BEND, Ore. — A Bend man has been convicted of assaulting a Yellowstone National Park employee after allegedly running him down with his Jeep, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
David Tyler Regnier, 67, was found guilty by a federal jury on Thursday for the September 2024 incident that occurred near Canyon Junction in Yellowstone National Park. He now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, two park employees were directing traffic around ongoing road construction on September 18 when Regnier approached driving a Jeep in the wrong direction. The employees confronted Regnier, who reportedly complained about the way traffic was being managed.
One employee instructed Regnier to back up while the other stood directly in front of the Jeep holding a stop sign. Prosecutors say that instead of complying, Regnier accelerated, striking the employee and forcing him to jump out of the way to avoid serious injury.
Following the incident, Yellowstone National Park Service law enforcement officers stopped and arrested Regnier.
In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher stressed the government’s commitment to protecting public servants.
“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,” Sprecher said.
The case highlights the legal consequences faced by those who assault federal employees and raises awareness of the challenges park staff encounter while managing traffic and ensuring safety in national parks.
