Ranger Makes Significant Drug Arrest

Ranger trainee Walker Gusse was participating in a traffic safety checkpoint on May 26th with field training ranger John Hearne when he saw a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker – and some overly nervous occupants. During further screening, the passenger admitted to possessing marijuana.  A search of the passenger led to the discovery of several precursors for methamphetamine production, and he admitted that he had the items because of his intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The local narcotics task force was contacted and interviewed the man further. He was found to be a local methamphetamine “cook” (manufacturer), who’d only been known previously by his street name. The man had been a target of interest for some time. Gusse and Hearne participated in the follow-up investigation, which yielded additional evidence of methamphetamine production. This was one of 29 arrests in which Gusse was involved during his 11 weeks of field training. Gusse also generated three arrests while serving as a plainclothes officer working a disorderly conduct (public sexual misconduct) detail and made eight arrests for OUI. Other notable arrests during his tenure in the park included a suspect in possession of two pounds of marijuana and a separate felony case for possession of methamphetamine (made with ranger Jay Drinkwater). While working with ranger Jerome Timmons, Gusse was also involved in a foot chase and taser deployment for a man who fled from a vehicle during a traffic stop and was subsequently charged with seven violations, including possession of a controlled substance.