent the engine compartment, and, even thoughhe could smell gasoline fumes, started the engine, which immediatelyburst into flames. After unsuccessfully attempting to extinguish thefire, all three adults and three children onboard were forced to abandonship into the lake, where they were picked up by nearby boaters. Within11 minutes of the call, the NPS fire boat was on scene. FirefightersKean Mihata, Joe Florko, Ben Davis, and vessel operator/captain JaredSt.Clair found the vessel, a 21-foot 1987 Sea Ray, on a nearby shorefully engulfed in flames. Within four minutes, the flames had beenknocked down enough for the fire boat to come alongside the burning boatand use a short attack line to suppress the remaining fire. The boat wastowed back to the launch ramp and removed from the water. There were novisitor or employee injuries in the incident. Although the boat wassaved from sinking, it is a total loss. [Max King]
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Four-Year-Old Drowns In Lake Powell
A four-year-old boy has lost his life in a drowningincident on Lake Powell. On the evening of Monday, August 3rd, parkdispatch received a 911 call from a houseboat in Warm Creek Bay on LakePowell. The caller said that a four-year-old boy with the group had justbeen retrieved from shallow water and was unresponsive. A nurse on thehouseboat immediately started CPR. Park rangers and a helicopter fromClassic Lifeguard were on scene within 18 minutes of the 911 call andcontinued lifesaving efforts. The child was transported by helicopter toPage Hospital, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The childhad been playing on the beach with other children from the houseboat. Hewas not wearing a life jacket, and had been left unattended for only afew minutes. It is unclear how he ended up in the water. [BrianSweatland, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Severe Wind Storm Sinks, Swamps Numerous Boats
A severe windstorm hit the lower areas of Lake Powellaround 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of August 22nd. A thick dust cloud wasfollowed by very strong winds that gusted to over 50 miles per hour.Park dispatch received dozens of calls for assistance over marine bandradio and by cell phone as six- to seven-foot-high waves struck bothWahweap and Padre Bays. Three NPS patrol boats and a Utah State Parkboat responded to a total of 16 distress calls. Fourteen boats wereeither swamped, capsized or were badly damaged, and rescuers helped twoothers with seven people aboard get to Antelope Point Marina. A total of19 people were transported off the lake back to Wahweap; others wereable to salvage enough gear from their boats to campout for the night.Only one vessel, a private houseboat, leaked fuel into the water, asstrong waves slammed it sideways into shore. Aramark, the parkconcessioner, responded and contained and cleaned up the fuel spill.They also salvaged the remaining boats. None of the vessels sank in deepwater and all were recovered. There were no reported injuries due to thestorm and all visitors who were rescued were wearing life jackets. Whilewinds produced by thunderstorms are common at this time of year, severewinds involving search and rescue operations involving this many vesselsat one time are not. Rangers Jared St. Clair, Shawn McNally, JoeDallemolle, Laurie Axelsen, and Jamey Brazell were involved in therescue operations. [Eric Scott, Wahweap District Ranger]
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Mother And Son Injured In Parasailing Accident
On the evening of Monday, September 7th, park dispatchreceived a cell phone call reporting that a visitor had sustained severehead injuries. Rangers and Classic Lifeguard Helicopter personnelresponded immediately to a location on Lake Powell near the mouth of theSan Juan River. When they arrived, rangers found a 42-year-old womansuffering from severe head injuries. She was treated and evacuated byhelicopter to the Flagstaff Medical Center. A 17-year-old boy with herhad also been injured and was transported by ranger patrol boat to PageHospital. An on-site investigation revealed that the victims were amother and her son, and that both had been injured in a parasailingaccident. The boy was in the parasail and was attempting to takeoff froma ledge approximately 10 feet above the waterline. Several other people,including his mother, were on the ledge observing the parasailing. Whenthe boat began to pull forward, the sail went sideways, entangling thewoman and dragging her a short distance before she was dropped onto herhead along the shore. The boy struck the ledge several times beforebeing dragged into the water. Parasailing, which involves an individualattached to a parachute being pulled behind a boat, is prohibitedwithout a permit by federal regulation in all National Park Systemareas. The activity can be extremely hazardous, particularly in an areasuch as Lake Powell, where high rock cliffs, high winds, and heavy boattraffic can endanger both the parasailor and the public. Glen Canyondoes not issue permits for this type of activity because of the dangersinvolved and past accidents. A citation was issued to the boat operator.[Brian Sweatland, Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Hiker Falls To Death From Cliff
Park dispatch received a call last Saturday reporting thata hiker in the Escalante arm of Lake Powell had fallen from a cliff tothe water below. Two rangers responded by boat from Dangling RopeMarina. They contacted the person who'd made the call, then made a quicksearch of the area where the accident had occurred and found the body of49-year-old R.H. of Missouri in the Escalante River about twomiles upstream from the mouth of Explorer Canyon. R.H. was day hikingwith a friend when he attempted to cross a talus slope at the edge ofthe cliff. He lost his footing, fell into shallow water and mud 70 feetbelow, and sustained a traumatic and fatal head injury. R.H. had beenvisiting the area with four friends and had gone on several day hikesduring his trip. [Laurie Axelsen, Dangling Rope District Ranger]
Friday, October 16, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Rangers Rescue Four People Stuck On Cliff Face
Rangers on boat patrol in Iceberg Canyon on Lake Powell onWednesday afternoon contacted two kayakers who were seeking assistance.They reported that four people in their party had become trapped on acliff and needed rescue. The rangers immediately responded, and weresoon joined by rangers in two more patrol boats and by technicalclimbing rangers who responded from Page via helicopter. When theyarrived on scene, they found a teenage boy clinging to a sheer cliffface, struggling to maintain his footing on a four-inch-wide ledge 150feet above the lake surface. Two other teenage boys were trapped in analcove near the first boy. One boy's mother, who had attempted to rescuethe three teenagers, had become trapped on another ledge 50 feet abovethem. Four rangers trained in technical rescue climbed to a position 200feet above the lake surface, where they traversed a ledge to a positiondirectly above the stranded boys. The rangers rappelled down to theteenagers, used climbing gear to secure each one - beginning with theboy on the narrow ledge - and then brought them one at a time up thecliff to a safe position. The rangers last secured the mother, who wasin a relatively safe location nearby, and led all four to a locationwhere they could rappel down to the bottom of the canyon. The rescue wascompleted by 6 p.m. The teenage boys were with a two-family party on ahouseboat. The group had been camping in Iceberg Canyon when the threeboys decided to go exploring. They were about 100 yards from thehouseboat when they became stranded. The boys had climbed up and acrossa high ledge and then descended into an alcove, where they found thatthey could not climb back out. One boy, attempting to climb out of thealcove, became stuck on the nearby ledge. The mother then becamestranded above the boys while attempting a rescue. None of the fourindividuals required medical attention, and all were able to remain withtheir houseboat group for the night. [Brian Sweatland, Public AffairsOfficer]
Monday, October 19, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Houseboat Fire Sends Six To Hospitals
A houseboat explosion and fire on Lake Powell on Fridayresulted in burns and other injuries to six people. Park dispatchreceived numerous calls of a houseboat fire in Gunsight Canyon around 4p.m. More calls came in soon thereafter reporting multiple victims withburns and other injuries. NPS firefighters Jared St. Clair, Kean Mihata,Scott Larson, Chad Hunter, Craig Janicki, Jeff Wilson and Eric Scottresponded along with two helicopters from Classic Lifeguard. NPS andUtah State Parks units arrived on scene to find the houseboat engulfedin flames on the shoreline of Gunsight Butte. Six people were treatedand transported by either Classic Lifeguard or boat. An eight-year-oldboy and a 46-year-old man were flown separately to a burn center in LasVegas. Park medic Laurie Axelsen and FTEP trainee Jason Montoya werefirst on scene to the burned boy, with ranger Jamey Brazell joining themshortly thereafter. They provided ALS to the boy until the helicopterflew him out. Ranger Greg Hester triaged the other four victims as theyarrived by boat at the Wahweap launch ramp. They were taken by Page FDand NPS ambulances to Page Hospital. The privately-owned, 62-footSkipperliner houseboat was a complete loss. There were several otherpeople on the boat at the time, but they were uninjured and were takento Wahweap Marina by other boaters. One of the injured persons said thatthe fire began when a line being used to siphon fuel between twocontainers leaked gasoline into the boat's generator compartment,causing an explosion and the fire that engulfed the entire houseboat.Ranger Eric Scott was IC. NOTE: The online story is accompanied by animage of the burned houseboat. [Eric Scott, Wahweap District Ranger]
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Rangers Rescue Four People From Sinking Boat
Park dispatch received a distress call on marine bandradio from a boater onboard a sinking vessel on the afternoon of Sunday,October 18th. The caller said that the boat was rapidly taking on waterand starting to sink. Rangers responded from Dangling Rope Marina andfrom two other locations, with district ranger Laurie Axelsen arrivingfirst. She found the boat near Face Canyon and immediately took twochildren and their two grandparents on board her vessel. RangersChristopher Schreck and Jamey Brazell arrived shortly thereafter.Efforts were made to save the boat, but it sank about a half hour afterthe initial distress call was made. The family was transported back toWahweap by rangers Chad Hunter and Jason Marsoobian. Investigationrevealed that the boat had struck a submerged object, possibly a rock,outside the marked channel in the Padre Bay area. The operator continuedupstream for about two miles before he realized that the boat had beendamaged and was taking on water. Salvage efforts are underway to recoverthe cabin cruiser. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, November 2, 2009
