Law and Order in the Ozarks (Part CXXXV): "Illegal guide" abandons client who fell to his death

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported this week on the death of a hiker in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness area of Newton County.  The hiker, from Missouri, was in the company of an "illegal guide" when he fell to his death.  Here are some quotes from Bill Bowden's story, which explains why the guide was "illegal."  

An investigation is underway after a Springfield, Mo., man fell to his death Saturday in the Ponca Wilderness area of Buffalo National River, said Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler.

Brad Lee Thomas, 46, was hiking with a group near a rock formation known as the Eye of the Needle when he fell, Wheeler said.

Wheeler said Thomas was led into the area by an "illegal and unlicensed guide out of Bentonville." The same guide led someone into the area the previous Saturday, resulting in an injury, Wheeler said.

Here's a long quote from Sheriff Wheeler:   

This man brings people to the Buffalo River and other parts of Newton County and takes them into some of the most rugged terrain in the Ozarks.  It appears they don't always know what they are getting into. Just last Saturday, a person he was leading was injured and he left her in the woods. We responded with a full rescue team who put themselves in jeopardy to help her, just like they did with Mr. Thomas. They do it because they love it and have servants' hearts. But none of that never would have been necessary if this man had not led them into areas that was possibly beyond their preparation levels. Then to leave an injured 'client' is just absurd!

* * *  

This man has a responsibility to these people.  He takes their money then leads them places without any kind of license, insurance or emergency plan and when something goes wrong, he apparently bails on them.

The guide had neither insurance or a permit.   

A National Park Service official explains the need for a permit: 

Cassie Branstetter, branch chief of interpretation for the national park, said hiking guides must be permitted by the National Park Service if they charge a fee.

"If they're just taking some friends out, there's no permit required for that activity," she said.

Oddly, my most recent post in this series is also about "crime" on the Buffalo National River.