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This blog is no longer active.  All press releases will be posted on our website:

www.nps.gov/uspp/press-releases.htm

Critrical Missing Person - Update

LAUREL – Lisa Renee Wyche, 46, of District Heights, Maryland has been missing since the evening of October 31, 2015 from the area of the Baltimore Washington Parkway and Route 197.  She was reported missing on November 1, 2015.  The United States Park Police, with the assistance of many others, have been coordinating searches for Mrs. Wyche over the last six days.

The USPP Search and Rescue team deployed numerous helicopter patrols, performed systematic ground searches on foot with officers, horse mounted units, and canines.  Neighborhoods, local businesses, and schools near where Mrs. Wyche was last seen have been provided flyers to increase awareness of her disappearance to the community.  Six days later, there has still been no sign of Mrs. Wyche.

The USPP is suspending active search operations for Mrs. Wyche, but the investigation into her disappearance will remain active.  Should we receive any further information, the United States Park Police will dedicate resources to locating Mrs. Wyche.  We remain hopeful that Mrs. Wyche will be found in good health.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Lisa Renee Wyche, please call the United States Park Police at 202-610-7500.  Any information could be helpful in finding Mrs. Wyche and reuniting her with her family.

Critical Missing Person

The U.S. Park Police is currently searching for the above pictured missing person. Lisa Renee Wyche, of District Heights, MD is a 46 years old, black female, 5’7” tall, weighing 110 LBS and was last seen wearing a maroon sweat suit. Mrs. Wyche suffers from numerous medical conditions and may be disoriented. Mrs. Wyche has been missing since 7:23 PM on October 31, 2015 from the area of the Southbound Baltimore Washington Parkway at Route 197. Mrs. Wyche does not have her medication and is considered to be an endangered person in need of immediate medical care.


Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of Lisa Renee Wyche is asked to contact the United States Park Police at 202-610-7500.

Pedestrian Fatally Struck

Washington – The United States Park Police is investigating a fatal car crash that occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Maine Avenue Southwest in Washington, D.C.  A vehicle struck a pedestrian in the westbound lanes of Maine Avenue just west of the 14^th Street overpass.  The pedestrian was transported to George Washington Memorial Hospital where they were pronounced dead at approximately 8:40 p.m. 

 The following road closures will remain in effect during the investigation:

  -Westbound Maine Avenue at 12^th Street

            -Westbound I-395 ramp to Maine Avenue
            -Eastbound Maine Avenue SW at East Basin Drive

At this stage of the investigation, the identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Fatal Car Crash

Laurel, Maryland – The United States Park Police is investigating a fatal car crash that occurred northbound on the Baltimore Washington Parkway at the ramp to westbound 198 in Laurel, Maryland.  At about 2 pm the United States Park Police received a call for an overturned vehicle from a contract crew working in that area.  Officers located the vehicle several hundred feet off the parkway down a steep embankment in a heavily wooded area just north of the ramp.  The vehicle was resting on its top and partially submerged in water. 

Marcus Lee Freeman, 26, of Laurel, Maryland was found in the vehicle and later pronounced dead by Anne Arundel County EMS. Laurel Police Department reported Freeman as missing on October 15^th.  

The ramp to westbound 198 was closed for approximately 6 hours during the investigation.  All lanes of travel are open at this time.

Visitor Fatality at Lincoln Memorial

WASHINGTON – A 50-year old woman collapsed after suffering a medical emergency and died while visiting the Lincoln Memorial shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, October 26.  The woman, whose identity has not been released, struck her head in the course of her fall.  United States Park Police officers administered CPR until medical personnel arrived on site. She was transported to George Washington University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.  A cause of death has not yet been determined. 

Shooting at Fort Washington Marina

WASHINGTON – The United States Park Police is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred shortly after 1 am on Sunday, October 25 in a parking lot outside of Proud Mary’s Restaurant at the Fort Washington Marina in Fort Washington, Maryland. 

Tania Vanessa Lopez, a 36 year old female from Montgomery Village, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene.  A 27 year old male was transported to the hospital with critical injuries and is currently in stable condition.

At this stage of the investigation we are pursuing several leads.  Please contact the USPP Tip Line at 202-610-8737 or via email at USPP_Tipline@nps.gov if you have any information regarding this incident – those providing tips may remain completely anonymous.  

