Rangers responded to a request for assistance from the Shannon County Sheriff’s Department around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 2nd. A report had been received that a woman had been assaulted in a local campground and there was only one deputy to respond in this remote area. The assailant was reported to have been recently released from prison on a murder charge and was on probation and parole. He was also said to be intoxicated and threatening the lives of other campers. The deputy and three rangers found him asleep in a tent, told him that he was under arrest, and ordered him to place his hands behind his back. The man refused to comply, so the deputy attempted to mace him. This proved only partly successful, and the man became extremely agitated. When a ranger sprayed him in the face with OC pepper foam, he went down to the ground but still refused to comply with the officer’s orders. Due to his continued violent behavior, a second ranger employed his taser, firing one shot into the middle of the man’s back. The taser completely neutralized him, making it possible go get him under control and handcuffed without further incident. He was charged with alleged public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and assault. The case is being handled by the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office doesn’t allow deputies to carry tasers, but were quite happy that rangers had them on this occasion. This was the first time a taser has been used in the park.
