AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- An Austin park ranger was shoved into Lake Austin Thursday afternoon while asking crowds to stay six feet apart from each other.
According to an arrest affidavit, police were called to Commons Ford Park just before 5 p.m. Thursday. Video of the incident, which was posted to Reddit Thursday night, shows 25-year old Brandon Hicks run up and push the ranger, sending both men into the water.
Hicks, according to the affidavit, is facing a charge of attempted assault on a public servant, which is a state jail felony. Online jail records indicate Hicks is in the Travis County Jail with bail set at $7,500. A state jail felony is punishable by up to two years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.
In a statement, City officials confirmed the incident. "City of Austin Parks Rangers are essential workers who've been on the front-line of the City's response to COVID-19. They continue to work long hours educating the public on the various operational changes at parks and other PARD facilities. We ask that the public treat Rangers with the same respect they wish to be shown to themselves. Public support is essential for Austin to meet the challenges of this pandemic."