Park News October 14,2008

Shenandoah National Park

The body of Earl Funk was found on Saturday in the Browns Cove area of Albemarle County, bringing to an end the twelve-day search for him within the park and surrounding area. The cause of death is under investigation, with Albemarle County PD leading the effort. Funk, 49, had been missing since September 29th. The search was a joint operation by the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Shenandoah National Park. Over 150 employees and trained volunteers, including dog teams, ground searchers and support personnel, were involved during the lengthy search. National Park Service personnel were assisted by Albemarle County Police Department, Virginia State Police, Dogs East, Blue and Gray Search and Rescue Dogs, K-9 Alert, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Appalachian Search and Rescue, Rockingham Augusta Search and Rescue, and DELMARVA Search and Rescue. The Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Shenandoah National Park wish to thank these cooperating organizations for their response and continued efforts.

 

Rock Creek Park

On Saturday, October 4th, Park Police officers responded to a report of an assault at Meridian Hill. When they arrived, they found a Metro Police Department (MPD) officer on scene with two people. The MPD officer said that he’d seen the two fighting while patrolling the area. When he intervened, one of the two men, identified as Keith Austin, told him that he was a police officer and displayed a pair of handcuffs. Both were detained. Austin then told the officer that he was a police informant. He was also carrying a flashlight, walkie-talkies and a radio. The other man reported that he’d been drinking with two friends at Meridian Hill when Austin approached them, identified himself as an officer, displayed a pair of handcuffs on his belt, and threatened to arrest them. A verbal altercation ensued that culminated with Austin grabbing one of the man’s friends. That lead to a fight. The trio then fled, with Austin pursuing the man and attempting to take a bag containing a camera from him. That led to another fight, at which point the MPD officer arrived. USPP officer Danny Berberich arrested Austin, who faces several charges, including impersonating a police officer and attempted robbery. Meanwhile, other responding USPP officers located the man’s two companions. One of them was approached by officer Mike Peer, but refused to speak to him. She then attempted to leave and had to be detained. She refused to identify herself and became physically aggressive, kicking one officer in the groin and also kicking another assisting officer. She was arrested and faces a number of charges, including assaulting police officers. The third person, identified as Dean Carver, was contacted by officer TC Gordon. When Gordon attempted to interview Carter, he refused to comply with the officer’s commands and appeared agitated. When Gordon displayed his baton, Carver fled, with Gordon pursuing. Carver ran towards one of the officers dealing with the  unidentified woman in an aggressive manner, so Gordon employed his baton to stop him from assaulting the officer. Carver was arrested and will be charged for a number of offenses, including assaulting a police officer.

 

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

The body of a missing 19-year-old man was recovered from Lake Powell near Gregory Butte on Thursday, October 9th. Luke Rogers of Seattle, Washington, was standing on the bow seat of a runabout on Saturday, September 20th, when he fell overboard and disappeared. Divers, side-scan sonar and an underwater robot were employed in the effort to find his body. The search area spanned 183 acres and the search required the efforts of about 35 people from a number of agencies. Evident indicates that he suffered a fatal head injury when he was hit by the boat from which he had fallen. For a copy of the original report, click on the link below


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Flagstaff Area National Monuments

The Flagstaff Area Monuments are currently recruiting for a chief of resources management for Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments. The division has oversight of both cultural and natural resources, including archaeology, the “Vanishing Treasures” program, museum curation, park planning and compliance, geology, invasive species management, prehistoric and historic structure preservation, and ecological restoration. Park headquarters is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, which offers extensive recreational, cultural and educational opportunities.  More information about the monuments can be found at www.nps.gov/sucr , www.nps.gov/waca , and www.nps.gov/wupa .  Contact superintendent Diane Chung for more information.

The announcement closes on October 29th.  It can be obtained by clicking on the link below.



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