Valley Forge National Historical Park (PA)
Follow-up on Assault on Ranger
On the afternoon of April, 19, 2003, rangers received a call from a
local juvenile detention facility that borders the park reporting that
three of their inmates had just escaped from the facility and were
believed to be in the park. A hasty search was conducted and the three
men were found near a highly-used scenic trail. Ranger Paula Risell was
the first to make contact. When she attempted to handcuff one of them,
all three began resisting. Risell suffered a broken finger in the
scuffle, and all three men fled. Two were found several miles from that
point and were returned to the facility. The third, later identified as
M.H., had just turned 18; attempts to locate him were unsuccessful, so a
warrant was issued for his arrest. A tip from an informant led to the
identification of his whereabouts on January 2nd. M.H. was found and
arrested with assistance from the FBI's fugitive task force. On January
27th, he was indicted in federal court for aggravated assault on a
federal officer (18 USC 111(a) and (b)). A pretrial detention was
granted, and M.H. is accordingly being held until his trial. The date
has not yet been set. Ranger John Waterman is the case
agent.
[Submitted by Chief Rangers Office]
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Follow-up on Drug Smuggling Arrest
F.V. of Del Rio, Texas, was sentenced in December to five years of
federal probation for his involvement in drug smuggling through the park
in October, 2002. F.V. was arrested when rangers conducting a routine
fish and game inspection found 155 pounds of processed marijuana in the
live wells of his bass boat and a loaded .410 shotgun under the driver
seat. At the time of his arrest, F.V. was president of the Del Rio
Bassmasters Club, a prominent local sport fishing club, and
was very active in organizing fishing tournaments at Amistad NRA.
As a cooperating defendant, F.V. received probation based on the amount
of information he provided rangers and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement special agents about several other individuals involved with
smuggling operations. J.S., an accomplice of F.V., reached a plea
agreement with the US Attorney's Office and was sentenced to 37 months
of incarceration last October.
[Submitted by Bruce Malloy, Chief
Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (NY,PA)
Passing of Ranger's Daughter
The park has submitted the following: "It is with deepest regret and sympathy that we report the passing of Sydney Rose Pareago, four-year-old daughter of Vince and Brenda Pareago. Vince has been a protection ranger for UPDE and other NPS areas for 15 years. Sydney passed away at home on January 27th after a courageous battle with Rett's syndrome and pneumonia. A viewing was held at Hessling's Funeral Home, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, on January 30th. Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 31st at St. Bernard's Church in Beach Lake, Pennsyvlania. Interment at Narrowsburg, New York, followed the service. Donations and cards can be sent to Vince Pareago c/o NPS, Upper Delaware S&RR, RR2 Box 2428, Beach Lake PA, 18405-9737."
[Submitted by Al Henry, Chief of Protection]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.