A Native American former Marine was walking his dog with his sister in a New Mexico national park when he was tased by a park ranger after going off trail.
Later identified as Darrell House, the veteran and Oneida and Navajo tribes member joined his sister on a walk near the Petroglyph National Monument where he frequently goes to meditate and pray, The New York Post reported.
In a video that circulated on social media, House is seen crying out for help as the ranger tasers the veteran, sending him to the ground.
House’s sister, who filmed the incident, is heard shouting at the ranger, asking, “What are you doing? Excuse me, what are you doing? Stop!”
“Oh my god, this guy is attacking us!” House’s sister shouts.
House repeatedly cries out to the ranger that he doesn’t have anything while holding his hands up, adding, “I’m a peaceful person, sir. You’re escalating this!”
The National Park System released another 9-minute video of the incident, in which the unidentified park ranger talks to the pair about “off-trail stuff”.
“You guys gotta stay on the trail, alright?” the ranger advised House and his sister, according to the video. “And then also — sorry, I’m out of breath, I was trying to haul to keep up with you guys. When you’re up along the rocks and all that, that’s super sacred to the tribes — they don’t want anyone up there.”
House and his sister began walking away as the ranger said they were not free to go, and after the veteran didn’t show the ranger his ID, the confrontation erupted, ending with House being tased.
“In consultation with the United States Attorney’s Office, the male received citations for being in a closed area off trail, providing false information and failing to comply with a lawful order,” the National Park Service said in a statement following the incident. “The female individual received citations for providing false information and being in a closed area off trail.”
The National Park Service added that it values their “partnership with tribal communities and actively works to ensure that tribes and tribal members have full and appropriate access to their sacred sites.”
House told NBC that he didn’t see a reason to give the ranger his identification.
“I don’t need to tell people why I’m coming there to pray and give things in honor to the land. I don’t need permission or consent,” House explained. “And I don’t think he liked that very much.”
