Before leaving work around 10 p.m. on the evening of September 22nd, ranger Jennifer Jackson investigated several complaints of loud noise – well past the start of quiet hours – at the Dunewood campground. Jackson and the campground host found a 40-year-old man and his 19-year-old and 14-year-old sons yelling and playing loud music at their wooded walk-in campsite. There were numerous beer cans and liquor bottles around the campsite. Jackson talked to them about the loud noise and about their violations of the campground’s alcohol closure. They were not cooperative, so she called for backup from rangers Kelsey Cassidy and Rich Eshenaur, who were 15 minutes away. The father and both sons were intoxicated and admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the evening. During the contact, the father repeatedly disobeyed rangers’ orders to remain seated. When Eshenaur attempted to take him into custody, he became combative and a struggle ensued. The father repeatedly threatened Eshenaur’s life. The two sons attempted to rescue their father, but Cassidy prevented them from doing so with the threat of pepper spray. During the struggle, five more people arrived at the campsite to join the party. Jackson controlled and searched the new arrivals, one of whom had a BB gun hidden in his sweatshirt. Jackson cited him and ordered all five to leave the park. Meanwhile, Eshenau got the father handcuffed without further incident. The father and both sons have criminal records and all possessed large folding knives. Throughout the contact, the father attempted to retrieve a cane, which he said that he needed for mobility. Jackson had secured the cane when she first arrived at the scene and denied several of his requests to return it to him. Upon examination, Jackson discovered that the cane concealed a nineteen-inch sword. Multiple charges are pending against the father and both sons, and felony charges are being considered.
