July 2023 Ranger Blotter
Enforcement
Violations: 162
Reports (10 total)
5x Vandalism / Defacement
1x Possession / Discharging Weapon
1x Burglary
Fire
Reports (3 total)
2x Active Fire
1x Report Only
Medical
Reports (12 total)
6x Injury Accident
4x Non-Injury Accident
Misc.
Reports
1x Road Hazard / Traffic Control
1x Animal Incident
1x Search & Rescue
Report Summaries
On July 2, a ranger was flagged down by a motorist reporting an accident that had occurred on Highway 9. The ranger found a solo vehicle accident, requested California Highway Patrol (CHP) to respond, and conducted traffic control. The drive sustained a bloody nose and the passenger was uninjured. Both refused medical assessment. A CHP officer responded and the vehicle was towed away.
On July 3, a communications contractor reported that a lock on a Midpen gate in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve had been removed and that there was damage to the locking mechanism. A ranger responded, replaced the lock, and document the damage.
On July 8 at 10:40 p.m., rangers, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Deputies, and CalFire searched for a lost hiker in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. The hiker separated from her friends when she was unable to keep up with them. Responders checked all roads and trails in the area and Santa Cruz County Search and Rescue volunteers arrived at the scene. At 2:52 a.m., the hiker was located at home in Santa Cruz.
On July 9, a four-vehicle accident occurred on Skyline Boulevard near El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve in San Mateo County. A Midpen ranger was first on scene and provided initial scene security, medical triage, and traffic control. Upon arrival, San Mateo County Fire Department treated all patients, took over the scene security, and provided traffic control. Two patients were transported to the hospital via ground ambulance and the remaining fire patients were treated and/or released on scene by Fire personnel.
On July 13, a ranger responded to a report of a vehicle fire on Mount Umunhum Road that spread into the wildland in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. The fire was extinguished and two patients were transported to the hospital with burn injuries. Approximately 0 .63 acres of Midpen land was burned.
On July 13, a ranger responded to a cycling accident that occurred adjacent to St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve on City of Los Gatos property. The patient was evaluated by Santa Clara County Fire Department and paramedics, and was transported to a hospital by a family member.
On July 17, a ranger responded to a visitor who fainted while hiking on the Permanente Creek Trail in Rancho San Antonio County Park. The patient was evaluated and treated by Mid pen Rangers and Santa Clara County Fire Department. The patient was transported home by a family member.
On July 17, a vehicle accident occurred in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. A visitor pushed the accelerator instead of the brake and ran into a split rail fence. The driver then drove to the Skyline Field Office and reported the accident to a ranger and called a tow for their vehicle that was not driving correctly after the accident. A tow truck arrived at the office that afternoon.
On July 20, a ranger observed gate SA06 on Mount Umunhum Road malfunctioning. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the keypad was torn off. The gate has since been repaired and is back in operation.
On July 22, a ranger responded to a hiking accident on the Coyote Trail in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. One patient was located with minor injuries to the face from a fall. The patient was transported to the trail head by a ranger and evaluated by Santa Clara County Fire Department. The patient refused further medical care and left the preserve by personal vehicle.
On July 22, a ranger responded to an auto burglary in Rancho San Antonio County Park in lot 5 . The victim stated that a wallet with credit cards and their iPhone was missing from the vehicle. Information was gathered from the victim for an incident report and they were instructed to contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
On July 25, rangers responded to a drowning incident at Stevens Creek Reservoir in Stevens Creek County Park. Santa Clara County Parks requested Mid pen ranger mutual aid response due to their extended response time. The responding units were unable to locate the subject and it was assumed that the person was deceased. Midpen staff were released after other emergency responders arrived on scene and were waiting for a dive team response to recover the body.
On July 27, a ranger responded to a vehicle accident that occurred on Hicks Road in the unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. Two patients were evaluated by rangers and the San Jose Fire Department before being transported to the hospital. The involved vehicle was not operational and was towed by California Highway Patrol.
On July 28, while patrolling the perimeter of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, a ranger encountered cattle blocking Highway 84 approximately 0.75 miles west of the intersection with Peek A Boo Lane. The rancher was identified by markings on the cattle and was contacted to secure the cattle. The ranger secured Highway 84 from the cattle until the Rancher arrived.
On July 29, a ranger responded to a fire along Hicks Road adjacent to the Rancho De Guadalupe area of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. The San Jose Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. The burn area was a line approximately 200-feet in length along Hicks Road and was stopped by a disc line just inside the roadside fence line.
On July 29, a ranger responded to an injured hiker with a broken wrist in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. The hiker was transported off trail by the ranger to meet the Palo Alto Fire Department for medical services. The patient was released and transported to the hospital by their spouse.
On July 29, a ranger contacted a person flying a drone over Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve, which is a violation of Midpen ordinance. While confirming the person had a valid driver's license, dispatch advised the ranger the person had a no-bail warrant for a previous Driving While Under the Influence (DUI) and alerted the Sheriff's Office. A second ranger responded and the person was issued a written warning for the model craft violation before Sheriff's Office deputies arrived and took them into custody for the warrant.
On July 29, a ranger observed graffiti present on multiple wooden signposts and a wooden signboard at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. The ranger documented and removed the graffiti.
On July 30, a ranger was notified by Volunteer Trail Patrol (VTP) of obstacles that were placed on a trail to obstruct the passage of and potentially injure mountain bikers in El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. The ranger contacted the volunteer, gathered information, and advised a supervisor. The volunteer cleared the obstructions as he found them. The ranger alerted all the VTP registered to patrol the preserve to request VTP look for and report any similar activities.