Road Closures, Logistics Announced for Marine Corps Marathon

WASHINGTON –The 40^th Annual Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2015 and begin at 7:45 a.m.  Roughly sixty percent of the Marathon is run on National Park Service roads. Road closures and detours will be in effect between the hours of 4 a.m. and 1 p.m.  - Streets will reopen on a rolling basis as the last participant has passed and all course support materials have been removed. - A comprehensive list of all road closures is included below.

Getting There
Runners and spectators are encouraged to use Metro to access the race.  Marathon runners should use the Pentagon Station (blue or yellow line) to access the start line through Runners Village in the Pentagon North Parking lot.  Smithsonian Metro is the closest stop for the MCM 10K. 

Reminders

·         All National Parks prohibit the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.  The entire race route falls within a national flight restricted zone.  This is a No Drone Zone.
·         Always Remember – If You See Something, Say Something. Contact U.S. Park Police at 202-610-7500
·         There is NO PARKING along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Route 110, or Memorial Avenue

Road Closures
4 a.m.–1:30 p.m. -- Madison Drive NW from 7th to 14th Street
4 a.m.–4:30 p.m. -- Marshall Drive from North Meade Street to Route 110
4 a.m.–5:30 p.m. -- North Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Lynn Street
4 a.m.–4:30 p.m. -- Route 110 from I-66 to U.S. Highway 1
4 a.m.–5:30 p.m. -- Wilson Boulevard from North Nash Street to Route 110
4 a.m.–5:30 p.m. -- Lynn Street from North Meade Street to Lee Highway
4 a.m.–5:30 p.m. -- Fort Myer Drive from North Meade Street to Lee Highway
4 a.m.–5:30 p.m. -- North Moore Street from Wilson Boulevard to Lee Highway
4 a.m.–5:30 p.m. -- 19th Street North from Lynn Street to North Nash Street
4 a.m.–3 p.m. -- Route 110 ramp from Washington Boulevard to Route 110
4:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. -- Boundary Channel Drive from Route 110 to Long Bridge Drive
5 a.m.–1:30 p.m. -- Jefferson Drive SW from 3rd Street SW to 15th Street SW
5 a.m.–1:30 p.m. -- 7th Street NW from Madison Drive NW to Jefferson Drive SW
6:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. -- Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW (northbound) to Beach Drive
6:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. -- Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW (southbound) from Shoreham Drive NW
6:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. -- Shoreham Drive NW (southbound) from Calvert Street to Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW 6:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. -- Beach Drive NW from Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW to Calvert Street
7:23 a.m.–9:15 a.m. -- Lee Highway (eastbound) from North Kirkwood Street to Lynn Street
7:30 a.m.–9:25 a.m. -- Spout Run Parkway, from Lee Highway to George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP)
7:30 a.m.–9:40 a.m. -- GWMP from Spout Run to Key Bridge off ramp 1
7:30 a.m.–3 p.m. -- Long Bridge Drive from 12th Street to Boundary Channel Drive
7:33 a.m.–9:40 a.m. -- Francis Scott Key Bridge (all lanes)
7:35 a.m.–1:17 p.m. -- 14th Street SW from Jefferson Drive to northbound HOV lanes
7:35 a.m.–1:45 p.m. -- HOV lanes from 14th Street SW to HOV ramp at South Eads Street
7:40 a.m.–2 p.m. -- South Eads Street from South Rotary Road to Army Navy Drive
7:45 a.m.–2:30 p.m. -- Army Navy Drive from South Eads to 12th Street South
7:47 a.m.–10:36 a.m. -- M Street NW from Canal Road NW to Wisconsin Avenue NW
7:48 a.m.–10:40 a.m. -- Wisconsin Avenue from M Street NW to K Street NW
7:49 a.m.–10:45 a.m. -- K Street NW from Wisconsin Avenue NW to Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW
7:49 a.m.–10:45 a.m. -- 27th Street NW from K Street NW to I Street NW
7:49 a.m.–10:45 a.m. -- I Street NW from 27th Street NW to Virginia Ave NW
7:50 a.m.–11:04 a.m. -- Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW from Beach and Shoreham Drives to Independence Avenue
7:52 a.m.–11:05 p.m. -- Lincoln Circle from 23rd Street NW to 23rd Street SW
7:53 a.m.–12 p.m. -- Ohio Drive SW at West Potomac Park from Independence Avenue SW around East Potomac Park to Maine Avenue SW
8 a.m.–10 a.m. -- 15th Street South from Crystal Drive to Eads Street
8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. -- 12th Street from Army Navy Drive to Crystal Drive
8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. -- Crystal Drive from 12th Street to 23rd Street 8:02 a.m.–12:10 p.m. -- Maine Avenue SW from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue SW
8:03 a.m.–12:25 p.m. -- East Basin Drive from Maine Avenue to Ohio Drive
8:06 a.m.–12:28 p.m. -- Independence Avenue SW from Maine Avenue SW to Ohio Drive
8:13 a.m.–12:35 p.m. -- 15th Street NW/SW from Constitution Avenue NW to Maine Avenue SW
8:15 a.m.–12:55 p.m. -- 3rd Street; Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Maryland Avenue SW
8:15 a.m.–12:55 p.m. -- 4th Street; Constitution Avenue NW to Independence SW
8:16 a.m.–12:50 p.m. -- Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 3rd Street NW to East Capitol Circle
8:16 a.m.–12:50 p.m. -- 1st Street; Pennsylvania NW to Maryland Avenue SW 2 MCM road closures continued
8:16 a.m.–12:50 p.m. -- Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 3rd Street NW to 1st Street NW
8:17 a.m.–12:52 p.m. -- Maryland Avenue SW from 1st Street SW to 3rd Street SW

