mikewint
Captain
A group of Boy Scout leaders is potentially facing felony charges for destroying a rock formation nearly 200 million years old.
The trio of men was adventuring in Utah's Goblin Valley State Park when they decided to film themselves knocking over one of the formations, known as "goblins."
One man can be seen leveraging himself against a nearby rock and pushing a formation over.
"We have now modified Goblin Valley," the cameraman crows. "A new Goblin Valley exists with, uh, this boulder down here on the bottom. Muscles here pushed it off."
The three laugh, cheer, and high five each other.
Utah State Parks officials were not so amused.
"It is not only wrong, but there will be consequences," said spokesman Eugene Swalberg, noting that a criminal investigation is underway by the State Parks authorities.
"This is highly, highly inappropriate," he said. "This is not what you do at state parks. It's disturbing and upsetting."
Park officials said the rock formation was created back in the Jurassic period nearly 200 million years ago.
Deputy Emery County Attorney Brent Langston said he was aware of the incident, but it hasn't been presented to his office yet for screening for possible charges. He said those involved could face anywhere from a class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony depending on how much the formation is valued.
Glenn Taylor said Thursday afternoon that he was the man who pushed over the formation, while Dave Hall filmed and Dylan Taylor looked on. According to Taylor, he and Hall are leaders for a local troop of the Boy Scouts of America.
Taylor said that at the time he thought he was doing a "civic service" by taking down a loose rock. However, as he walked back to his car, he began thinking that he should have contacted a ranger about the loose rock. He also said he would do it again but wouldn't film or post it.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYFD18BwmJ4
The trio of men was adventuring in Utah's Goblin Valley State Park when they decided to film themselves knocking over one of the formations, known as "goblins."
One man can be seen leveraging himself against a nearby rock and pushing a formation over.
"We have now modified Goblin Valley," the cameraman crows. "A new Goblin Valley exists with, uh, this boulder down here on the bottom. Muscles here pushed it off."
The three laugh, cheer, and high five each other.
Utah State Parks officials were not so amused.
"It is not only wrong, but there will be consequences," said spokesman Eugene Swalberg, noting that a criminal investigation is underway by the State Parks authorities.
"This is highly, highly inappropriate," he said. "This is not what you do at state parks. It's disturbing and upsetting."
Park officials said the rock formation was created back in the Jurassic period nearly 200 million years ago.
Deputy Emery County Attorney Brent Langston said he was aware of the incident, but it hasn't been presented to his office yet for screening for possible charges. He said those involved could face anywhere from a class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony depending on how much the formation is valued.
Glenn Taylor said Thursday afternoon that he was the man who pushed over the formation, while Dave Hall filmed and Dylan Taylor looked on. According to Taylor, he and Hall are leaders for a local troop of the Boy Scouts of America.
Taylor said that at the time he thought he was doing a "civic service" by taking down a loose rock. However, as he walked back to his car, he began thinking that he should have contacted a ranger about the loose rock. He also said he would do it again but wouldn't film or post it.
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