[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - GROUP ARRESTED AT LEES FERRY]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - GROUP ARRESTED AT LEES FERRY
Date: 	Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:34:15 -0700
From: 	Riverwire <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	<Riverwire at rrfw.org>



RRFW Riverwire – GROUP ARRESTED AT LEE’S FERRY

January 29, 2006

Five members of a non-commercial river trip were arrested at Lee’s 
Ferry, Arizona, on Saturday, January 27, 2007, for possession of 
controlled substances. The five were part of a group of 14 preparing to 
launch a 30 day trip rafting through Grand Canyon.

The group was breaking down their camp and awaiting final trip 
orientation when they were approached by a National Park Ranger at the 
arrival of Coconino County Sheriff and Arizona Department of Public 
Safety officers.

The Law enforcement personnel subsequently arrested the five following a 
search of the group’s tents and watercraft with a drug sniffing dog 
based on a citizen’s tip of drug use. The dog detected a small amount of 
drugs. According to one of the trip participants, 3 ounces of marijuana 
were seized.

The five people were then taken into custody and appeared before a Page, 
Arizona judge in separate hearings. It was determined that misdemeanor 
charges would be brought in all cases and they were released on their 
own recognizance pending a future court date.

Since National Park Service policy allows any individual who has 
registered to call in and claim any available trip opening, a remaining 
member of the group, Mike Grijalva, immediately requested to claim the 
aborted trip launch. Mr. Grijalva registered to be considered for the 
lotteries held in the fall of 2006. He was advised by the National Park 
Ranger on duty that there were no available cancellation dates. The 
group then re-packed all their gear onto trailers, and returned to 
Flagstaff, Arizona, in an attempt to salvage the trip.

As of Monday, January 29, 2007, employees at the River Permits office at 
Grand Canyon National Park confirmed that there were indeed unclaimed 
river trips on Feb 1, 2 and 4, but Mr. Grijalva was informed by Park 
officials that none of the trip participants could claim any of the 
available dates, because of their association with the 5 individuals who 
were arrested and later released.

“It appears the Park overreacted,” notes Jo Johnson of River Runners for 
Wilderness “and is penalizing people who were not involved in any 
wrongdoing. Those folks have the same right to a permit as any one else, 
the launch is available and they are ready to go. It is hard to see the 
Park’s justification for denying them a coveted opportunity to launch 
based on their association with individuals who may never be convicted 
of any crime.”

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