Glen Canyon NRA
Nevada Man Found Guilty In Quagga Mussel Case
In the first trial involving the park's mussel preventionregulations, a federal judge has ordered a Nevada man to pay a $2,500fine for failing to have his boat inspected for mussels before launchingit on Lake Powell. On Monday, October 19th, Nevada resident J.W.was found guilty of violating regulations requiring mandatoryinspections for "at risk" boats entering Lake Powell. J.W. visited GlenCanyon on August 17th and was informed by park staff that he wasrequired to have his boat inspected for zebra and quagga mussels beforelaunching on Lake Powell. J.W. instead proceeded to Lone Rock Beach,where he launched in violation of Glen Canyon regulations. Park rangerscontacted J.W. on Lone Rock Beach and issued him a mandatory citation toappear in court for violating mussel prevention regulations. J.W.elected to go to trial, and was found guilty of violating Glen Canyon'squagga mussel regulations. NPS staff testified in court in support ofthe prosecution. "We appreciate Judge Braithwaite's support for ourmussel prevention efforts at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area," saidSuperintendent Stan Austin. "Our success in keeping Lake Powellmussel-free will only continue with the cooperation and support of allof our partners and visitors." Zebra and quagga mussels are aquaticinvasive species that can lead to severe economic and environmentalconsequences for lakes and other waterways. A number of water bodies inthe region are known to be infested with quagga mussels. Glen Canyon NRAhas had an active mussel prevention program in place since 2000 for LakePowell. All evidence to date indicates Lake Powell is zebra and quaggamussel free. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Armed, Suicidal Man Taken Into Custody Without Incident
Ranger Moses Rinck, Utah State Park rangers and San JuanCounty deputies were dispatched to a report of a suicidal man in theconcessioner housing area at Halls Crossing, a marina located on LakePowell, on the evening of January 11th. He reportedly had a firearm andintended to commit suicide. Rinck and the Utah State Park rangersresponded by boat from Bullfrog while the San Juan County deputiesresponded by land. The rangers and officers coordinated the jointresponse while en route to Halls Crossing. Upon arriving at theconcessioner residence, they located the man inside the house and ahandgun outside on the front porch. After securing the handgun, theytook him into protective custody without incident. He was highlyintoxicated. [Lindy Mihata, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Monday, June 28, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Rangers Rescue Two Visitors, Investigate Death Of Third
Park staff had a busy time last week responding to severalmedical emergencies and accidents:
A serious boating accident occurred near Sand King Beachacross from the Stateline boat ramp during the afternoon of June 24th. A30-year-old man fell from a boat and was struck by the propeller. Hesustained major injuries to his lower body and was flown by ClassicLifeguard to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he remains in criticalcondition in their ICU. NPS and Utah State Park rangers responded to theaccident scene and are conducting the investigation. Alcohol appears tohave been a contributing factor in this incident.
A man was killed in a single vehicle rollover accident onWarm Creek Road on the morning of June 23rd. National Park Servicerangers and Kane County Sheriff's Office deputies responded. The initialinvestigation indicates that the diver was likely travelling at anexcessive rate of speed and that alcohol was apparently a factor in theaccident.
On a much more positive note, NPS rangers also saved thelife of a 44-year-old man who suffered from major heart complications atLone Rock Beach on June 22nd, employing an AED to restore his heartbeat.He was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and admitted to theICU for further treatment.
[Scott Sticha, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Visitors Seriously Injured And A Third Saved
Rangers responded to three serious incidents within 48 hours in late June:
A three-year-old boy from Cortez, Colorado, was discoveredfloating face down in the swimming pool at the Lake Powell Resort justafter 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29th. The child was unconscious, so hisfather and a vacationing off-duty firefighter immediately began CPR.When rangers arrived minutes later, the boy had regained consciousnessand begun breathing on his own. They maintained his airway and monitoredvital signs. The boy and his mother were flown by Classic Lifeguard tothe Flagstaff Medical Center for further treatment. He was heldovernight for observation and released the following morning.
On Monday, June 28th, an 11-year-old boy from Californiawas struck and injured by a jet ski on Lake Powell in Reflection Canyon.He was transported by private boat to Dangling Rope Marina and airliftedto Flagstaff Medical Center, where he remains in the intensive careunit. The jet ski was being driven by an underage operator at the timeof the accident.
On Monday evening, a 46-year-old woman from Idaho wasseverely injured when winds came up unexpectedly at their campsite inBullfrog Bay. A houseboat was blown towards the shore, and crashed intoa ski boat. The woman attempted to save the ski boat and became trappedbetween the two vessels. She suffered traumatic head injuries and wasstabilized by NPS rangers at the Bullfrog Clinic before being flown tothe Valley Medical Center in Orem, Utah, for further treatment.
[Scott Sticha, Public Affairs Officer]
Friday, July 9, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Hiker Falls To Death From Cliff
On the afternoon of July 7th, rangers were notified that a23-year-old man who'd been camping on a houseboat with his family hadnot returned from a hike in a side canyon of Warm Creek Bay. Rangers andfamily members immediately began to search the area by ground and air.Within hours, the body of P.D. of Mesa, Arizona, was found atthe base of a cliff. The initial investigation revealed that Dixon wasproperly prepared for a short hike, but had fallen approximately 70 feetand had sustained multiple fatal injuries. [Scott Sticha, Public AffairsOfficer]
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Greek Visitor Falls To Death At Horseshoe Bend Overlook
Rangers responding to a report of a man falling from acliff at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook last Saturday found the body of a20-year-old man at the base of the cliff near the Colorado River. He wasidentified as a Greek national who had been traveling with a small tourgroup. He'd fallen about 600 feet. Rangers and county deputies recoveredthe body with the assistance of a helicopter and crew from Grand Canyonand transferred it to the county medical examiner. The Coconino CountySheriff's Office is conducting an investigation in coordination with theNational Park Service. [Erin Frackleton]
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Glen Canyon Mourns The Loss Of Two Rangers
On October 8th, Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and DanglingRope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen took off from the Bryce CanyonAirport in a privately-owned Cessna 172 for a pleasure flight over MountDutton, continuing on to Page, Arizona. Both were off duty at the timeand had flown to Bryce Canyon so that McGinn could meet friends andscout out hunting locations. Early on the morning of October 9th, GlenCanyon's dispatch center received a report that the plane was overdue.Shortly thereafter, a search was begun by Garfield and Kane Counties,the National Park Service and Classic Lifeguard, a local air medicalevacuation service. Around 8 a.m., the crew of the latter spotted theplane in a rugged area known as Deep Creek on Mount Dutton in the DixieNational Forest. Both Axelsen and McGinn were killed in the crash.McGinn was 49 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for almost threeyears. He was from Duluth, Minnesota, and started his National ParkService career in 1980 as a park technician at Apostle Islands NationalLakeshore. Through the years, he had worked at several National ParkService units, including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks andCanaveral National Seashore. He is survived by his parents and threesiblings. Axelsen was 41 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon forover eight years. She was from Great Falls, Montana, and started withthe National Park Service in 1989 as a park ranger at Mount RainierNational Park. Axelsen had previously worked at several national parkunits, including Olympic, Big Bend and Shenandoah National Parks. She issurvived by her parents and a brother. Both are survived by theirNational Park Service family and friends across the nation. "As whatoften happens with a tragic event within the NPS family, employees fromaround the country have sent e-mails and made phone calls with offers ofsupport -- both with thoughts and prayers and by sending staff to help,"said Acting Superintendent Kym Hall. "Knowing we can continually turn toour park service brothers and sisters for support is a priceless gift wereceive as being members of this organization. Our neighbors and friendsthroughout the area have demonstrated that same support through phonecalls and sharing of resources as much as possible. For that, we arevery appreciative. The staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area isfacing some tough days and weeks ahead as we gather ourselves up andfind the strength to move forward and get back into our daily lives.There will be a tremendous hole in our organization with the loss of twosuch well-known and passionate people. It is a comfort to know they weredoing something they loved when their lives ended." Additional detailson services and where you can send condolences will appear as soon asthey are available. [Shannan Marcak, Public Information Officer]
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Memorial Service Set For Rangers Brent McGinn, Laurie Axelsen
On October 8th, Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and DanglingRope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen took off from the Bryce CanyonAirport in a privately-owned Cessna 172 for a pleasure flight over MountDutton, continuing on to Page, Arizona. Both were off duty at the timeand had flown to Bryce Canyon so that McGinn could meet friends andscout out hunting locations.
