David Tyler Regnier, a 67-year-old resident of Bend, Oregon, was found guilty by a federal jury on May 21, 2025, for assaulting a Yellowstone National Park employee with a dangerous weapon. The three-day trial, held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin in Cheyenne, Wyoming, centered on an incident that occurred on September 18, 2024, near Canyon Junction. Court documents reveal that two park employees were directing traffic in a construction zone when Regnier, driving a Jeep, approached the intersection the wrong way to bypass waiting traffic. After expressing frustration with traffic management, Regnier ignored instructions to back up and accelerated, striking an employee holding a stop sign and pushing him backward. The employee escaped further injury by jumping out of the Jeep’s path.
Yellowstone National Park Service law enforcement officers later stopped and arrested Regnier. Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher emphasized a firm stance against violence toward public servants, stating, “Our office will take a strong stance against the frequent acts of violence directed at public servants who are merely doing their jobs to protect the community.” Regnier faces up to 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment, with sentencing scheduled for August 7, 2025. The case, investigated by National Park Service officers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook, underscores the risks faced by park employees. More details are available at justice.gov
