Federal authorities are asking for information which may identify two men caught on video in Lake Mead National Recreation Area destroying a rock formation as one of their terrified, adolescent daughters looked on. The Instagram page @touronsofyellowstone posted the alarming footage.
The episode took place last Sunday, April 7, around 6:45 p.m., according to Fox5 Vegas, at the petrified red dunes on the Nevada park’s north side. The dunes are one of the most visited areas of the park, with the astonishing natural formations drawing tourists from around the globe.
The unbelievable video shows two middle-aged men working strenuously to topple large boulders from the red dunes. As the videographers marvel at the men’s brazen actions, one of them notes that someone was recently arrested for a similar act.
One of the men is practically hanging off the side of the formation as he pulls hard to dislodge a rock. “He’s going to fall,” one of the videographers says. As they work, the horrified daughter of one of the men lets out a succession of chilling screams.
“Daddy, don’t fall!” she yelps as a gigantic boulder crashes to the ground. “Don’t fall,” she screams again as she runs away from the edge to hide.
The videographers sent the footage to the National Park Service. Lake Mead, like similar protected environs, often asks visitors to record acts of vandalism and other anti-social behavior to assist park employees in policing the vast acreage.
“It is 1.5 million acres. We have two big lakes, a chunk of the Colorado River,” explained John Haynes, the park’s public information officer. “It gets pretty difficult based on our staff levels to be everywhere all at once.”
The damage done by the vandals is permanent, Haynes said. Lake Mead Recreation Area and federal authorities are set on finding the two men and prosecuting both to the fullest extent of the law. “It can range from six months in jail and a $5,000 fine,” Haynes explained, “all the way up to a felony offense.”
Haynes reiterated that recording vandals in the act is the best way to help prevent further incidents such as this.
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