Early on the morning of October 9th, Glen Canyon'sdispatch center received a report that the plane was overdue. Shortlythereafter, a search was begun by Garfield and Kane Counties, theNational Park Service and Classic Lifeguard, a local air medicalevacuation service. Around 8 a.m., the crew of the latter spotted theplane in a rugged area known as Deep Creek on Mount Dutton in the DixieNational Forest. Both Axelsen and McGinn were killed in the crash.
McGinn was 49 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon foralmost three years. He was from Duluth, Minnesota, and started hisNational Park Service career in 1980 as a park technician at ApostleIslands National Lakeshore. Through the years, he had worked at severalNational Park Service units, including Bryce Canyon and Zion NationalParks and Canaveral National Seashore. He is survived by his parents andthree siblings.
Axelsen was 41 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon forover eight years. She was from Great Falls, Montana, and started withthe National Park Service in 1989 as a park ranger at Mount RainierNational Park. Axelsen had previously worked at several national parkunits, including Olympic, Big Bend and Shenandoah National Parks. Sheis survived by her parents and a brother.
Both are survived by their National Park Service familyand friends across the nation.
The NPS Pacific West IMT (Denny Ziemann, IC) is currentlyon scene, providing assistance to park staff by helping to maintain parkoperations, providing CISM peer support for park employees, and helpingfacilitate the planned memorial event (see below).
"As what often happens with a tragic event within the NPSfamily, employees from around the country have sent e-mails and madephone calls with offers of support -- both with thoughts and prayers andby sending staff to help," said Acting Superintendent Kym Hall. "Knowingwe can continually turn to our park service brothers and sisters forsupport is a priceless gift we receive as being members of thisorganization. Our neighbors and friends throughout the area havedemonstrated that same support through phone calls and sharing ofresources as much as possible. For that, we are very appreciative.
"The staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area isfacing some tough days and weeks ahead as we gather ourselves up andfind the strength to move forward and get back into our daily lives. There will be a tremendous hole in our organization with the loss of twosuch well-known and passionate people. It is a comfort to know theywere doing something they loved when their lives ended."
A joint Celebration of Life event will be held in Page,Arizona, on Thursday, October 14th, at 1:00 p.m. MST. Please call theMcGinn-Axelsen Memorial Hotline at 928-608-6256 (recorded message) forupdates. Additional information, including an exact location, will beposted under events to the memorial sites below as soon as it isavailable. Please RSVP to HYPERLINK"mailto:McGinnAxelsenRSVP@gmail.com" to help event plannersanticipate attendance. Please provide your name, number of guests,affiliation and any special needs.
Memorial websites have been established to honor thememories of Brent McGinn and Laurie Axelsen. Please share yourcondolences, photos, and stories online at:
Brent McGinn Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/brentmcginnnps/"
Laurie Axelsen Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/laurieaxelsennps/"
Condolences and messages of support may be sent to thefollowing addresses. They will be forwarded to the families:
McGinn Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, PO Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
Axelsen Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, PO Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Remembrance Service For Rangers To Be Held Tomorrow
A joint Celebration of Life will be held this Thursday forChief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger LaurieAxelsen, who were killed in an off-duty plane crash in the DixieNational Forest last Friday. The event will be held at the Lake PowellResort Pool Lawn at Wahweap at Glen Canyon at 1 p.m. MST (Arizona time).NPS uniforms may be worn whether on or off duty during the service.Summer dress uniforms are currently being worn at Glen Canyon. Lodgingmay be available in Page, Marble Canyon and Kanab, Utah. Campgrounds arelocated at Wahweap Marina, the Wahweap RV park, and the Page RV park.Please RSVP to HYPERLINK "mailto:McGinnAxelsenRSVP@gmail.com" to help event plannersanticipate attendance. Please provide your name, number of guests,affiliation and any special needs. Due to logistical challenges, pleasedo not send flowers. Mail may be sent to the following addresses whereit will be forwarded to the families:
McGinn Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
Axelsen Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
Memorial websites have been established to honor thememories of Brent McGinn and Laurie Axelsen. Event logistics areincluded on the calendar pages on these sites. Please share yourcondolences, photos, and stories online at:
Brent McGinn Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/brentmcginnnps/"
Laurie Axelsen Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/laurieaxelsennps/"
[Michelle Fidler and Patti Wold]
Friday, October 15, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Celebration Of Rangers' Lives Held At Glen Canyon
Over 500 friends, family, and co-workers gathered togetheryesterday to celebrate the lives of Chief Ranger Brent McGinn andDangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen. The two Glen Canyon NRArangers lost their lives in a private plane crash in the Dixie NationalForest on October 8th.
The celebration took place at the Lake Powell Resortoverlooking Lake Powell. Some of Brent and Laurie's favorite musicplayed in the background while friends and family gathered in theirhonor. Cheto Olais, the Intermountain Region's law enforcementspecialist, began the celebration with the Pledge of Allegiance as atribute to Brent's tradition of beginning meetings and other events inthe same way. Speakers recounted fond memories and stories ofexperiences shared with Brent and Laurie. The theme for the day seemedto be captured by several speakers who quoted the lyrics of a JimmyBuffet song, "Breathe in, breathe out, move on".
"It's been a difficult week for all of us and the realityof losing two wonderful people is just starting to sink in," said ActingSuperintendent Kym Hall. "When today is done and we return to our livesand jobs and routines, the reality will be even starker. When each ofus thinks about how our time on earth comes to an end, maybe we can hopethat we are with friends or loved ones, that we are in the middle ofdoing something that truly brings us joy and that we are remembered forall the wonderful and lasting contributions we made to our families andto our jobs. That is how Brent and Laurie ended their time with us..."
The families were then presented with their flat hats anda plaque with a glass law enforcement badge and arrowhead along with anAmerican flag. The celebration ended with the "last call" from dispatchand a helicopter flyover.
Friends and family gathered at the fire station tocontinue reminiscing. Members of the NPS family traveled from as faraway as Alaska and Boston to participate in the celebration. Theirimpact on the local community was evidenced by the diverserepresentation of federal, state, and local agencies and members of thelocal community.
Biographies and the celebration program are posted ontheir memorial websites. Please continue to share your condolences,photos, and stories online at:
Brent McGinn Memorial Website - HYPERLINK"http://www.sympathytree.com/brentmcginnnps/"
Laurie Axelsen Memorial Website - HYPERLINK"http://www.sympathytree.com/laurieaxelsennps/"
In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted throughGlen Canyon Natural History Association to establish a Seasonal LawEnforcement Ranger Academy scholarship. Please make checks out to GlenCanyon Natural History Association and note McGinn-Axelsen Scholarshipon the memo line. Please mail checks to Glen Canyon Natural HistoryAssociation, Attn: McGinn-Axelsen Scholarship, P.O. Box 1835, Page, AZ86040 or call (credit card only): (877) GLEN-CYN. The Western IncidentManagement Team worked with Glen Canyon NRA staff on the celebration.[Michelle Fidler, Acting Management Assistant, and Patti Wold, WesternIMT PIO]
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Glen Canyon NRA
Firefighters Knock Down Houseboat Blaze
A private 54-foot houseboat at Wahweap Marina caught fireearly on the morning of October 20th. Park maintenance worker ScottDolinar discovered and reported the fire just before 6 a.m. Chad Hunterwas the first NPS responder to arrive and served as the incidentcommander. NPS firefighters responded with the park's fireboat and werejoined by units from the Page Fire Department. The fire was declared outabout 90 minutes later. The houseboat was unoccupied and no injurieswere reported. The quick response time to the fire prevented damage tothe dock and other boats in the marina. Park concessioner Aramark isassisting with cleanup. The cause of the fire is under investigation.[Michelle Fidler, Acting Management Assistant]
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Rock Art Vandal Pleads Guilty To ARPA Violation
An NPS concession employee came upon recent damage to arock art panel below Glen Canyon Dam last June and reported it to a parkinterpretive ranger. The damage consisted of the name "TRENT" scratchedinto the panel. The interpretive ranger had visited and photographed therock art, known as the Descending Sheep panel, less than an hour priorto the report, and had also observed a guided fishing trip on the beachnear the panel. This information was passed on to a law enforcementranger working at Lee's Ferry, who found the fishing guide at the boatramp and asked if he had anyone on his trip by the name of "Trent."After the guide pointed out his passengers, the ranger asked for Trent.T.G. of North Carolina responded and admitted to scratchinghis name into the rock. T.G. told the ranger he did it because hethought it would be "cool." On December 9th, T.G. pled guilty to onefelony violation of the Archaeological Resource Protection Act infederal magistrate's court and agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution torepair the damage he caused to the panel. He is scheduled for sentencingin the district court in Phoenix on March 14th. The investigation wasconducted by NPS rangers, Glen Canyon cultural resources staff, andInvestigative Service Branch investigators. [Kevin Cochary, Acting ChiefRanger]
Friday, March 4, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Fire Destroys Four Vessels At Wahweap Marina