Additional Information
For more about the Marine Corps Marathon visit www.marinemarathon.com

 

D.C. Resident Cited for Illegal Drone Operation Near Washington Monument
      

WASHINGTON – At 1:20 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9 the United States Park Police and United States Secret Service responded to an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), or drone, spotted flying in the vicinity of the Washington Monument. Flying any kind of UAS or drone anywhere in Washington, D.C. or in national parks is illegal.

Officers from both agencies made contact with the operator after the individual lost control of the drone and it landed on the Ellipse. The United State Park Police issued Howard Solomon III, from Washington, D.C., a citation and confiscated the drone and other equipment used to operate it.

United States Secret Service located the F182 6 Axis Quadcopter on the Ellipse, just inside the entrance at 16th St. and Constitution Ave. and turned it over to the United States Park Police.

Federal law prohibits flying all unmanned aircraft, more commonly called drones, in the heavily regulated Flight Restricted Zone around Washington, D.C., including from private property inside the FRZ. Additionally, launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircrafts is prohibited in all areas administered by the National Park Service. Know Before You Fly! To learn more visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/no_drone_zone/dc/.

This is the ninth incident involving illegal operation of an unmanned aircraft system in a Greater Washington area national park in 2015, and the 26^th since 2013.

###

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 408 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

About the United States Park Police: USPP supports the mission of the National Park Service by providing law enforcement to safeguard lives, protect national treasures and symbols of democracy, and preserve the natural and cultural resources entrusted to the care of the National Park Service. USPP officers are located in the Washington, New York, and San Francisco metropolitan areas. The force was created by President George Washington in 1791.

 

News Release - SWAT School

Temporary Closure of Billy Goat Trail Scheduled Oct 14 for Law Enforcement Training Exercise

WASHINGTON –The United States Park Police will be conducting exercises as part of their Basic SWAT School on Oct. 14 along the Billy Goat Trail at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. The Billy Goat Trail will be closed from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. for the training exercise. The closed section will be from the Angler’s Inn trail head to the emergency exit trail intersection. Billy Goat-A trail from the Great Falls trail head to the emergency exit trail will remain open to visitors.  Officers will be posted at trailheads and along the trail for public safety and to alert visitors.

The United States Park Police’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) has been in existence since 1975. This highly trained team is proficient with a variety of weapons including the submachine gun, assault rifle, sniper rifle, and less lethal weaponry. The SWAT Unit conducts high-risk search warrants for the USPP Narcotics and Vice Unit, as well as for allied Federal, State, and local agencies.
SWAT conducts basic SWAT schools, which are routinely attended by officers from outside departments. The physically and mentally challenging course is designed to take police officers and train them to handle high-risk situations working in a team environment.

News Release Landmark Music Festival

 

 

 

 

 

Road Closures, Logistics Announced for 

Landmark Music Festival

Washington – The National Park Service and the United States Park Police in cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement, public safety and transportation agencies, and event organizers have developed security, logistics and access plans for The Trust for the National Mall’s permitted Landmark Music Festival. The concert will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27 from 12 p.m. -10 p.m. in West Potomac Park. 

