Bay Area Dog Walker Hit With Stun Gun Sues Park Service
MONTARA (CBS / AP) -- A San Mateo County man is suing the National Park Service and a park ranger who allegedly shot him with a stun gun for being uncooperative about his off-leash dog.
In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, 51-year-old Gary Hesterberg of Montara claims his constitutional rights were violated and seeks $500,000 in damages for the Jan. 29, 2012 incident.
The complaint said Hesterberg was running on a trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area when the ranger warned him about having one of his dogs off-leash.
The suit says the woman hadn't identified herself as a park ranger when she fired her Taser stun gun at his back as he tried to leave.
Park Service spokesman Howard Levitt said Friday the agency can't comment the lawsuit. The ranger was cleared of wrongdoing.
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