Men Investigated for Toppling Jurassic Stone Formation
Published at | Updated at
Bjorn Holland/Getty Images(GREEN RIVER, Utah) — A group of Boy Scout leaders could face criminal charges as well as discipline from the national scout organization for toppling an ancient rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park in Utah.
“We are shocked and disappointed by this reprehensible behavior,” Deron Smith, spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, said in a statement.
Dave Hall, Dylan Taylor and Glenn Taylor videotaped themselves doing the deed, smiling as they showed off their strength and explaining how they were potentially making the park safer by toppling over a boulder that they said could have landed on a child.
Utah State Parks director Fred Hayes, however, said that the sandstone formations have stood there since the Jurassic era, some 165 million years. The parks department is investigating whether the men will face charges.
Taylor told the Salt Lake Tribune that the three men had noticed the boulder was loose and could injure someone, and he believed he was doing a “civic deed” by removing the dangerous rock.
Smith said the BSA prides itself on “the principles of ‘Leave No Trace.’”
“We are reviewing this matter and will take appropriate action,” Smith said. He declined to say what appropriate action might be.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio