Man Tased By Park Ranger After Operating His Aircraft In National Park In Hawaii, Running Away When Told To Stop

A National Park ranger who tasered a man who had been operating a drone in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was justified in using the non-lethal force to stop him, according to a federal judge.

The incident occurred April 25, 2015 outside the park’s Jaggar Museum overlooking Kilauea’s Halemaumau crater.

The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that judge Richard R. Puglisi came to that conclusion following two days of testimony in the non-jury trial of Travis R. Sanders, who was found guilty of violating a lawful order and fined $1,000.

The ranger testified that Sanders tried to run away after being told he could not fly his UAV at the park, and was ordered to stop. When he disobeyed that order, Judge Puglisi said the ranger was "entirely justified" in using his Taser to stop him.

Sanders had been charged with two additional counts of violating a lawful order. He reportedly had refused to and his aircraft when told to do so, and then did not produce identification. Those charges were dismissed by the judge. He had also been charged with violating park rules against launching and flying a drone in a national park. The government dropped those charges.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.hid.uscourts.gov