Forest Service law enforcement searching for individual(s) who placed rebar in roads
Release Date: Jul 15, 2014
Contact(s): Forest Service Law Enforcement: 928-527-3511
Image of spiked rebarFlagstaff, Ariz. – Forest Service law enforcement is asking the public for any information related to sharpened rebar that was purposely placed on and near forest roads in the Happy Jack area.
At least five pieces of these spiked rebar placed on a forest road were responsible for slashing at least eight tires over the weekend. It appears the rebar is being placed in areas frequented by OHV’s.
“The end of the rebar has been flattened and sharpened to a point and the exposed point has been painted to blend in with the road surface,” said Mogollon Rim District Ranger Linda Wadleigh. “The objects pose a serious threat to everyone, and that doesn’t just mean people recreating on a motorcycle or OHV, it includes people walking, hiking and even wildlife. We are taking this very seriously and asking the public to keep an eye out and report suspicious activity in the area.”
Anyone with information regarding who may be placing these dangerous rebar should contact Forest Service law enforcement at 928-527-3511.
Pretty interesting since I was just up there this Weekend and the first time I drive it since I get back, I blow a Tire...I know it's just a Coincidence but still...Wonder if 81 or 81E was one of the Roads?
Lifeis not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming,"Wow What a Ride!"
REWARD: Up to $5,000
Release Date: Jul 15, 2014
Contact(s): Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives: 505-346-6914
REWARD
Up to $5,000
The U.S. Forest Service will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for placing a glass jar at the base of a U.S. Forest Service sign which exploded on July 7, 2014, resulting in injury to a firefighter.
The incident occurred between the community of La Cueva and Fenton Lake State Park near the intersection of State Highway 126 and Forest Road 376 on the Santa Fe National Forest’s Jemez Ranger District.
If you have information about this incident, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Albuquerque Field Office at:
505.346.6914
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
hikeaz wrote:Were the rebar road spikes placed on roads/trails that are off-limits to OHV?
I have an email F/S contact at the Blue Ridge Ranger Station, so I will ask for the FR# locations around Happy Jack and post back if I receive a reply.
Funny (ironic) how they are "asking the public to keep an eye out and report suspicious activity in the area", but refuse to define 'the area'.
Thanks for asking, though GH - appreciate it.
Last edited by hikeaz on Jul 16 2014 4:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
hikeaz wrote:Funny (ironic) how they are "asking the public to keep an eye out and report suspicious activity in the area", but refuse to define 'the area'.
Not to mention that people should be warned of potentially serious hazards in "that area" so they can watch for more of those things...sheesh!
Lifeis not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming,"Wow What a Ride!"
I read in the paper this morning that it seems somebody is targeting OHV folks. A person interviewed said that many in their Quad/ATV/OHV group got flat tires. So is this somebody with an agenda about these vehicles or is there a deeper motive to this?
Alston Neal wrote:I read in the paper this morning that it seems somebody is targeting OHV folks. A person interviewed said that many in their Quad/ATV/OHV group got flat tires. So is this somebody with an agenda about these vehicles or is there a deeper motive to this?
Do you mean like the Quad/ATV/OHV tire suppliers?
A man's body may grow old, but inside his spirit can still be as young and restless as ever.
- Garth McCann from the movie Second Hand Lions
Anyone remember the guy convicted of stringing piano wire across trails in the Coconino NF, a few years back (2006?)? He put it across trails frequented by ATVers at head height to decapitate riders. Even it fails, it is a form of terrorism, simply because they want people to be afraid to do something.
People don't take the law into their own hands if there is reasonable enforcement of laws by the proper authorities. In the case of the Forest Service, the resources don't exist to enforce all the rules, regulations and mandates that exist. This is certainly not an excuse for this, but it may help explain it.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
chumley wrote:....in the case of the Forest Service, the resources don't exist to enforce all the rules, regulations and mandates that exist.
Really, I heard they were flush with cash and taking full advantage of this through exploitation of certain ranges, primarily by destroying them. Must just be in SE AZ? I better get my aluminum foil hat out to engage in serious thought. Let me make some calculations on this.
This report today quotes a woman who says the spikes were in an area that is "technically off limits for ATVs". No idea if that's accurate, and it certainly wouldn't justify doing it even if true, but it could help explain their motivation.
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