Firefighters battling a fire in the Wahweap Marina on theevening of March 2nd were able to save 40 vessels. Park dispatchreceived a call reporting the fire just after 4:30 p.m. Rangers andfirefighters responded immediately in the HYPERLINK"http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=10068"park's new fireboat. By the time they gotto the scene, four private houseboats moored at the "O" dock wereengulfed in flames. The Page and Greenehaven fire departments alsoresponded, and the fire was contained by 5 p.m. The fireboat was used toboth fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out from their slips inthe marina in order to prevent the blaze from spreading to othervessels. Four houseboats and one personal watercraft were completelydestroyed, and a fifth suffered serious damage. Several fingers of the"O" dock sustained very heavy damage - a preliminary estimate byAramark, the park concessioner, places the total damage to the dock andboats at about $1 million. The quick response to the fire preventedother boats from being damaged. The new fireboat was critical incontaining the fire safely and efficiently. The burned vessels weremoved to the Wahweap launch ramp, which is at present closed to thepublic. The Stateline launch ramp has been opened for public use. TheNPS and Coconino County Sheriff's Officer are investigating the cause ofthe fire. [Veronica Lane]
Friday, April 8, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Sentenced For Vandalism To Important Petroglyph
On April 4th, T.G. was sentenced in federal courtto 60 months supervised probation, $10,000 restitution, and 100 hours ofcommunity service for damaging petroglyphs on the canyon walls along theColorado River. T.G., 29, of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, pleadedguilty last December to a charge of damaging an archeological resource,a Class E felony. T.G. was on a guided fishing trip on the ColoradoRiver last June. When the group stopped at a beach below Glen CanyonDam, T.G. hiked up a short distance to a famous petroglyph known as the"Descending Sheep Panel" and scratched "TRENT" into the petroglyph panelwith a rock. His actions were discovered by rangers shortly after thegroup departed. They confronted him when the group disembarked at Lee'sFerry. T.G. immediately admitted his actions to the rangers, and uponlearning the age and significance of the petroglyph panel, expressedremorse for his actions. He later agreed to be interviewed for anarticle which appeared in the Arizona Daily Sun in an effort todeter others from similar acts. At his sentencing, T.G. told the courtthat he was profoundly sorry for the damage that he had caused to thepanel, which has great significance to Native Americans in NorthernArizona, and that he was sorry for the shame that he had brought uponhimself and his family. The Descending Sheep Panel contains elements ofrock art interpreted to represent three separate temporal and culturalperiods dating in age from about 1,000 years ago to somewhere between4,000 and 8,000 years ago. [Office of the United States Attorney,District of Arizona]
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Body Of Drowning Victim Recovered From Lake Powell
Park divers recovered the body of an apparent drowningvictim near the Bullfrog Marina in Utah on the afternoon of April 28th.They found the 21-year-old in eleven feet of water, approximately 50feet from shore. The victim was with a group of friends Wednesday nightwhen the two non-motorized vessels they were in capsized. He was notwearing a life jacket. The investigation by the Kane County Sheriff'sOffice and the NPS is ongoing. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Parks Join Forces To Rescue Injured Hiker
Rangers from Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon joined forces onSaturday, June 4th, to rescue an injured hiker from an unnamed canyonnear Halls Crossing on Lake Powell. Rangers received a report of a hikerin a canyon near Halls Crossing with a possible broken leg around 9:30p.m. on June 3rd. Glen Canyon ranger Tim Sveum responded by boat withstaff from Utah State Parks and arrived on scene about 10:30 p.m. Theinjured hiker, a teenager from Buena Vista, Colorado, had taken a fallin a very narrow canyon and suffered a broken leg. Other members of thefamily had lowered one person into the canyon by rope to see if he couldbe extricated, but he found it impossible to get out of the canyon aswell. Sveum determined that the patient was stable and that a technicalrescue in the dark would be too dangerous. The group lowered food,water, and sleeping bags to the victim and his friend, and Sveuminstructed the two individuals to bivouac for the night, adding that hewould facilitate a rescue for them in the morning. There were no safeanchor points on the canyon rim for a technical rescue, so the decisionwas made to conduct a short-haul rescue by helicopter. Staff from GrandCanyon NP were contacted and arrangements were made for their helicopterto assist in the rescue the next day. The helicopter was on scene by10:30 a.m. the next morning and lowered a rescuer into the canyon. Heprepared the patient and his friend to be lifted out of the canyon. Onceout of the canyon, the injured hiker was transported to Halls Crossingby Glen Canyon staff and then flown by Classic Lifeguard to St. Mary'sHospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, for treatment. [Max King, PublicAffairs Specialist]
Monday, August 1, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
One Killed, Two Injured In Boating Accident
A 15-year-old Boy Scout was killed in a boating accidenton Lake Powell last Thursday night, and a second Boy Scout and an adultwere injured. A group of scouts and adults were riding in a boat back tocamp after dinner on Antelope Island. The boat, which was being operatedin darkness, apparently struck a rock outcropping, throwing the boy outof the boat and fatally injuring him. The second Scout and the adultsustained injuries in the impact but were not thrown from the vessel.The Scout was flown out by Classic Lifeguard helicopter for medicalattention. The adult was transported by ambulance to Page Hospital. Theaccident is under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff's Officewith assistance from the NPS. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Bullfrog Rangers Rescue Injured Woman From Canyon
Amber Bryan, district ranger for the Bullfrog District,received a call from park dispatch on the afternoon of July 28thadvising that a woman had fallen about 60 feet from a cliff within thedistrict and disappeared from view. Ranger Justin Kingston was first onscene and located the woman. He established incident command whileranger Cole Uphouse began treating the woman, whose injuries wereserious but not life-threatening. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter wascalled in to evacuate the woman. Rangers Noel Rupel and James Boyle,also on scene in case a technical rescue carryout proved necessary,assisted with on scene operations. The woman was treated forapproximately an hour before Classic arrived on scene. The pilot wasable to land the helicopter in close proximity to the patient and shewas subsequently airlifted to a trauma center. [Max King, Public AffairsSpecialist]
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Rangers Join Local Officers In Managing Music Festival
Between September 23rd and 25th, more than 60 bands oneight stages played in the Page and Lake Powell Area during the secondannual Powellapalooza Music Festival. One of the concert venues wassituated at Antelope Point Marina, which lies within Glen Canyon NRA.This portion of the event was managed under a special use permit issuedby the park. The event attracted an estimated 3,500 people, many of whomvisited the park and utilized it for recreational boating purposes inconjunction with the music festival. The event was managed under ICSwith a unified command that included the Coconino County Sheriff'sOffice, Navajo Nation Police Department, Arizona Game & FishDepartment, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Page Fire Department,and the Big Water Fire Department. Staff from Organ Pipe Cactus -including a dog and handler - also assisted. A total of 45 officers andrangers were committed to the event, which resulted in 200 caseincidents, including seven emergency medical calls, seven arrests, 17drug cases, and 58 boating safety contacts. Lance Mattson, the park'soperations supervisor, served as NPS IC; the ops chief for the event wasranger Joe Florko. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Glen Canyon NRA
Houseboat Severely Damaged In Fire
Park dispatch received a call reporting a boat fire at theWahweap Marina just before 2 a.m. on October 7th. Park firefightersresponded by boat and were supported by firefighters from Page FireDepartment. The blaze was soon brought under control. The houseboat,though salvageable, suffered extensive damage. The fire had reachedextremely high temperatures inside the boat before flames becamevisible. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is underinvestigation by the NPS. Ranger Shawn McNally was IC. [Max King, PublicAffairs Specialist]
Friday, January 20, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Indicted On Felony Theft Charges
On December 22nd, a grand jury indictment was issued outof Coconino County for S.B.W. of Utah. The indictment includedtwo class 5 felonies for theft and theft of a credit card and one class4 felony for taking the identity of another. S.B.W. had been living withhis girlfriend of a few weeks in the Wahweap District in July, 2010,when he disappeared with approximately $2,000 to $3,000 worth of herproperty, including her credit card, which he used to purchase snacksand fuel for his vehicle at gas stations, leaving a trail from Page,Arizona, up north into Utah. Ranger Scott Larson took the initial reportfor this case and worked with the NPS Investigative Services Branch tobring it to its conclusion. [Heidi Hall, Special Agent]
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Charged With Child Molestation
In October 2010, a California police department contactedspecial agents with the Service's Investigative Services Branch andrelayed information to them regarding the sexual assault of a minor thatoccurred within the park on the Fourth of July weekend that year. Theincident occurred during a family trip to the park and the perpetratorwas known to the victim. ISB special agents in California and Arizonaconducted the investigation. On February 2nd, the man was indicted byCoconino County for his actions and was charged with child molestation.Coconino County issued a nationwide extraditable arrest warrant and onMarch 8th the man was arrested in California. A conviction of childmolestation carries a presumptive term of imprisonment of 17 years.[Investigative Services Branch]
Friday, May 18, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Convicted Of Aggravated Assault On Girlfriend
A Utah man has pled guilty to aggravated assault (domesticviolence), a third degree felony, for the abuse of his long-timegirlfriend during a houseboat trip to Glen Canyon NRA in September of2010. L.M.B. V had been arguing with his girlfriend forseveral hours when he grabbed her, pulled her off of the captain'schair, and started to choke her on the floor of the houseboat. He latertook her suitcase, which contained approximately $1,500 worth ofproperty, and threw it into Lake Powell. The Investigative ServicesBranch was contacted after the victim, with visible bruises, arrived ata Domestic Violence Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, to report theincident. [Christopher A. Smith, ASAC]
