National Park Service To Arrest Service Disabled Veteran Owner After He Discloses He Suffers From PTSD
“PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have seen or lived through a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
“It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.“Not every traumatized person develops ongoing (chronic) or even short-term (acute) PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Symptoms must last more than a month to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.”Above PTSD narrative courtesy National Institutes of Health.
If you are a Disabled Veteran suffering from PTSD you should take caution before revealing this Disability to the Washington DC area National Parks Services. Doing so could get you arrested.
As any Disabled Veteran knows, the VA mental health program encourages Disabled Veterans to discuss and make those around them aware when they suffer from PTSD. The Federal Government strongly promotes its understanding and commitment towards working with and helping our Nation’s Veterans especiallythose suffering from mental illness. In fact, in the heart of our country, Washington DC, the National Parks Service (NPS) strenuously promotes its understanding, compassion, and efforts to not only hire Veterans with Disabilities, but it “Prides itself in contracting with Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)”. They further promote their internal and on-going training practices so that its Command Leadership conducts itself with the utmost respect and compassion to our Nation’s Veterans.
On April 25th, 2016 a meeting was conducted on-site at the Rock Creek National Park in DC with NPS Contracting and Engineering Officials. The purpose of this meeting, in part, was to address on-going abusive conduct by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Mohammed Saraira. At the commencement of this meeting the Disabled Veteran repeated the same overview given months earlier at the Pre-Construction Meeting explaining the severity of his PTSD. At no point during the two hour meeting did anyone indicate that the Disabled Veteran had made any statements or implied anything perceived to be hostile towards anyone. Conversely, the COR was repeatedly belligerent and intentionally confrontational including repeatedly making menacing gestures and pointing aggressively, while moving towards the Disabled Veteran. Regardless of NPS Officials repeatedly telling the COR to “Calm down and cease your attacks” he was relentless in his efforts to agitate. It became abundantly clear his intention was to force a confrontational or physical reaction. As anyone can understand that the emotional toll is and remains devastating.
Regardless of the combative nature of the COR all parties involved felt the meeting was productive and concluded in a cordial manner. Nothing was even implied of any form of impropriety or cause for concern by the Disabled Veteran. Days after the meeting the COR, Mohammed Saraira, along with his boss, Mike McMahon, who was not present at the meeting, filed a criminal complaint against the Service Disabled Veteran Owner for simply stating that he has PTSD. We were not aware of this complaint until several days later when the COR and Mr. McMahon showed up at the work site with two armed NPS Police Officers and confronted the Supervisor and another employee who is a Disabled United States Marine Veteran, and who, like the owner, also suffers from PTSD. The mere presence of these officers alone was brutally intimidating, as the COR and Mr. McMahon refused to explain why two Federal Law Enforcement agents were present while they were asking questions about planting grass and raking top soil. It was later learned the reason for multiple law enforcement personnel being present was that they were, “Looking for the owner.” It became clear to all involved the intent was to make an arrest.
Shortly after NPS law enforcement and COR’s on-site questioning, the owner of the SDVOSB was contacted by a Lieutenant from the National Parks Police. He made it crystal clear that he was “investigating” statements of PTSD and weapons. He went on to make it clear that the COR, Mohammed Saraira, had reported to NPS Police that the Disabled Veteran used phrases and terminology to include “Fire Arms” during the April 25th meeting. He further stated that Mohammed was the only person who reported these egregious lies. The Lieutenant made it clear and repeatedly stated, “the possession of unregistered fire arms in the DC parks is a criminal act.” The Lieutenant admitted no one else at the meeting had even been questioned or asked if anything along those lines was even implied, let alone stated. When asked who else had reported or confirmed these false statements and allegations to the Lieutenant or his investigators, the Lieutenant made it clear; “Nobody other than Mohammed.”
The facts here are very simple. If you are a Disabled Veteran suffering from PTSD, and you have the courage to get out into the community and actually believe the Government’s position that they support Veterans with Disabilities, namely PTSD, you are going to find an incredibly dangerous group of people who will use this against you to gain advantages, slander your efforts, and aggressively involve law enforcement to intimidate, coerce, threaten, and terrify those it claims it is here to help.
