An internal investigation into a ranger who "tased" a Native American visitor at Petroglyph National Monument determined that he acted appropriately. The individual who was tased was cited for going off trail, providing false information, and failing to obey the ranger.
“The National Park Service remains committed to respecting the rights and dignity of every individual. This incident provided a learning experience for us to build on how we incorporate Tribal and Pueblo perspectives in our everyday work,” said National Park Service Regional Director Mike Reynolds in a statement issued Friday. “In the months ahead, we will be working with the Pueblo and Tribal communities to develop ways to better coordinate use of the area for ceremonial and religious purposes.”
The incident occurred December 27 when the unidentified ranger approached the man and his female companion to ask them to return to the marked trail they had left because they were "off trail on rocks containing petroglyphs," according to the Park Service.
"This is not a big deal, this is a simple warning," said the ranger, whose body camera captured the interaction.
While the ranger explained that it was his job to protect the monument because it is considered sacred to tribes, and noted that there had been past issues with graffiti, the man responded that, "We don't do that."
The ranger told the couple that he just needed their names so he could check to see if they previously had been warned about going off trail in the monument, but the man said he wasn't going to provide that information. His companion did provide their names, which the National Park Service later said were fictitious.
"You don't need my identification, sir," the man told the ranger. "Native Americans and the goverment and the law don't mesh well, you know that."
The man, who later identified himself to news reporters as Darrell House, walked away while the ranger contacted the monument's dispatch center to run a check on the names he was given. When the ranger caught up to the couple, who were now back on a trail, the man again refused to answer the ranger's questions.
"So, let me get this straight, you'd like to escalate this contact by refusing to identify yourself, and then in which case you're going to be detained until I can ID you?" the ranger asked.
As the man walked away, the ranger followed him, asking that he stop or he risked being "tased." The ranger then asked the man to give his small dog to his companion.
"My dog ain't going anywhere," replied the man, who had picked up the small dog.
"Sir, please give her the dog," the ranger said.
"My dog ain't going anywhere," the man again replied.
"OK, here's what I need you to do. Stop right now sir. Stop walking. Stop walking or you may be tased. Stop walking," the ranger said.
While the man stood holding his dog, the ranger could be seen aiming his Taser at the man. The man refused to give his companion the dog and started yelling "help," at which point the ranger shot him with the stun gun.
The Park Service investigation "determined that the law enforcement ranger's actions were consistent with agency policy and appropriate given the totality of the circumstances, including policy to preserve the significant cultural resources of the petroglyphs," the statement issued Friday said. Additionally, it noted that the Park Service "has worked to renew its commitment to Tribal engagement and is drawing on community partnerships to strengthen collaboration and cultural awareness within and outside of the monument."
With input from local Pueblos and Tribes, the Park Service is working to implement a plan to strengthen protection of the sensitive cultural resources found in the park through a designated trail system.
Park staff also recently met with representatives from the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, a long-term partner of the park, to identify ways to improve incorporation of Pueblo and Tribal work crews, youth and families into park programming and projects.
The National Park Service has also sought cultural awareness training for its employees and expert guidance from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and will continue to pursue future opportunities with the City of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division and Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
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Comments
That must have been a total bummer for the Ranger, and the visitors. Totally avoidable. I'm really sorry Park Rangers gave to deal with visitors that think they're so special and that the rules don't apply to them. It would have been so easy to just get back on the path - as the Ranger said, no big deal, just a routine contact.
Typical power trip. Way over use of force. Give an inexperienced ranger a gun and taser and this is the outcome you get. I like how the ranger motions for other people to get off trail. Correct me if I'm wrong This whole incedent happened because someone was off the trail ? Wow
Seems that the one on a power trip was the visitor who refused to comply with reasonable requests of the park ranger. You know, we have to have some sembalance of law and order so that we can live in a civilized environment. The key here is reasonableness. The park visitor didn't comply with reasonable requests made. He and his partner were violating park rules, they lied, they walked away when while being questioned. I've been down on law enforcement for some time given racial animosity many in LE have shown, but this? Nope. Visitor was wrong. Full stop.
You're wrong. This whole incident happened because someone failed to listen to a federal officer who begged and pleaded with him to obey the law. Lots of people go off trail and go back on when asked. This guy chose to ignore the law, and ignore law enforcement. Bad choice.
Sounds like nazi interrogation in a country where you're supposed to have liberties and rights.. they didn't do anything wrong, and shouldn't have had to expose their personal identities.. I mean, their putting a highway through the monuments for goodness sake.. people with a badge and gun abuse their supposed powers, infringing on civil liberties!
The ranger should be flipping burgers!
So Nomad, you think there should be no rules in a National Park? You think there should be no areas that are off limits? I am for liberties and rights far more than the average Joe but to say we can't do anything to protect our park assets is a little much.
Yeah, I agree! If there are no rules in our national parks and no areas that are off limits, then, before we know it, we'll be dealing with armed insurrection at our national capitol.
Good gosh, without respect for the laws, we'd be dealing with mean and stupid, gullible, lunatic fringe wingnuts all stirred up and goaded on by carefully planned misinformation, disinformation, and just flat propaganda planted in social media by hostile foreign intelligence operations. They'd be hollering childish gibberish about government seizure of assets instead of just paying their fair share of taxes; they'd be ignorantly repeating already debunked hostile foreign intelligence talking points about fiat currencies that those operations spread in their efforts to supplant the US Dollar as the global reserve currency; and, eventually, we'd even be dealing with disloyal bowling alley militias trying to violently overthrow the duly elected government of the United States.
Yes indeed, I am for liberties and rights; but, to say we can't do anything to protect our park assets is a little much!
USAF Veteran 6 years LE, retired Sheriff Lt. 32.7 years NM, its real simple do what the officer ask you to do, enough of this racial profiling BS. I have seen many sites protected by the NPS torn up and lost of the years, in most cases they work by themselves and are far a few in the vast areas they try and protect. I do not see any news on the out come of the case by the left wing media who0 only wants to make officers look bad but NOTHING when they are cleared!