SYNOPSIS 
On September 3, 2023, I took a report of a damaged engine cowling on an unoccupied homebuilt houseboat near Castle Rock on Lake Powell. 

NARRATIVE  
On September 3, 2023, I was on a call with Officer, when Glenn Canyon Dispatch notified me  of an incident that occurred involving a National Park Service (NPS) vessel and a personal vessel. Due to the fact of conflict of interest I was assigned the call to investigate the incident. I was given the location of the incident and would respond to the area after finishing up the call I was on. 

He and I located the involved vessel, a 1981 Homebuilt Houseboat (Vessel 1), at the time it was beached and anchored to shore with four (4) ropes. I met the owner of the houseboat. He explained that a Park Ranger just issued him a citation for Pin Anchoring. After being issued a citation he learned from witnesses that the Park Ranger was on his vacant houseboat prior to be contacted. He expressed his concern about Law Enforcement being on his vessel without his knowledge. I asked him about the damage to the vessel. he showed me the damage to his engine cowling. 

Looking over the damage, I noted that there was a significant crease in the fiberglass engine cowling. The damage continued to the fly wheel cover below the engine cowling. He explained that the crease was caused by raising the engine too high. He pointed to the railing that is on the stern deck of the vessel. I noted an aluminum hand rail that when around the outboard engine area. I confirmed that when the engine is raised to the max limit it will strike the handrail. Photos were taken of the damaged area.  

I asked him to fill out a witness statement of the events that took place. His wife, also filled out a witness statement. In speaking to the group, it became apparent that Vessel 1 was unoccupied during the incident and that they did not witness the NPS Ranger on their vessel. He was told about NPS Rangers being in the area of Vessel 1 by several day-users, who were no longer on scene. He was unable to identify the witness or had any previous knowledge of the witness. Both witness statements are attached to this report.  At the time they were unable to provide proof of insurance. My business card was left with him and asked to send me the insurance paperwork. 

We then cleared the scene and made our way back to the docks. 

At the docks I made contact with NPS Ranger via phone to get his side of the story. In talking to him, I learned that earlier in the day he noticed Vessel 1 beached on the shore near Castle Rock with two (2) Pin Anchors. He beached his patrol vessel away from Vessel 1 due to the how shallow the area was directly around Vessel 1. Once his patrol vessel was beach he walked over to Vessel 1 and announced his presence. At the time no one was around and he left the scene. Several hours later he returned to Vessel 1 to see if anyone was around. Once again Vessel 1 was unoccupied. Upon leaving the second time he made contact with Operator off the beach from Vessel 1 on a pleasure vessel. he issued the citation for Pin Anchoring from his patrol vessel and his pleasure vessel (away from Vessel 1). 

In talking to Officer at no point did he enter Vessel 1 or gained access to Vessel 1. He explained he activated his body camera for both contacts. I asked him to share his report for Pin Anchoring, along with his body camera footage. Upon completing his report, I will attached his statement in a supplement report to this BAR Report. 

FINDINGS
My findings show that on September 3rd, Operator, along with several other individuals left camp to travel up to Warm Creek Bay (Approx. 13:00), a one (1) hour boat trip (one-way).  During this time the camp and Vessel 1 was left unoccupied. NPS arrived at the camp the first time while he was gone and left the area. NPS made contact with him on the water after returning to Vessel 1 a second time. Both contacts NPS called dispatch to notify them of his interactions and is time stamped via radio logs. Once he came back to camp after receiving a citation he noticed the damage to the outboard engine. I feel this is not the case. 

I believe after receiving a citation, he removed the two (2) anchor pins in question and readjusted his houseboat (Vessel 1). After readjusting the position of the houseboat (Vessel 1) he raised the engine of the outboard motor and caused the damaged. I noted the engine in the down position during my investigation. During my interaction with the group and NPS it was apparent that everyone had been consuming alcohol. I could detect the odor of alcohol with each person from the group. Due to the time the incident occurred (~18:00) to the time I arrived on scene (~20:45), a long time had passed to further my investigation for impaired driving and alcohol could be a factor in this incident. Witnesses to seeing NPS Ranger on Vessel 1 were not present or did attempt to gather there information (Photos/Video) from the witnesses about the events that took place. 

A supplement report will be done once I receive NPS report and insurance information from him. 
-	End of Report.
Lake Powell
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