When this and other abusive actions by the COR were presented to the Contracting Officer Rolando “Rocky” Newton, his intentions were made clear that he would not and did not consider anything the COR was doing to be improper. He further refused to report this to the authorities or to the Chain of Command. Instead he justified the COR’s actions and allows it to continue to this day.
The Federal Official representing the National Parks Service, Mohammed Saraira, and the Contracting Officer, Rocky Newton, are now trying to sweep this under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen. Making false statements to Federal Law Enforcement is a crime in and of itself. Having the title of Contracting Officer’s Representative, which is backed by the full power of the United States Government, and abusing that power by presenting false statements to law enforcement forces them to respond without a single corroborating witness or other shred of evidence that even implies, “Fire Arms, Weapons, or anything of that nature” being presented. That a Disabled Veteran with PTSD will cause some kind of harm because he openly and respectfully explained the devastating conditions we suffer with PTSD, while repeatedly asking him to be “non-confrontational” in what was a business setting. This forces law enforcement to respond and pursue the allegations by all means necessary and Federal Officials use this as a source of power to not only abuse the system, but to terrify anyone who dares to challenge his position, authority, or accountability.
If not for the sheer efforts, records, and detailed documents to prove Mohammed Saraira was a flat out liar this owner would have been arrested. I caution all my fellow Veterans to be incredibly careful with even saying or using the phrase, “PTSD” as the outcome could be far worse than the defense I had to mount to avoid wrongful incarceration. What can’t be done is to un-ring the bell. Those of us who suffer from PTSD fully understand the increased terror and nightmares we must live with when people like Mohammed attack us for personal gain. I now must avoid going to our National Parks as it remains unknown if my name is on some “list” to be arrested on site. Isn’t this what we all swore as an oath to protect and defend against?
This event appears in VLM because of the stereotypical misunderstanding of PTSD and its associated stigma. In this case, a service disabled veteran small business owner was on the receiving end of this social stigma and human carelessness
National Park Services Reviews
National Park Service To Arrest Service Disabled Veteran Owner After He Discloses He Suffers From PTSD
“PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have seen or lived through a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
“It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.“Not every traumatized person develops ongoing (chronic) or even short-term (acute) PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Symptoms must last more than a month to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.”Above PTSD narrative courtesy National Institutes of Health.
If you are a Disabled Veteran suffering from PTSD you should take caution before revealing this Disability to the Washington DC area National Parks Services. Doing so could get you arrested.
As any Disabled Veteran knows, the VA mental health program encourages Disabled Veterans to discuss and make those around them aware when they suffer from PTSD. The Federal Government strongly promotes its understanding and commitment towards working with and helping our Nation’s Veterans especiallythose suffering from mental illness. In fact, in the heart of our country, Washington DC, the National Parks Service (NPS) strenuously promotes its understanding, compassion, and efforts to not only hire Veterans with Disabilities, but it “Prides itself in contracting with Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)”. They further promote their internal and on-going training practices so that its Command Leadership conducts itself with the utmost respect and compassion to our Nation’s Veterans.
On April 25th, 2016 a meeting was conducted on-site at the Rock Creek National Park in DC with NPS Contracting and Engineering Officials. The purpose of this meeting, in part, was to address on-going abusive conduct by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Mohammed Saraira. At the commencement of this meeting the Disabled Veteran repeated the same overview given months earlier at the Pre-Construction Meeting explaining the severity of his PTSD. At no point during the two hour meeting did anyone indicate that the Disabled Veteran had made any statements or implied anything perceived to be hostile towards anyone. Conversely, the COR was repeatedly belligerent and intentionally confrontational including repeatedly making menacing gestures and pointing aggressively, while moving towards the Disabled Veteran. Regardless of NPS Officials repeatedly telling the COR to “Calm down and cease your attacks” he was relentless in his efforts to agitate. It became abundantly clear his intention was to force a confrontational or physical reaction. As anyone can understand that the emotional toll is and remains devastating.
