Though Yellowstone National Park is viewed as a tranquil and relaxing place, you can't be too careful around other visitors/NPS file
You just can't make up stories like this: A man armed with bear spray wrapped his face in toilet paper and then attacked a woman in a bathroom at Yellowstone National Park.
In the bathroom incident, the National Park Service says the man, Jackson B. Coombs, 30, hometown unavailable, assaulted two visitors last July in a restroom at the Mammoth Hotel cabins.
According to a Park Service release, "Coombs hid in a stall in the women’s bathroom, wrapped his face with toilet paper, then banged on the door of another stall where a woman had entered. He then began to punch the woman in the face and head, at one point grabbing her by the jaw. She was able to yell for help and her traveling companion entered the bathroom to help her. Upon entering, he was also assaulted by Coombs, who used bear spray on both victims."
Fortunately, a passerby came to their aid and was able to subdue Coombs until rangers arrived, the release said.
Coombs recently was handed a 6.5-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault, the Park Service said.
“The nature and circumstances of the unprovoked assault in this case are truly appalling,” said the U.S. Attorney for Wyoming who prosecuted the case. “I am sorry for the pain and emotional distress the victim of this senseless attack has had to endure, and thankful for the courage of those who heard the commotion and took action to subdue Coombs before he could inflict any further harm. I also appreciate our law enforcement partners in responding to the scene and assisting my office in bringing this case to justice.”
Upon completion of his prison sentence Coombs will be on supervised release for three years. He was also ordered to pay $2,199 in restitution plus a special assessment fee.
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Comments
Nothing said here about mental health help for the assailant. Definitely needed!
Not too concerned about his mental health. Just very happy that he's currently not walking the streets.
for the record...the passerby didn't subdue the assaisland...I did. "The traveling companion." The media gets things wrong all the time. I had already subdued him when my girlfriend asked someone to check on me. No one wanted to go in. Thankfully another veteran (I'm a veteran) came in and kept a watchful elye on Jackson Coombs so he couldn't claim something happened that didn't.
I one should ever feel afraid of something as simple as going to the bathroom.
Well Dan...seeing as though you weren't there...you also don't know that this guy has a history of violent crime. He had plenty of time to get his act cleaned up. He can now get the help he has so long needed compliments of taxpayers.
Glad you were nearby and able to come to aid. Sounds like a terribly unexpected and frightening experience.
Unfortunately, the information provided by the NPS didn't make your role entirely clear.