Monday, June 25, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Body Of Missing Swimmer Recovered
The body of 26-year-old C.R. was recovered fromLake Powell on June 20th by the park's underwater recovery unit. C.R.was located at a depth of over 260 feet using a HYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_operated_vehicle" remote operated vehicle equipped with sonar and video.The 26-day search covered approximately two square miles in Warm CreekBay and was supported by the Utah Highway Patrol dive team, Kane CountySheriff's Office deputies, Ralston and Associates personnel, andHYPERLINK "http://www.greatbasink-9sar.org/home" GreatBasin K9 Search and Rescue search dog teams. C.R. was reportedmissing on Friday, May 25th, after he and a friend decided to go for aswim while their houseboat drifted. The high winds pushed the boat awayfrom the swimmers and one of them began to call for help. C.R.attempted to swim to the aid of his friend. The remaining three peopleon the boat were able to save the first swimmer, but C.R. slippedbeneath the waves and could not be located. A joint investigation of theincident by Kane County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Servicecontinues. [Denise M. Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
Monday, July 9, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Two Family Members Killed In PWC Accident
Two members of a New Mexico family were killed when theirHYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_watercraft" personal watercraft collided in the San Juan arm ofLake Powell on Friday. They were enjoying the scenery and looking atPeekaboo Arch when one went off-plane and the other didn't, resulting inthe collision. A girl on one of the PWC's was taken to a hospital andlater released. The accident investigation is being conducted by UtahState Parks with assistance from San Juan County Sheriff's Office andthe National Park Service. [Denise Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Two People Missing In Separate Incidents
National Park Service rangers are searching for twomissing persons in two separate incidents that occurred over the lastseveral days. A swimmer was reported missing in Gunsight Bay on Fridaymorning, September 21st. The 35-year-old Salt Lake City man from jumpedoff a wakeboat and was swimming toward a houseboat when he began to callfor help. Members of the group he was with attempted to assist, but wereunable to find him after he slipped beneath the surface. Early Mondayevening, September 24th, a 911 call was received reporting a missingperson in Padre Bay. During a localized windstorm with high wind andwaves, a houseboat was pushed off shore and began to drift. A 58-yearold Scottsdale man used a jet ski to seek help from a nearby houseboat.He picked up another person to assist with the drifting boat. Neitherperson on the jet ski was wearing a lifejacket or the kill-switchlanyard. As they motored toward the distressed houseboat, the jet skilanyard fell off and activated the engine kill switch. The 58-year-oldman jumped into the water to retrieve the lanyard. In the meantime, thepassenger was able to restart the jet ski and motor to the distressedhouseboat. Members of the group attempted a rescue but were unable tolocate the missing man.NPS rangers, Glen Canyon National Recreation Areadive team, Kane County Sheriff's Office and Utah State Highway Patroldive team are assisting with both searches. The incidents are underinvestigation by Kane County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of theNational Park Service. All of the seven drownings this year could havebeen prevented if the victims had been wearing life jackets. [Denise M.Schultz]
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Body Of Missing Swimmer Recovered
The body of a 40-year-old drowning victim was recoveredfrom Lake Powell on October 3rd by the park's underwater recovery unit.He was found at a depth of over 100 feet using a HYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehicle"remote operated vehicle (ROV) equipped withsonar and video. The 13-day search covered approximatelythree-and-a-half square miles in Gunsight Bay and included assistancefrom a Utah Highway Patrol dive team, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary andthe Kane County Sheriff's Office. The victim was reported missing onFriday, September 21st, after he went for a swim. Members of his groupattempted to assist when he began calling for help, but were unable tofind him after he slipped beneath the surface. [Denise M. Shultz, PublicAffairs Officer]
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Body Of Missing Jet Skier Recovered
The body of 58-year-old drowning victim J.B. wasrecovered from Lake Powell on October 10th by the park's underwaterrecovery unit. His body was found at a depth of over 100 feet using aremote operated vehicle equipped with sonar and video. The 16-day searchoccurred in Padre Canyon and included assistance from the Utah HighwayPatrol dive team, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Kane CountySheriff's Office. On the evening of Monday, September 24th, the parkreceived a report of a missing person in Padre Canyon. During alocalized windstorm with high wind and waves, a houseboat was pushed offshore and began to drift. J.B. used a jet ski to seek help from anearby houseboat, picking up another person to go to the assistance ofthe drifting boat. Neither person on the jet ski was wearing alifejacket or the kill-switch lanyard. As they were motoring toward thedistressed houseboat, the jet ski lanyard fell off and activated theengine kill switch. J.B. jumped into the water to retrieve thelanyard; in the meantime, the passenger was able to restart the jet skiand motored to the distressed houseboat. When members of the group wereinformed that there was still a person in the water, they attemptedrescue but were unable to find J.B. [Denise Shultz, Public AffairsOfficer]
Monday, October 29, 2012
Glen Canyon NRA
Firefighters Suppress Houseboat Blaze At Wahweap Marina
Park dispatch received a call from a park maintenanceemployee early on the morning of October 25th reporting a fire in theWahweap Marina. The park's dive team was first on scene and was able toremove adjacent boats from the dock, thus limiting the fire'sspread. When NPS and Page FD firefighters arrived on the scene,though, they found that the houseboat Take A Message, moored on"N" dock, was engulfed in flames. Once the fire was suppressed, theboat, three-quarters of which had been destroyed, was moved to theWahweap ramp to prevent it from sinking. A second vessel, Worth TheWake, having received partial damage to one side, was moved to thebreakwater. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is underinvestigation by the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. [Denise Shultz,Public Affairs Officer]
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Glen Canyon NR
Man Sentenced For Credit Card Theft
On November 13th, Utah resident S.B.W. pledguilty in an Arizona Superior Court to theft of a credit card, a classfive felony offense, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, three years'probation, and 50 hours of community restitution. In July of 2010, S.B.W.stole approximately $2,000 to $3,000 worth of property from hisgirlfriend's concession-managed apartment in the Wahweap District ofGlen Canyon NRA. The stolen property included her credit card, which heused to make several purchases in Arizona and Utah (where charges arestill pending). As an additional term of his probation, S.B.W. will haveto obtain employment and pay restitution to his victim. Ranger ScottLarson took the original theft report before transferring the case tothe Investigative Services Branch.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Pleads Guilty To ARPA Violation
On February 25th, Utah resident W.A. pled guiltyto the unauthorized removal of archeological resources from Glen CanyonNRA during a trip to the park in October of 2009. W.A. was initiallybelieved to have removed a mummified infant from a Native Americangravesite, but the object was later examined by several archeologistsand found to be an unusually large mass clay substance believed to havebeen gathered by historic tribal residents of a nearby archeologicalsite for the purpose of making pottery. The artifact, possibly dating nomore recently than A.D. 1300, will be retained in the park's museumcollection. In addition to being fined $1,000, W.A. was ordered to payrestitution to the Department of Interior Restoration Fund in the amountof $1,000. [Investigative Services Branch]
Monday, March 18, 2013
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Pleads Guilty To Indecent Exposure
In October 2010, special agents with the InvestigativeServices Branch were contacted by a California police departmentregarding the sexual assault of a minor that occurred within Glen CanyonNational Recreation Area on the weekend of July 4, 2010. The incidentoccurred during a family trip to the lake and the perpetrator was knownto the victim. ISB special agents in California and Arizona conductedthe subsequent investigation. On February 2, 2012, the man was indictedby Coconino County for his actions, charged with child molestation, andsubsequently arrested. This past January, pursuant to a plea agreement,he pled guilty to indecent exposure, a felony. [Investigative ServicesBranch]
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Glen Canyon NRA
Accidents, Natural Causes Claim Six Lives In Eight Days
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow BridgeNational Monument staff responded to several serious incidents betweenJune 20th and June 28th, including six fatalities:
On June 20th, three women were killed when theirnorthbound motorboat hit a houseboat and the motorboat overturned. Sixchildren and four adults were rescued. All six children were wearinglifejackets. The body of a 57-year-old woman was retrieved immediatelyafter the accident. Dive teams located the body of a 29-year-old womanon June 23rd and the body of a 22-year-old woman was retrieved on June25th.
While the search for victims from the first incident wasongoing, park dispatch received a report of a possible drowning in WarmCreek Bay. The body of a 61-year-old man was found and retrieved on June26th.
A 71-year-old man died of natural causes while camping atIceberg Canyon. Rangers based in Bullfrog responded.
On June 28th, a five-year-old boy was thrown from amotorboat and killed instantly after being struck by a propeller uplakefrom Bullfrog. Everyone on board was wearing a life jacket and noalcohol was involved.
The critical incident stress management team from GrandCanyon National Park assisted park staff in dealing with theincidents.