Regardless of the combative nature of the COR all parties involved felt the meeting was productive and concluded in a cordial manner. Nothing was even implied of any form of impropriety or cause for concern by the Disabled Veteran. Days after the meeting the COR, Mohammed Saraira, along with his boss, Mike McMahon, who was not present at the meeting, filed a criminal complaint against the Service Disabled Veteran Owner for simply stating that he has PTSD. We were not aware of this complaint until several days later when the COR and Mr. McMahon showed up at the work site with two armed NPS Police Officers and confronted the Supervisor and another employee who is a Disabled United States Marine Veteran, and who, like the owner, also suffers from PTSD. The mere presence of these officers alone was brutally intimidating, as the COR and Mr. McMahon refused to explain why two Federal Law Enforcement agents were present while they were asking questions about planting grass and raking top soil. It was later learned the reason for multiple law enforcement personnel being present was that they were, “Looking for the owner.” It became clear to all involved the intent was to make an arrest.
Shortly after NPS law enforcement and COR’s on-site questioning, the owner of the SDVOSB was contacted by a Lieutenant from the National Parks Police. He made it crystal clear that he was “investigating” statements of PTSD and weapons. He went on to make it clear that the COR, Mohammed Saraira, had reported to NPS Police that the Disabled Veteran used phrases and terminology to include “Fire Arms” during the April 25th meeting. He further stated that Mohammed was the only person who reported these egregious lies. The Lieutenant made it clear and repeatedly stated, “the possession of unregistered fire arms in the DC parks is a criminal act.” The Lieutenant admitted no one else at the meeting had even been questioned or asked if anything along those lines was even implied, let alone stated. When asked who else had reported or confirmed these false statements and allegations to the Lieutenant or his investigators, the Lieutenant made it clear; “Nobody other than Mohammed.”
The facts here are very simple. If you are a Disabled Veteran suffering from PTSD, and you have the courage to get out into the community and actually believe the Government’s position that they support Veterans with Disabilities, namely PTSD, you are going to find an incredibly dangerous group of people who will use this against you to gain advantages, slander your efforts, and aggressively involve law enforcement to intimidate, coerce, threaten, and terrify those it claims it is here to help.
When this and other abusive actions by the COR were presented to the Contracting Officer Rolando “Rocky” Newton, his intentions were made clear that he would not and did not consider anything the COR was doing to be improper. He further refused to report this to the authorities or to the Chain of Command. Instead he justified the COR’s actions and allows it to continue to this day.
The Federal Official representing the National Parks Service, Mohammed Saraira, and the Contracting Officer, Rocky Newton, are now trying to sweep this under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen. Making false statements to Federal Law Enforcement is a crime in and of itself. Having the title of Contracting Officer’s Representative, which is backed by the full power of the United States Government, and abusing that power by presenting false statements to law enforcement forces them to respond without a single corroborating witness or other shred of evidence that even implies, “Fire Arms, Weapons, or anything of that nature” being presented. That a Disabled Veteran with PTSD will cause some kind of harm because he openly and respectfully explained the devastating conditions we suffer with PTSD, while repeatedly asking him to be “non-confrontational” in what was a business setting. This forces law enforcement to respond and pursue the allegations by all means necessary and Federal Officials use this as a source of power to not only abuse the system, but to terrify anyone who dares to challenge his position, authority, or accountability.
If not for the sheer efforts, records, and detailed documents to prove Mohammed Saraira was a flat out liar this owner would have been arrested. I caution all my fellow Veterans to be incredibly careful with even saying or using the phrase, “PTSD” as the outcome could be far worse than the defense I had to mount to avoid wrongful incarceration. What can’t be done is to un-ring the bell. Those of us who suffer from PTSD fully understand the increased terror and nightmares we must live with when people like Mohammed attack us for personal gain. I now must avoid going to our National Parks as it remains unknown if my name is on some “list” to be arrested on site. Isn’t this what we all swore as an oath to protect and defend against?
This event appears in VLM because of the stereotypical misunderstanding of PTSD and its associated stigma. In this case, a service disabled veteran small business owner was on the receiving end of this social stigma and human carelessness