To: National Park Service
Justice for Darrell House
To publicly apologize to Darrell House and his dog Geronimo. They were Tasered multiple times for simply walking off a trail to avoid a large group of people walking on the same trail. The government tells people to social distance then attacks them for doing just that.
In addition to a public apology the park service needs to train its law enforcement on de-escalation.
In addition to a public apology the park service needs to train its law enforcement on de-escalation.
Why is this important?
Last Saturday, December 26, a National Park Service (NPS) Ranger tasered Darrell House, a Marine veteran, and his dog Geronimo at the Petroglyph National Park in Tiwa Territory (Albuquerque, NM).
Darrell and his sister, who filmed the brutal encounter, were hiking and offering prayers in the park, when they were approached by a larger group. To practice safe physical distancing during a pandemic, the two stepped off the trail to put space between themselves and the other hikers. Park Ranger Wineland followed Darrell and his sister, stopped them for being off-trail, and called for backup.
Once they returned to the designated trail, officer Graden brutally tasered Darrell, who was unarmed, several times. Darrell was placed in handcuffs, detained for several hours.
If this is not addressed none of us can be assured that we and our pets our safe when visiting a national park.
Darrell and his sister, who filmed the brutal encounter, were hiking and offering prayers in the park, when they were approached by a larger group. To practice safe physical distancing during a pandemic, the two stepped off the trail to put space between themselves and the other hikers. Park Ranger Wineland followed Darrell and his sister, stopped them for being off-trail, and called for backup.
Once they returned to the designated trail, officer Graden brutally tasered Darrell, who was unarmed, several times. Darrell was placed in handcuffs, detained for several hours.
If this is not addressed none of us can be assured that we and our pets our safe when visiting a national park.