[Jeanne Roy, Downlake District Interpreter]
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Glen Canyon NRA
Injured Solo Climber Rescued From Butte
On the morning of April 5th, the park received a 911 phonecall reporting that a man had fallen about 30 feet while solo climbingGregory Butte and that he was hanging about 600 feet above Lake Powell.
The climber's camming anchor saved him from fallingfurther. Because of injuries sustained in the fall, he was unable tomove from his location.
A technical rescue was conducted by rangers Matt Wernerand Kean Mihata, assisted by personnel from Kane County Search andRescue, the Utah Highway Patrol, and Classic Lifeguard and Guardian Airhelicopters.
He was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he isbeing treated for head injuries. He was wearing a helmet at the time ofthe accident.
Ranger Chris Schreck was IC for the incident.
[Denise Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Glen Canyon NRA
Park Staff Respond To Multiple Emergencies
Park staff dealt with several significant incidents over afour-day period in mid-June:
June 19th - A 21-foot boat caught fire at the Bullfrogfuel dock. Three people were injured in the blaze. They transportedthemselves to the Bullfrog Clinic, where they were treated forsecond degree burns.
June 20th - A 17-year-old boy suffered a serious headinjury in West Canyon. CPR was required. The park dispatched Classic AirMedical to the scene and the boy was flown out to medical care inUtah. Later that day, Grand Canyon rangers assisted the park with theshort-haul helicopter rescue of a 40-year-old woman who'd fallen andbroken her ankle in Cathedral Wash near Lees Ferry.
June 21st - NPS firefighters and emergency medical staffresponded to a houseboat fire at the Wahweap fuel dock around 1 p.m. Aboat management company authorized to do business within the park hadfueled the boat and started the engines, which resulted in an explosionand engine compartment fire. The blaze was knocked down with fireextinguishers by the staff on board at the time. A 29-year-old woman whowas thrown off the back of the boat by the explosion and suffered seconddegree burns was flown to a medical facility by Classic Air Medical.
June 21st - The park received a report of a possiblemissing woman early in the afternoon. Following a two-day-long search,the body of the 41-year-old new Mexico woman was recovered near LoneRock Beach. She'd evidently drowned.
The park was assisted by a number of agencies in itsresponse to these incidents, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs,Utah State Parks, the Utah Highway Patrol, Coconino County Sheriff'sOffice, Kane County Sheriff's Office, Wasatch County Sheriff's Office,ARAMARK, Bullfrog Clinic, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Classic Air Medical andEncompass Health Services.
[Denise M. Shultz, Public Information Officer]
Monday, July 28, 2014
Glen Canyon NRA
Girl Injured By Boat Propeller
A 12-year-old girl visiting from Israel was struck by aboat propeller and seriously injured on July 23rd.
The injury occurred when she was ejected from the back ofa moving powerboat while holding onto an inflatable inner tube. Shesustained a severe lower leg injury when hit by the boat'spropeller.
Coconino County Sheriff's Office deputies and ClassicAviation responded to the Wahweap main launch ramp. The girl was flownfrom there to Flagstaff Medical Center.
The incident is currently under investigation by thesheriff's office.
[Katie Wood, Park Ranger]
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Glen Canyon NRA
Teenager's Body Recovered From Lake Powell
Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting a missingswimmer near Bullfrog Marina around mid-afternoon on Thursday, August14th.
Rangers immediately began a boat and air search of thearea, continuing until it became dark. They resumed their efforts thenext morning, joined by a park dive team.
The body of the 19-year-old, a Mexican national living inthe Salt Lake City area, was recovered late that morning. He is presumedto have drowned.
The incident was jointly investigated by the National ParkService and Kane County Sheriff's Office.
[Public Affairs]
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Glen Canyon NRA
Former History Association Employee Sentenced On Sex Charge
A multi-year investigation into the activities of a formerGlen Canyon National History Association employee concluded last monthwith the conviction of W.G. on two counts of attempted sexualexploitation of a minor, a dangerous crime against children offense.
W.G. was sentenced to eight years of imprisonmentfollowed by lifetime probation and lifetime sex offender status.
The investigation was begun by the Investigative ServicesBranch in 2012 and worked jointly by the ISB and Homeland SecurityInvestigations.
[Investigative Services Branch]
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Glen Canyon NRA
Child's Life Saved Through Prompt EMS Response
On the morning of July 25th, parkdispatch received a report of a three year-old found face down inapproximately seven feet of water at the rear of a houseboat in HallsCreek Bay. The reporting party said that the child might have beenin the water from five to ten minutes and was not breathing orconscious. The three-year-old was not wearing a life jacket on thehouseboat when the incident occurred.
Responding rangers were on scene within20 minutes and found that CPR was already in progress. Rangers took overpatient care and transported the child to Bullfrog Marina to meet a parkmedic to receive advanced life support care. After initial ALS care, thechild started to improve. The three-year-old was flown by ClassicLifeguard to a hospital and has since been released.
The extended CPR (over 45 minutes),breathing therapy, and advanced life support measures that wereperformed by park rangers along with Classic Lifeguard personnel savedthe child's life.
NPS responders included Jesse Benskin,Karol Jones, Noel Rupel, Sean McCaffrey, Valerie Reynolds and ZachNelson.
[Katie Wood, Education Coordinator]
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Glen Canyon NRA
Investigation Underway Into Possible Homicide-Suicide
Early on the morning of June 2nd, the park received a report of twobodies found near the Wahweap swimming beach parking area.
Rangers responded along with deputies from the Coconino and KaneCounty sheriffs' offices. They found the bodies of M.F., 37,and R.B., 25, both of whom had evidently died of gunshot wounds.Both were from nearby Page, Arizona. Their deaths are being investigatedas a possible homicide-suicide.
Due to the close proximity of the Utah/Arizona state line, thisincident is being investigated through coordinated efforts of theCoconino County Sheriff's Office, Kane County Sheriff's Office, CoconinoCounty Medical Examiner's Office, and the National Park Service.
Source: Press Release, Mary Plumb, Glen Canyon NRA.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Glen Canyon NRA
One Killed, Four Critically Injured In Houseboat Explosion
An explosion occurred on a privately owned houseboat that wasanchored on shore in Crystal Springs Canyon around 10 p.m. on Wednesday,July 12th. Crystal Springs Canyon is located two canyons north of HallsCrossing.
K.M., 52, of Castle Rock, Colorado, was killed in the blast;four other people sustained critical injuries burns, broken bonesand facial injuries and were flown to hospitals in Salt Lake Cityand Grand Junction. A juvenile who received minor injuries was taken byboat to the Bullfrog Clinic, where he was treated and released.
Twenty other people were associated with this boating group. Thecause of the explosion is under investigation. It was reported that theexplosion occurred as efforts were being made to start a generator onthe houseboat.
Assisting at the scene of the accident were National Park Servicepersonnel from Bullfrog and Halls Crossing, personnel from the San JuanCounty Sheriff's Office, and the San Juan County Sheriff's Officemedical examiner. The latter is investigating the death; an autopsy willbe conducted.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is working with the NationalPark Service in the investigation of the explosion.
Source: News release, Glen Canyon NRA.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Man Falls 800 Feet To His Death
A Phoenix man fell about 800 feet to his death at Horseshoe BendOverlook on Sunday, May 6th. The body of 33-year-old Z.W. waslater found by deputies and was transported to the
Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office. Rangers and sheriff'sdeputies reached the body from the side of Colorado River, while a stateDepartment of Public Safety helicopter was used to take Z.W. out ofthe canyon.
Z.W.'s brother told rangers that he saw his brother slip over theedge at about 3:30 p.m. Deputies said no foul play is suspected.
Source/full story: Arizona Central.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Woman Dies In Fall Into Lake Powell
An Arizona woman died on May 22nd after falling off a Chains areacliff into Lake Powell.
M.L., 36, of Lechee, Arizona, was pulled out of thewater by visitors in a nearby boat. Park rangers and officers from thePage Police Department responded to a 911 call about 12:10 p.m. Whenthey arrived, they transferred M.L. to a National Park Servicevessel and performed life-saving measures on her as they transportedher to the Wahweap dock.
The Page Fire Department continued life-saving measures until thepatient was taken by helicopter to Banner Page Hospital.
The circ*mstances surrounding the death are under investigation.Source: Deseret News.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Man Drowns After Getting Entangled In Anchor Line
A 47-year-old man disappeared in Warm Creek Canyon on the morning ofJuly 25th while attempting to retrieve a boat anchor in about 10 feet ofwater approximately 30 feet from the shore. Family members dove into thewater but their attempts to save him were unsuccessful.
Rangers responded from Wahweap Marina and retrieved the anchor line.They found that the man was entangled in it.
Resuscitation efforts began immediately and continued as the man wastransported to a hospital in Page, Arizona, where he was declareddead.
Source: Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Man Drowns, Three Others Nearly Drown In Wahweap Bay
On August 27th, park dispatch received a 911 call reporting a vesselcoming into the Wahweap Marina with a male drowning victim on board.
Rangers and a Coconino County Sheriff's Office deputy responded andfound that the scope of the incident was larger than they had originallythought. They discovered a man and woman with propeller cuts to theirlegs, three near-drowning victims, and one distraught person. The PageFire Department and Classic Air Medical were called to help with thesituation.
