Yosemite rangers headbutted by SoCal man, DOJ says

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A man from Whittier has been sentenced after a fight that led to the man repeatedly hitting one park ranger in the head and headbutting another inside Yosemite National Park, the Department of Justice announced.

According to court documents on July 3, 2022, 25-year-old Robert Anthony Mendoza Jr. was involved in a fight at a Yosemite campground. As park rangers responded and attempted to place Mendoza under arrest, Mendoza fought with one of the park rangers hitting him again and again in the head.

Officials say the ranger suffered pain, bruising, swelling, and even impaired vision for a short time.

After Mendoza was placed under arrest in a patrol vehicle, officials say he managed to escape his restraints and headbutt a second park ranger, federal prosecutors report. He was eventually subdued a second time.

The Department of Justice says Mendoza was sentenced to two and a half years for assaulting federal officers on Tuesday.

The case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya prosecuted the case, and District Judge Dale A. Drozd carried out Mendoza’s sentence.

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