The National Park Service is investigating an incident in which a visitor was shocked by a stun gun at the weekend by a ranger at the Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico.
Darrell House, a veteran Native American Navy man, was with his sister on Sunday afternoon, walking his dog in the park, where he often prays and meditates, according to the news.
As he walked, he moved away from a trail to make way for a group of hikers and adhere to social distance protocols, he said.
“This ranger started following me, appeared out of nowhere and was upset about it,” House told KOB-TV. “I think he was upset that I left the trail before, you know, say my prayers for the rocks.”
I think he was upset that I left the trail before, you know, say my prayers for the rocks.
A video posted by House on Instagram shows the ranger asking for his identification, which he said he declined to provide. The ranger said House could be detained until identified.
In another video recorded by his sister, House is on the ground being hit by a stun gun by the forest ranger.
“I have no identity,” shouts House. “I am a peaceful person, sir. Please, what do you want from me? You are climbing this.”
The ranger repeatedly asks him to put his hands behind his back. House raises his hands and sometimes folds them in front of his chest while still asking for help.
House then obeys commands to sit and is handcuffed when another ranger arrives.
“You are being detained because you refused to identify yourself,” said the unidentified ranger. “If you resist, I will attack you.”
House did not return messages from Fox News.
“I didn’t hurt anyone,” he told the television station. “I did no harm to anyone. I was not a troublemaker. I was not taking any substances. This has been happening for years. I am practicing my religious rights in my ancestral land.”
The National Park Service said the case is being referred to the agency’s internal affairs unit for review. House was cited for interfering with the agency’s functions, hiding his identity and straying.
“While we are working to gather the facts of this specific situation, we cannot speculate on the events that led to what was captured on video,” said agency spokeswoman Vanessa Lacayo.
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In a tweet, the Albuquerque Equity and Inclusion Office called the video “disturbing” and said it sought out the NPS and expects a “complete, transparent and speedy” investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.