Law enforcement park rangers at Canyonlands National Park seek information from the public to help identify suspects involved in an archeological theft incident at Cave Spring Cowboy Camp in the Needles district of the park, according to a statement released by Karen Garthwait, public information officer for the Southeast Utah Group of National Parks and Monuments.
In a video recorded at the archeological site, the pair, apparently a man and woman, entered a signed-as-closed area, removed artifacts from a cabinet, and handled historic harnesses in a manner that had the potential to damage them, wrote Garthwait.
“Information from visitors is very helpful to investigators,” she wrote. “Law enforcement park rangers are asking the public for help. If you were in the area of Cave Spring Cowboy Camp at approximately 5:30 p.m. on March 23 … or if you have information that could help identify the suspects, please contact investigators. Tips can be anonymous.”
Call or text the National Park Service-wide tip line at 888-653-0009, submit a tip online at www.nps.gov/SubmitATip or email CANYINFO@nps.gov.
“National parks are some of the most special, treasured and protected areas of our country. To protect their natural and cultural resources for this and future generations, all visitors to national parks are expected to follow park laws and regulations and practice Leave No Trace principles to minimize their impact on park lands,” reads the statement.
-Doug McMurdo
This story was first published by The Times-Independent.