Yellowstone National Park is known for its beautiful views and hiking trails.
While most tourists and travelers to the area respect the park, one Bay Area man took things too far.
Benjamin Bagala, 27, of Santa Rosa, has been sentenced to nine months in jail and a year-long ban from the park upon his release – for assaulting multiple police officers and destroying a hotel, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Wyoming on Wednesday.
Bagala was reportedly intoxicated during the incident at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, which took place last September. After drinking heavily, he began "harassing guests, running through the halls, breaking things and eventually approached a security guard with threatening behavior," the release stated.
When police arrived, he attacked an officer, who had to use a stun gun to subdue Bagala. Two more officers arrived to transport Bagala via ambulance to Livingston Hospital in Montana. One rode in the back with him to prevent him from breaking out of his restraints. But he managed to do so, and fought with the officer, causing the other to pull the ambulance over to help. He wound up injuring both officers.
Bagala was sentenced for three counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees and one count of depredation against property of the United States on Wednesday.
Along with the other conditions of his sentence, he is not allowed to drink or enter drinking establishments unless allowed by his probation officer.
He must also pay the hotel for a reported $2,865.42 in damages, including: "broken plexiglass shields, broken plates, broken doors and frames, damaged light fixtures, and blood splatter throughout the halls and lobby," the statement said.
He must surrender himself on or before March 4.
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