View Full Version : Authorities looking for a Appalachian Trail hiker
WhiteBlaze
01-16-2009, 22:11
Law enforcement authorities are looking for a former and possibly a current Appalachian Trail Hiker that goes by the name of "Crutch." His real name is Daniel Joseph Stearns.
He is wanted on charges that include theft in Florida, Iowa, and Colorado.
He is reported to be driving a red Toyota Camry with Florida tags.
He is known to frequent the Appalachian Trail and hostels and communities along the trail.
If you encounter this person please do not take matters in your own hands and contact Law Enforcement Authorities with this information.
He is approximately 6-6'1" tall, lean build, muscular, black or dark brown hair and brown eyes. His DOB is 11-02-1966.
This information has been confirmed and validated by the Chief Ranger for the Appalachian Trail, Ranger Todd Remaley.
sasquatch2014
01-16-2009, 22:26
looks like it is time to pick a new trail name.
Ron Haven
01-16-2009, 22:56
[quote=WhiteBlaze;760131]Law enforcement authorities are looking for a former and possibly a current Appalachian Trail Hiker that goes by the name of "Crutch." His real name is Daniel Joseph Stearns.
quote]This will give whiteblazers something to talk about.
generoll
01-16-2009, 23:59
is this guy currently hanging around the trail?
Serial 07
01-17-2009, 00:06
i hope they catch him...and it goes down smoothly...crutch is the supernova of douche baggery...
fiddlehead
01-17-2009, 00:17
What is he accused of?
Robbery?, indecent exposure? , loitering? murder? possesion?
prior record?
I'd don't think I'd like to see whiteblaze become a law enforcement venue. Just sayin.
What is he accused of?
Robbery?, indecent exposure? , loitering? murder? possesion?
prior record?
I'd don't think I'd like to see whiteblaze become a law enforcement venue. Just sayin.Crutch has been a problem child for sometime on the trail. I think it is cool that WB took the first steps in making the hiking communtiy aware of this problem. And he is wanted in three different states.
bigmac_in
01-17-2009, 01:08
What is he accused of?
Robbery?, indecent exposure? , loitering? murder? possesion?
prior record?
I'd don't think I'd like to see whiteblaze become a law enforcement venue. Just sayin.
Read the post - he is wanted for THEFT.
Caveman of Ohio
01-17-2009, 02:07
Is it the same Crutch that was bringing pop up to Rock Gap Shelter in 07? He was offering to give us a ride into Franklin.
Serial 07
01-17-2009, 02:14
probably...he was around franklin for a while in 2007...
I met him in 2006 in Franklin. I heard later he had ripped off a few people and stole a car.
Well, the beat goes on. Glad we are predominately honest folks just slugging out this wonderful life.
Mrs Baggins
01-17-2009, 05:42
Met him at Cloud 9 in 2007. He seemed to hang out there a lot to "help out the owners." Told me he was on his 7th thru-hike. Seemed like a nice guy and that's probably how he gets away with it.
generoll
01-17-2009, 09:00
yeah, but is he hanging around the trail now? and if so, where?
Last April he was working at Cloud 9 hostel in Hiawassee, GA. I took him to dinner, (he drove), at the Boat House resturarant. I don't know about a criminal record but in my opinion and others, he is a "blow-hard" braggart who thinks he's a ladies man and also thinks he is the hiking guru. My good hiking friend Kabeer Singh a.k.a. Bad Hummus and I pegged him right off. I think a lot of other hikers did too.
Happy Hiking. :sun
I'd don't think I'd like to see whiteblaze become a law enforcement venue. Just sayin. This thread is an alert containing information confirmed and validated by AT Chief Ranger Todd Remaley. I view it as a public notice directed at an audience that could use the info to enhance their own safety. Obviously this fellow is considered to be a possible threat to hikers and businesses along the AT. I welcome such notices providing the source is reputable.
turtle fast
01-17-2009, 13:34
I meet Crutch at the Fontana Hilton on my 08 hike, he and Colonel Mustard were camped there a few days before for the Bluegrass festival at the Fontana Village and helped with the Mini Cooper convention while waiting. They fought a wildfire that had threatened several buildings at Fontana Village sparked by a dropped powerline.
