Recently I came into contact with two national park rangers. One young tall thin, the other being more my age bald, red mustache. At first the contact went fairly good, although they had no idea what they were doing or looking at while checking our fishing licenses. I thought this went well. Well, this is where it got nasty!! My client had parked in a small cut out in the brush at a very popular takeout on the Smith River. It is known as the outhouse or society hole. As long as I have been alive, we have been parking in this spot. Not only did my client park bad, but I had my 8 month old lab in the boat, that apparently it’s illegal to walk from my boat to my clients car without a leash.
So, we went from a simple how are you and a fishing liscence check, to a full felony stop!!!
Remember, the worst that was happening here was a parking ticket and an unleashed dog!!
“I am talking, keep your hands where I can see them,” they circled behind us, hands on guns in unsnapped holsters!!
I thought my God!! These guys are freaking crazy.
When I questioned them as to why the erratic behavior and said what is the big deal here, I was told how he was a federal agent, and I had no right to question him!! The younger guy was definitely more aggressive!! When I told him that I knew my rights. He proceeded to show his dominance by posture and brandishing his weapon.
At this point the point seemed to be to break us!! Well folks, I am not broken. I told them to write the tickets!! See you in court!! We will tell this whole story!!
It was amazing at that point how fast they just left!!!
Watch out people!! These guys are scary!! I have been contacted lots of times over 22 years of guiding, by multiple different agency’s. I have received violations!! Never been treated like this!! Loose cannons with a badge and a gun!! If you have had a similar problem please contact me. I am putting together a formal complaint. Please only true contacts!!
Mike Coopman
Crescent City, Ca.
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