Investigation revealed that about 30 young-adult foreign nationalsrented three pontoon boats from Wahweap, then headed out on Wahweap Baynear the Castle Rock Cut. Many of the party jumped into the water toswim, none of them wearing life jackets. When the winds picked up,several of the swimmers began having difficulty. Boat operators in thegroup were able to pick many of the swimmers out of the water, some ofwhom were near total exhaustion; others were able to make it toshore.
A.K., 20, of Russia, was pronounced dead at the scene.The woman with propeller cut was airlifted to Dixie Regional Hospital inSt. George. The man with the propeller cut and the distraught victimwere transported to a hospital in Page. Three near-drowning victimsrefused medical transport.
Source: News4Utah.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Child Drowns In Lake After Falling Off Houseboat
A three-year-old Utah boy drowned near Willow Creek Canyon at LakePowell on September 28th after falling off the upper deck of a houseboatinto the water. The child was transported to the Halls Crossing launchramp, where it was met by responding rangers.
Investigation revealed that the child was asleep on the upper deck ofthe houseboat and fell off into five feet of water during the night. Hewas not wearing a life jacket.
The Kane County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident withthe assistance of the NPS and San Juan County Sheriff's Office.
Source: St. George News.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Glen Canyon NRA
Teenage Girl Falls To Death From Horseshoe Bend Overlook
A 14-year-old California girl fell 700 feet to her death from theoverlook on December 24th.
The girl's family reported her missing on Christmas Eve and her bodywas spotted later that day by an Arizona Department of Public Safetyhelicopter. Her body was retrieved on Christmas Day.
It's believed that the girl accidentally fell from the scenicoverlook, which offers view of the Colorado River flowing below redcliffs near the Arizona-Utah border. The area is only accessible by footand there are no barriers.
Source: New York Post.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Glen Canyon NRA
Woman Killed In DUI Boating Accident
J.H., 18, was killed on June 14th when the boat she was ridingin struck a rock and ejected her from the vessel.
Park dispatch received a report of the accident in mid-afternoon.Rangers from Halls Crossing and Bullfrog responded. They found thatJ.H. had already expired from her injuries, but that the other sevenpassengers in the boat had suffered only minor and non-life-threateninginjuries. They were all taken to the Bullfrog Medical Clinic for furtherevaluation and later released.
According to the initial report, 21-year-old T.H. wasdriving the boat when it struck a rock and landed on the beach, ejectingJ.H. T.H. was arrested for driving under the influence, automobilehomicide and criminal negligence, along with failure to maintain properlookout on a boat.
Deputies said that T.H. failed to obey navigation buoys, traveledon the wrong side of the lake, and failed to keep a safe distance fromanother boat that was towing a tube. They also reported that they couldsmell alcohol on his person and that his eyes were glossy and bloodshot.Several field tests also indicated that he was intoxicated at the timeof the accident.
Source: Hunter Geisel, KUTV News.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Killed In Fall Into Canyon
An Arizona man camped out in a remote area of the park on the mightof May 13th fell about 70 feet to his death.
I.B., 26, and a friend had gone out to Alstrom Point, west ofGunsight Bay, to spend Wednesday night. The point is a popular locationfor photographers wanting to take pictures of Lake Powell. It's locatedin a remote area of Kane County that overlooks Gunsight Bay and PadreBay.
The Kane County Sheriff's Office received a call reporting the deaththe next morning. The caller said that the two had had camped on thepoint on May 13th. The caller had gone to bed after midnight, whileI.B. stayed up to watch the stars. When the caller woke the morningof the 14th, he was unable to locate I.B. He eventually looked overto the edge of the cliff and noticed some belongings. Ian's body wasthen located about 70 feet below.
Rope rescue personnel from Kane County Sheriff's Search and Rescueand the National Park Service worked together to raise the man's body tothe top of the cliff. The death appears to have been accidental.
Source: National Parks Traveler.
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
National Park System
Drownings Recorded Across The Country
Summer means a spike in visitors to NPS areas with rivers and lakesor bordering oceans, which unfortunately equates to a related spike indrownings:
Glen Canyon NRA A 46-year-old man drowned on Lake Powell whileboating with a group of friends. He was trying to help a friend who wasstruggling in the water after high winds picked up while they wereswimming in Wahweap Bay. The boat that they were on drifted away fromthem while they struggled to swim and couldn't be restarted quicklyenough due to mechanical issues. Another passenger on the boat tried tothrow a flotation device to the victim, but he couldn't reach it. Whenthe boat finally made it back to them, another passenger jumped in andsaved the first swimmer by putting him in a life jacket. He then grabbedShannon, who was now underwater. CPR was begun while they headed southto the Stateline Launch Ramp, where off-duty firefighters and rangerscontinued it and also employed an AED. Neither was successful.
Sources: Anna Beahm, Huntsville Times; Mack Jones, Deseret News;Jordan Gartner, KTNV News; Frances Ruth Harris, Pike CountyCourier; Katelyn Newberg, Las Vegas Review-Journal; BaileyAldridge, News & Observer.
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Killed In Late Night Boating Accident
R.H., 46, was killed in a boating accident on Lake Powell early onthe morning of Wednesday, July 29th. His body was recovered severalhours later by the park's dive team.
R.H. was with a group of people camping at a houseboat at the lakeshoreline in the Warm Creek area. A member of the group called in areport of a boating crash and a missing person at about 1:20 a.m. R.H.had taken a wave boat out on the lake and had hit a rock, causing it toflip (a wave boat transforms a jet ski into a power boat).
Rangers began a search for him at sunrise. R.H.'s body was recoveredby the park's dive team in 12 feet of water. The Kane County Sheriff'sOffice, National Park Service, Utah State Parks, and Utah State MedicalExaminer's Office are working together to investigate the crash.
Source: Carter Williams, KSL News.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Glen Canyon NRA
Man Falls To Death While Taking Pictures
A 25-year-old man fell to his death while taking pictures near a parkoverlook.
O.S.-A., 25, was on top of the rim overlooking theColorado River on the morning of October 4th when he fell about 100 feetand then slid another 150 feet.
A sheriff's deputy rappelled to his location. The deputy reached himaround 30 minutes after the fall and confirmed that he'd died.
Investigators believe that O.S.-A. had climbed up some rocksto get a better view. When he tried to climb back out, he evidently losthis footing.
Source: Phil Helsel, NBC News.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Glen Canyon NRA
Owner Of Houseboat Management Company Arrested
The owner of a houseboat management company is accused of mismanagingmoney intended for maintenance and storage fees, causing the owners andshareholders of 34 houseboats on Lake Powell to nearly lose theirboats.
J.B.S., 41, was charged in Third District Court with nine counts ofunlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary and engaging in a pattern ofunlawful activity, both second-degree felonies.
The Utah Attorney General's Office began investigating L.P.M.LLC, a houseboat management company, in January 2019. Severalgroups that share ownership in houseboats based in Page, Arizona, at theAntelope Point Marina on Lake Powell were affected. Investigatorsidentified a total of 34 legal entities that suffered a substantial riskof loss or detriment due to J.B.S.'s unlawful conduct. These entitiesare each comprised of approximately nine to 18 members or shareholderswho are fractional owners in one of the 34 houseboats.
J.B.S. was hired to manage the care, maintenance and expenses of thehouseboats, including annual dues, repair fees, general maintenance andstorage fees, according to the charges. As time passed, houseboat ownersdiscovered that their houseboats had accrued substantial debts whileunder J.B.S.'s care. Many of the houseboats owed thousands of dollars tothe marina in delinquent slip fees. Marine insurance coverage had lapsedon some of the houseboats for failure to pay premiums. Some houseboatshad expired vessel registrations.
When owners tried to regain control of the management of theirhouseboat accounts, they found that in many cases the entity bankaccounts had balances of zero or negative balances. Overdraft fees hadbeen accruing and many accounts had been closed by the bank. Houseboatentities were forced to negotiate settlements with the marina and othervendors.
According to prosecutors, J.B.S. used L.P.M.'s generalbusiness account to pay for business and personal expenses. He wouldthen transfer funds from one houseboat entity's account to pay theexpenses of another houseboat. By the end of 2018, the general managerfor Antelope Point Marina threatened to pull 20 houseboats underJ.B.S.'s care out of the water because they were behind $800,000 totalin fees and storage costs.
Source: Pat Reavy, Deseret News.
