Post by Okwes on Jul 24, 2007 8:48:45 GMT -5
Feds Seize Indian Artifacts from Collectors
Don Parker said he carefully avoids
public land when searching for indian artifacts
A father and son in Folsom are suspected of possessing Indian artifacts
plundered from public land in California and Nevada.
A law enforcement team led by a National Park Service ranger served a
federal search warrant at the home of Don Parker and his son Steve last
weekend.
According to court records, authorities seized scores of items,
including jewelry and arrowheads believed to have been taken from
federal land in Northern California and Nevada.
The search also turned up mortars and metate, known as grinding stones,
believed to have been taken from the American River Parkway.
"I was surprised at the volume of things there," said Sacramento County
Park Ranger Steve Flannery, who took part in the search.
Contacted at his home, Don Parker told News10 he doesn't believe he did
anything wrong. Parker, 68, is a retired PG&E engineer.
"I have maps," Parker said. "And I tried to stay on private property to
collect these things."
Investigators were led to the Folsom home by a tip from Steve Parker's
ex-girlfriend.
In seeking the search warrant, National Park Service Ranger Todd Swain
said there's probable cause to believe Don and Steve Parker are guilty
of the unlawful tranportation of archaeological resources and theft of
government property.
Neither man has been charged with a crime. The U.S. Attorney's office
told News10 the investigation is continuing.
Don Parker said if he made any mistakes, they were honest mistakes and
he hoped the government will ultimately return the artifacts.
"There are some things if they decide it's theirs, then that's the way
it is," Parker said.
"And if they decide it's mine, I'd really like to get it back."
Don Parker said he carefully avoids
public land when searching for indian artifacts
A father and son in Folsom are suspected of possessing Indian artifacts
plundered from public land in California and Nevada.
A law enforcement team led by a National Park Service ranger served a
federal search warrant at the home of Don Parker and his son Steve last
weekend.
According to court records, authorities seized scores of items,
including jewelry and arrowheads believed to have been taken from
federal land in Northern California and Nevada.
The search also turned up mortars and metate, known as grinding stones,
believed to have been taken from the American River Parkway.
"I was surprised at the volume of things there," said Sacramento County
Park Ranger Steve Flannery, who took part in the search.
Contacted at his home, Don Parker told News10 he doesn't believe he did
anything wrong. Parker, 68, is a retired PG&E engineer.
"I have maps," Parker said. "And I tried to stay on private property to
collect these things."
Investigators were led to the Folsom home by a tip from Steve Parker's
ex-girlfriend.
In seeking the search warrant, National Park Service Ranger Todd Swain
said there's probable cause to believe Don and Steve Parker are guilty
of the unlawful tranportation of archaeological resources and theft of
government property.
Neither man has been charged with a crime. The U.S. Attorney's office
told News10 the investigation is continuing.
Don Parker said if he made any mistakes, they were honest mistakes and
he hoped the government will ultimately return the artifacts.
"There are some things if they decide it's theirs, then that's the way
it is," Parker said.
"And if they decide it's mine, I'd really like to get it back."