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| From the National Park's morning report: Today's Report | Recent Editions Jun 15, 2006Jun 14, 2006Jun 13, 2006Jun 12, 2006Jun 09, 2006Jun 08, 2006Jun 07, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCIDENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY) An investigation into a hit-and-run accident in the park on Wednesday led to the apprehension of two men wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Iowa. Rangers found an unoccupied vehicle in the Canyon Lodge cabin complex around 10:30 p.m. which matched the description of one involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Canyon area earlier in the evening. The operator, Justin Shrader, 23, returned to the vehicle and was contacted by the investigating rangers. During questioning, rangers learned that Shrader and a companion were staying in a nearby cabin. While rangers were contacting the second man, criminal checks revealed that Shrader had an active felony arrest warrant against him in connection with a May 8th bank robbery in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Both men then fled into the woods. Shrader was apprehended after a short pursuit and a protracted struggle which ended when a ranger used a taser to bring him under control. Shrader’s companion, 32-year-old Aaron Rafferty, eluded immediate capture. Shrader was arrested and transported to the jail in Mammoth Hot Springs. Additional law enforcement staff were dispatched to Canyon to assist in the manhunt for Rafferty. Road blocks were set up throughout the park, and entrance stations were opened to advise visitors that a manhunt was underway. Rafferty was captured around 6 a.m. Thursday morning when a security guard employed by Xanterra Parks and Resorts reported seeing him sleeping in a vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident. Nearly 40 law enforcement rangers, officers and special agents from Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Park County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the manhunt. Rangers and special agents are working jointly with the FBI in Iowa and with Oskaloosa City police in the investigation. Both men will appear before a federal magistrate in Yellowstone on charges that include assault on a federal officer, eluding and evading, and DUI. Efforts are also underway to extradite the men back to Iowa, where they will face both state and federal charges for armed bank robbery. [Submitted by Public Affairs]
In the early morning hours of Saturday, June 10th, a man attempted to enter the ranger residence at Indian Cove by smashing in a window with a gardening tool. One of the residents was at home asleep during the incident. A dog in the house started barking just prior to the window breaking, awakening the occupant and scaring away the suspect. The resident called 911, and San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, as there were no rangers on duty at the time of the attempted break-in. The deputies were able to locate the would-be burglar at a nearby picnic table, drinking a Nalgene bottle full of beer, and arrested him for felony attempted burglary. [Submitted by Dan Messaros, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of June 5th, rangers were contacted by an off-duty
ranger who was visiting the park with his family. While taking in the
sights at Pinnacles overlook, the ranger saw a man sifting through and
collecting rocks. The off-duty ranger notified park law enforcement
rangers, who quickly responded. Upon arrival at the overlook, they found
that the man had already left the area. A “be on the lookout” message
was broadcast over the park’s radio system and a man matching the suspect’s
description was quickly found. When contacted, he openly admitted to
collecting samples from the park and walked the investigating rangers
to his vehicle. When he opened the passenger door, rangers saw several
clear plastic bags labeled ‘Badlands’ containing what appeared to be
rocks. There were many other bags, variously labeled ‘Devils Tower,’
‘Grand Teton,’ ‘Little Bighorn,’ and ‘Yellowstone.’ The bags were seized
and the vehicle was searched. Twenty-seven bags containing minerals
and paleontological objects were recovered along with an assortment
of hand tools and rock shifters. The items were taken from the five
noted NPS sites, plus a number of historic sites in South Dakota, including
Wounded Knee. Federal charges were filed against the man. The case remains
under investigation.
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