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Sherriff cited for boating under the influence
On August 7 at Wahweap Marina, Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodeswas issued a misdemeanor citation for operating a boat while under theinfluence of alcohol. Sheriff Rhodes has stated publicly that he deeplyregrets his actions and has learned from his mistake. Source: AZCentral
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
More boat launch ramps close
Due to continued drops in water levels on Lake Powell, on December17, the park announced that the Stanton Creek Primitive boat launch rampis no longer usable. The Bullfrog Main Spur Ramp also closed tohouseboats on December 20. The park anticipates that the Bullfrog MainSpur Ramp will remain viable until January 3 and will likely close toall motorized vehicles at that time. Source: Glen Canyon NationalRecreation Area
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Dangling Rope Marina closes due to drought
On January 24, the park announced that Dangling Rope Marina willremain closed throughout 2022 due to lowering lake levels. Dangling Ropehas been the only place to obtain boat fuel between the northern andsouthern ends of Lake Powell, and the park is working with theconcessioner Aramark to consider other mid-lake fuel service options.With the lake continuing to drop in level, the park has not yet come upwith an infrastructure option that will be safe and sustainable. Whilethe marina is closed, the park will retire several components that weredamaged or beyond their lifecycle. Source: Glen Canyon NationalRecreation Area
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Visitor falls to death
On February 14, a 29-year old visitor went outside the safety railingat Horseshoe Bend Overlook and fell off a 1,000 foot cliff. The victim'sbody was found and recovered by a helicopter crew and transported toFlagstaff. The incident is under investigation by Coconino County andthe NPS. Source: KNAU
August 24, 2022
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Plane crash
On August 15, an airplane tour carrying a pilot and seven passengerscrashed into Lake Powell near Face Canyon. The pilot had reported anengine issue just before the plane went down. The pilot and severalwitnesses were able to rescue four passengers via boat. Of the fivepatients (including the pilot), three were transported with seriousinjuries to St. George Regional Hospital via Classic Aviationhelicopters, and two were transported by boat to Antelope Marina andthen via vehicle to Page Hospital. The Utah Division of OutdoorRecreation was able to utilize an underwater remotely operated vehicleto access the plane, which was 120 feet below the surface, and thecamera confirmed the other two passengers were still inside anddeceased. The Utah Department of Public Safety and the Kane CountySheriffs Office will retrieve the bodies of the two victims, and theFederal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Boardwill investigate the plane crash. Source: KSL TV
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Boat ramp closed to larger vessels
On November 21, the park closed the Bullfrog North Boat Ramp tohouseboats and larger vessels due to record-low lake levels. It remainsoperable for smaller vessels until the lake declines 4 more feet, atwhich point it will be closed to all vessels. Source: Glen CanyonNational Recreation Area
December 14, 2022
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Water system issue closes visitor center
On December 2, the park announced that the Carl Hayden Visitor Centerwould be temporarily closed until further notice due to an issue withthe building's water system. The Bureau of Reclamation and City of Pageworked quickly to resolve the issue. Source: Glen Canyon NationalRecreation Area
January 25, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
NPS staff missing
On January 5, a 46-year-old NPS staff member of Glen Canyon traveled toLas Vegas on personal time. The individual sent "concerning texts" toseveral people, and then failed to show up for work. The individual waslast seen staying Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, Nevadaand their phone last registered in Glendale, Nevada. NPS staff, theBureau of Land Management, local county sheriffs departments, and thehighway patrol from Nevada, Utah, and Arizona have conducted searches onall the routes from Las Vegas to Lees Ferry "by road and by air." Lawenforcement are asking for any information the public may have. Source:LocalToday
May 10, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
The park was able to reopen Bullfrog North Boat Ramp to houseboats andlarger vessels for the first time since November 2022 due to rising lakelevels. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
June 7, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Fire among house boats
On June 2, a vessel moored at Wahweap Marina on B dock near theLatitutde 37 Restaurant was reported to be on fire. It spread to "morethan half a dozen" other house boats. An owner of a house boatmanagement company utilized a garden hose to douse flames and NPSpersonnel responded shortly thereafter. Other responders included theBig Water Fire Department, Page Fire Department, Coconino CountySheriff's Office, Kane County Emergency Medical Services, Arizona Gameand Fish Department, and Arizona Department of Public Safety.. At leastone boat on fire was pulled off the dock to create a fuel gap; it wasstopped by the breakwater, which then caught fire. The fires wereextinguished and contained by that evening. At least one boat was saidto have been "destroyed." Two individuals were evaluated for smokeinhalation by emergency crews and then released. Some sections of thedock remain closed for public access due to the damage. The cause of thefire is under investigation by the NPS and officials are looking for anyinformation the public may have.. Source: ABC News, KUTV, Glen CanyonNational Recreation Area
June 21, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On June 9, the NPS finished its investigation of the June 2 WahweapMarina fire that damaged several house boats (see 6/7/23 CoalitionReport). The report found "the source of the fire was undetermined andaccidental in nature." Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
July 5, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Horse rescue
Due to rising lake levels, a wild horse and its foal were trapped in anarea with little food. Though typically a horse would be able to makethe quarter-mile swim to other areas with food resources, it issuspected that the mother stayed with its newborn until they were bothtoo weak to make the trip. Starting on June 7, NPS staff beganmonitoring and feeding the horses, which were able to drink water fromthe lake. Due to the popularity of the beach for camping and boating,the horses posed a safety concern for visitors. A team of NPS staff,members of the Navajo Nation, and horse specialists from nearby BestFriends Animal Society were able to sedate and move the animals into ahorse trailer on an NPS boat. The two were brought to Best Friends inKanab, Utah, and are being rehabilitated. Once the foal is weaned offits mother's milk, the two will be evaluated for adoption. If they areunable to be adopted out, they will be kept at the Best Friendsfacility. Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
July 26, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Cliff jumping fatality
On July 20, a 36-year-old was observed jumping off a 50-foot cliff intoLake Powell, about one-quarter mile south of Buoy 89 (89 miles from GlenCanyon Dam). The individual failed to resurface, and emergency personnelwere contacted. Staff from the NPS, Utah Department of NaturalResources, and Kane County Sheriff's Office conducted a search. Thefollowing day, the Utah Department of Public Safety Dive Team used aside scan sonar to locate the victim in about 30 feet of water, anddivers completed the recovery. The individual's body was transported byDNR staff to Bullfrog, Utah, then transferred to the custody of the UtahState Medical Examiner in Salt Lake City for an autopsy. The incident isunder investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Utah StateMedical Examiner's Office, and the NPS. Source: Glen Canyon NationalRecreation Area
October 18, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Person shoots at group
On October 8, a party of four people camped near the Dangling RopeMarina were approached by a 46-year-old on a motorized dingy. Aftertalking for a bit, they asked him to leave since they were startingdinner. Upon being asked to leave, the individual became agitated andthreatened to "slit their throats." The individual left and laterreturned, firing "approximately 50 gunshots" at the group. The gunshotsstruck the rocks near them and a cooler that belonged to the group. Thecampers ran nearby to find cover and the individual was said to startcircling camp, boating back and forth, occasionally pointing a light atone of them and shooting in their direction. Upon arrival, officersfound a 46-year-old not wearing pants, with a handgun and severalexpended 9mm bullet casings on the ground near by. They later foundmatching casings in the individual's boat that matched the gun on theground. The individual was also observed to have recently been "tryingto sell methamphetamine." On October 11, the suspect was charged infederal court with three counts of aggravated assault, illegal dischargeof a firearm, drug possession, carrying a weapon while under theinfluence of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, andintoxication. Source: KSL
November 1, 2023
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Houseboat fire
On October 26, a number of houseboats caught fire at Bullfrog Marina.Five boats "were completely destroyed" and another "suffered heavydamage." The dock also "suffered extreme devastation." Several peoplewere on scene and made efforts to isolate the original burning boat, buttheir efforts led to the fire spreading to several other boats. Severalpeople on scene were treated for smoke inhalation, with one personairlifted to a nearby hospital. The incident is currently underinvestigation. Source: KMYU, The Salt Lake Tribune
February 21, 2024
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On February 9, the NPS announced that they have completed a review ofthe Bullfrog Marina fire that occurred on October 26, 2023 (see 11/1/23Coalition Report). The investigation was able to identify the point oforigin (undisclosed). The source of the fire was undetermined and wasdeemed accidental in nature. Source: Glen Canyon National RecreationArea
May 1, 2024
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park
Missing person
On April 21, the truck of a 58-year-old was found "abandoned" at Lee'sFerry. It is believed that the individual may have attempted to floatthe Colorado River into the Grand Canyon on a self-made wooden raft withtheir dog. The park is looking for any information the public may have.Source: Grand Canyon National Park
May 1, 2024
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park
Dam infrastructure damaged
The Bureau of Reclamation recently discovered damage in the penstocksthat allow water to pass out of Lake Powell. Damage includes sediment,thinning of the pipes, and cavitation (formation and collapse of airbubbles in flowing water that can pit and tear metal). To reduceadditional damage, the BOR is requiring that flows be reduced in theevent of low reservoir levels. The BOR is working with its engineers tocome up with a solution, including utilizing scale models in alaboratory. It is unclear how long the repairs will take. Source: LosAngeles Times
May 15, 2024
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park
Follow-up on Previously Reported Incident
On May 10, a deceased individual was found near mile 6 on the ColoradoRiver. It is believed to be the 58-year-old who went missing in lateApril, who was thought to have attempted to run the river on a homemadewooden raft with a dog (see 5/1/24 Coalition Report). The CoconinoCounty (AZ) Medical Examiner's Office will confirm positiveidentification and work with the NPS on an investigation of theincident. Source: Grand Canyon National Park
