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Significant Activity Reports and Case Closures:

Grand Junction, CO - Special Recreation Use Permit Violation

On October 9, 2007, a Colorado State Office Special Agent, the Glenwood Springs Field Office Ranger, and a Deputy U.S. Marshal arrested an individual on a Federal Arrest Warrant, based on a one count Criminal Complaint.  The Complaint alleges the individual as providing outfitting and guiding services on BLM-administered public lands without having the required BLM Special Recreation Use Permit.  The individual has a prior 2002 conviction for the same offense in the same location.  The individual also faces multiple State charges stemming from the joint BLM and Colorado Division of Wildlife investigation.  The individual made his initial appearance befor ethe U.S. Magistrate Judge in Grand Junction, and as a condition of his bond, cannot provide hunting-related services on any federal land.

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Grand Junction Field Office, McInnis Canyons NCA - Law Enforcement Support

Over the course of two weekends, the San Juan Field Office Ranger and the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) Ranger provided law enforcement assistance to the Grand Junction Field Office, which is currently experienceing vacant law enforcement positions.

During the 8-day detail, the two Rangers issued 57 violation notices, 4 written warnings, made 4 warrant arrests, and had two vehicles towed from public lands.  High visibility patrols were conducted during all hours of the day and night.  The following is a summary of the incidents encountered by the Rangers:

  • Possession of Controlled Substance - 9 Violation Notices (VN)
  • Minor in possession of Alcohol - 14 VN
  • No OHV Registraion - 10 VN and 1 Warning Notice (WN)
  • Camping in a Closed Area - 1 WN
  • No Vehicle Registration - 5 VN
  • Hazard and Nuisance - 2 VN (Shooting from Motor Vehicle/Burning Pallets) and 1 WN
  • Fictitious Plates - 1 VN (towed vehicle)
  • Fishing without a license - 2 VN
  • Unattended Fire - 1 VN
  • OHV in Closed Area - 4 VN
  • Damaging U.S. Property - 1 WN
  • Open Container - 2 VN
  • Possession of Stolen Plates - 1 VN (towed vehicle)
  • No Insurance - 1 VN
  • Driving while Revoked - 1 VN
  • Fire Left Unattended - 2 VN
  • Igniting or causing to ignite a fire other than a campfire - 2 VN

The Rangers also investigated a vehicle rollover, a burned out cab-over camper trailer, numerous reports of occupancy trespass, an illegal off-road case involving significant resource damage, and located a sexually violent predator who is residing on public lands.

Mesa, Delta and Montrose Counties (Colorado) - Multi-Agency Marijuana Eradication Operation

During the week of July 30, 2007, BLM led a multi-agency over-flight operation in five counties in Western Colorado.  The goal of the operation was to detect and eradicate illegal marijuana gardens from public land.

With aerial support provided by the Colorado National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force, the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Delta County Sheriff's Office, and the Montrose County Sheriff's Office were able to surveil a vast amount of public and private land.  Approximately 40 law enforcement officers and Guardsmen participated in the operation.

One garden was located in Mesa County, Colorado, in a very remote area of public land.  The garden included a total of 614 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $1,535,000, and a large quantity of camping equipment.  The plants have been destroyed, and the camping equipment has been perpared for aerial removal at a later date (due to the remoteness of the location).

North of Craig, CO - Murder Victim Recovered on Public Land

On June 3, 2007, Cynthia (Runnels) Hankins, age 36, a resident of Craig, CO, was reported missing.  Her husband, Terry Hankins, was the principal suspect in her disappearance due to suspicious circumstances.  Hankins operates a mining claim on BLM land within the Little Snake Field Office.

On Friday, August 24, 2007, Hankins asked to speak to Moffat County investigators, who had been working on his wife's disappearance.  Hankins confessed to having killed her on June 3, 2007.

On August 25, 2007, the Little Snake Field Office Ranger assisted Craig PD, Moffat County Sheriff's Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation in recovering her dismembered body from a location on public land just west of Hankins' mining claim.

The Little Snake Field Office has been pursuing administrative measures to remove Hankins from the claim for unauthorized occupancy for several years.

North Sand Hills, Jackson County, Colorado - Holiday Detail

The Kremmling Field Office, along with Colorado State Parks, conducted a special law enforcement detail over the Labor Day weekend in Jackson County, Colorado, at the North Sand Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area.  No serious injuries requiring medical attention were reported.  Many violations were detected and dealt with appropriately.  Listed below are some of the law enforcement actions taken for the weekend.

  • Unattended Campfire - 3
  • Suspended Driver's License - 1
  • OHV Equipment Violations - 13
  • No OHV/Vehicle Registration - 14
  • Speeding - 1
  • Littering - 3
  • Creating a Hazard and a Nuisance - 2
  • Natural Feature Destruction - 2

 

The sign says, "PETROGLYPHS AND PICTOGRAPHS ARE FRAGILE 
AND CAN BE LOST THROUGH REPEATED RUBBING. 
PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THEM. THANK YOU."
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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