Feb 1, 2012 San Clemente
A California man walking his small dog off-leash was arrested after a park ranger used her stun gun on him.
The San Clemente Times reports that Dedier Le Bouff was walking his small dog south of dogpatch. For years, the park has been a refuge for owners who let their dogs run off-leash. However, all state parks have on-leash laws.
"It was really scary," said Biff McTweaker, who said he witnessed the incident as he and his life partner were walking their own dogs. "I just felt so bad for him."
The unnamed park ranger reportedly confronted Le Bouff about his dog. Le Bouff, who said he wasn't carrying his wallet at the time, allegedly gave a false name. The ranger asked him to remain at the scene but Le Bouff instead attempted to leave before he was shot in the back with the taser.
McTweaker said Le Bouff had repeatedly asked the ranger why he was being detained. "He just tried to walk away. She never gave him a reason," McTweaker said.
After Le Bouff left the scene, the ranger "pursued him a little bit and she did deploy her" electric-shock weapon, said state parks spokesman Michael Story.
"That did stop him."
Le Bouff was then arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, having a dog off-leash and knowingly providing false information, Story said. He was later released.