Crutch liked to tell alot of tall tales like he had co-owned a microbrewery with his brother in Colorado and sold it. Also proclaimed himself to be a ladys man..... We saw thru him...it was obvious...
I'd don't think I'd like to see whiteblaze become a law enforcement venue.
People who value the A.T. have an interest in who uses it and how they conduct themselves. It was meant to be a place where one could obtain relief from the ills of society in the good company of one's family, friends and other like-minded individuals. To not take an interest in who uses it and how they conduct themselves may fall short of aiding and abetting, but it's a path which leads to the same outcome.
It's not likely the A.T. will ever be a place the lawless find completely unattractive since it may have a particular appeal to such persons, not only because it may seem a place where their actions are wrongly thought less apt to be scrutinized but also because those who frequent it may be thought to be less guarded and thus more vulnerable to exploitation. This is all the more reason why it is proper to discuss normative behavior and what exceeds the limits of acceptable behavior.
There are appropriate ways for people to become involved. What's in the best interest of WhiteBlaze, individual A.T. enthusiasts and law enforcement to be posting here is something worthy of careful consideration.
ATC provides information on their website regarding how to go about contacting law enforcement authorities. I believe it was recently linked here by lauriep. This might be an appropriate time to relink it. Someone else may have more time to devote to locating this information than I do right now.
Can anyone post a picture of him?
If its the same "Crutch" just type in his name on trailjournals website and several pictures of him are availabe. I met him last Mar/Apr on my NC section hike; seemed to like to talk a lot but I tented and he was staying in Wayah Bald shelter so I had little contact with him.
You can go to photo's here and type in his name on the search engine and you will see several pics of him........
ATC provides information on their website regarding how to go about contacting law enforcement authorities. I believe it was recently linked here by lauriep. This might be an appropriate time to relink it. Someone else may have more time to devote to locating this information than I do right now.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45096
OldStormcrow
01-17-2009, 16:49
yeah, but is he hanging around the trail now? and if so, where?
Well, I suppose if anybody knew the answer to that they would have arrested him already, thus rendering this thread moot.....
saimyoji
01-17-2009, 18:06
I may be wrong, and don't have the time to go searching for the thread, but didn't Jack Tarlin mention something about this guy a little while ago? Maybe Jack knows something he could help the rangers out with.
Jack Tarlin
01-17-2009, 18:22
No, I most certainly did NOT mention anything about this guy earlier. I made one comment that I didn't like to see anonymous rumors posted about other hikers. On the other hand, if folks have legitimate concerns, they should be passed on to the correct authorities, either to the ATC or to the law enforcement people in charge of safety on the Trail.
Sometimes, Trail rumors and scuttlebutt have some truth to them. But often, they don't. If one has legitimate concerns about a hiker, especially if they feel that public safety is threatened, then they should by all means report this. But anonymous Internet posts about people, or implying that so-and-so is a scumbag, or so and so is a douche, or whatever the case may be, well this is kind of distastful. If one wants to report criminal activity but one doesn't want to do it publicly or one doesn't want to be associated with the announcement, fine. Then bring your concerns to the correct person and correct place. But to publicly slag folks on the Internet under pseudonyms is generally not the best way to go.
saimyoji
01-17-2009, 18:29
Sorry, Jack...I must have confused you with someone else. :o
Can anyone post a picture of him?Here is a picture of Crutch (http://www.appalachiantrailservices.com/pics/kodak/100_0074_700.jpg) on the right.
No, I most certainly did NOT mention anything about this guy earlier. I made one comment that I didn't like to see anonymous rumors posted about other hikers. On the other hand, if folks have legitimate concerns, they should be passed on to the correct authorities, either to the ATC or to the law enforcement people in charge of safety on the Trail.
Sometimes, Trail rumors and scuttlebutt have some truth to them. But often, they don't. If one has legitimate concerns about a hiker, especially if they feel that public safety is threatened, then they should by all means report this. But anonymous Internet posts about people, or implying that so-and-so is a scumbag, or so and so is a douche, or whatever the case may be, well this is kind of distastful. If one wants to report criminal activity but one doesn't want to do it publicly or one doesn't want to be associated with the announcement, fine. Then bring your concerns to the correct person and correct place. But to publicly slag folks on the Internet under pseudonyms is generally not the best way to go.
Well said.....;)