Road Closures

The following roads will be closed and off-limits

• West Basin Drive SW from Independence Avenue SW to Ohio Drive SW

Closed from 9:30 a.m. September 25 through 9 p.m. September 28

• Ohio Drive SW from 23rd Street SW to Inlet Bridge

Closed from 6 a.m. September 25 through 9 p.m. September 28

Getting There

There is no festival parking in West Potomac Park, and concert-goers are strongly advised to use public transportation. Foggy Bottom/GWU (23rd Street NW & I Street NW) and Smithsonian (12th Street SW & Independence Avenue SW) are the closest Metro stations; visit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website for more information.

Public Access

The entry point for the festival is located on West Basin Drive SW off of Independence Avenue SW and will open at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2015.

Security Screenings

All attendees, including general public and ticketed guests, are subject to a thorough security screening before entering the concert venue.  Please allow additional time for the security screening, as it is expected that lines may be long.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited at the concert:

• Coolers of any kind (exceptions may be made for medical use)
• Firearms
• Marijuana
• Chairs of any kind
• Alcohol or kegs of any kind
• Any and all professional audio recording equipment (at the screener’s discretion)
• Large professional detachable zoom lenses, stands, monopods, tripods, attachment sticks (selfie sticks) or other commercial photography equipment (at the screener’s discretion)
• Any and all professional video equipment. No video recording is allowed (at the screener’s discretion)
• Aerosol containers, including sunscreen and personal beauty products
• Drones or any other remote flying device
• Glass and metal containers of any kind
• Illegal and illicit substances of any kind
• Laser pointers
• Outside food or beverage (including alcohol) of any kind, except two factory sealed bottles of water (up to 1 liter each)
• Pets (except service animals)
• Professional radios or walkie-talkies (at the screener’s discretion)
• Selfie sticks
• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts or any personal motorized vehicles (wheelchairs and scooters for use by patrons with mobility disabilities are permitted)
• Tents, canopies or shade structures of any kind
• Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors are not allowed. No unauthorized solicitation and material including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, give-aways, samples, coolers with any messaging etc.
• Weapons or explosives of any kind
• Fireworks
• Large chains or spiked jewelry
• Bicycles inside festival grounds (free parking is available near festival entrance)
• Framed backpacks
• Hammocks
• Ladders
• Any item deemed inappropriate by security or U.S. Park Police

Concert Information

For information about the Landmark Music Festival, including ticketing, lineup and schedule for the show, visit www.landmarkfestival.org.

 

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Weather Notification for National Mall July 4th Celebration

The National Park Service and United States Park Police will be enacting our safe haven plan in anticipation of severe thunderstorms with 30 MPH wind gusts. Storm arrival is anticipated to arrive between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. Visitors may seek shelter in the following locations:

BUILDING NAME	ADDRESS
Air & Space	400-700 Jeff. Drive
Natural History	900-1200 Madison Drive
American History	1300-1400 Madison Drive
Hirshorn Museum	700-900 Jefferson Drive
Smithsonian Castile	10th and Jefferson Drive
Freer Art Museum	12 and Jefferson Drive
African Art Museum	Independence Ave and 10th
Ripley Center	Independence Ave and 10th
Sackler Gallery	Jefferson Drive and 10th
American Indian Museum	300 Jefferson Drive
Jefferson Memorial	East Basin Drive
Lincoln memorial	23rd and Independence
Survey Lodge	17th and Independence
Monument Lodge	15th betwn Madison/Jefferson
Dept. of Commerce	14th and Constitution
Dept. of Education	400 Maryland Avenue SW
Cohen Building	330 Independence Ave SW
Mellon Auditorium	1200 blk Constitution Ave
IRS Building	1111 Constitution Ave
Reagan Building	1300 Penn. Ave NW
GSA	1800 F Street NW
HHS(Health & Human Services)	200 Independence Ave SW
Holocaust Museum	15th and Independence Ave
Kennedy Center	2700 F Street
Women in Military Service	Ent. To ANC
Reagan National Airport	Main Terminal Building
Pentagon City Mall	Arlington VA
Union Station	50 Massachusetts Ave NE