Officials at Joshua Tree National Park in California said three tourists from Germany were accused of a paintball rampage, damaging road signs, toilets and trash cans.
According to press release According to the National Park Service (NPS), a park ranger patrolling Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday noticed “yellow paintball splashes on buildings and signs.”
Upon further investigation of the paintball splatter, the ranger found a slingshot in plain view inside the vehicle.
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Three tourists from Germany used a paintball gun and a slingshot to destroy a sign at Joshua Tree National Park. (National Park Service)
Law enforcement rangers were called to the scene and began questioning the visitor, a tourist from Germany, who admitted to firing paintballs with a compressed paintball gun and a slingshot the previous night.
Inside the vehicle, rangers recovered three slingshots, paintball markers, paintballs and other related equipment as evidence.
Rangers also learned that at least 11 road signs along Park Boulevard from Jumbo Rocks Campground to the Maze Loop Trailhead, two miles from the park’s west entrance, had been hit with yellow paintballs.
On Aug. 4, a park ranger patrolling Jumbo Rocks Campground observed “fresh yellow paintball splashes” on buildings and signs, according to park officials. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The three were charged with a Federal Offence Notice for criminal damage, defacement or destruction of property.
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According to the NPS, violations are punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months.
PALMS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28: Joshua Tree National Park on January 28, 2021 in Palms, California. (Josh Brasted/Getty Images)
Joshua Tree National Park’s acting chief ranger, Jeff Filosa, condemned the vandalism, saying it was a waste of staff’s time, as other tasks should be prioritized over vandal removal.
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“It is illegal to deface or alter the landscape of a national park, no matter how small,” Filosa said. “It damages the natural environment that millions of people visit from all over the world. The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all kinds, wasting time and resources that could be devoted to other priorities.”
