Yellowstone National Park

More Yellowstone crime reports, including a high-speed chase

We seem to be spending too much time passing along Yellowstone crime reports: An incident near the South Gate resulting in a visitor leading park rangers on a high-speed chase toward Grant Village.

Today’s Yellowstone crime reports: Roderick B. Tillman Jr. has been charged in United States Federal Court in Wyoming with nine misdemeanor counts, including driving under the influence, open container, fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, reckless driving and disorderly conduct. The incident began Monday near the South Gate, where officers responded to a call regarding a collision between two vehicles. According to the charges, Tillman was reported as being belligerent and showing signs of public drunkenness. He then left the scene and led officers on the high-speed chase in his red Buick LeSabre, per the Cowboy State News:

An officer located Tillman’s vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Tillman did not pull over. At one point, Tillman had to stop the vehicle due to traffic and officers commanded him to leave his car, even using a gun [to] convince him to do so.

He refused and fled the scene again.

Tillman began to drive more than 100 mph in a 45 mph speed zone in the park. He frequently drove in the opposing lane of traffic with vehicles coming toward him — some even had to swerve off the road to avoid hitting him — and made erratic passing maneuvers with no use of turn signals, said an affidavit filed in the case.

The chase ended when Tillman entered Mesa Pit Road, a gravel pit road, and slid down a hill. When rangers caught up with him, here’s what they reportedly found:

A ranger told Tillman to exit his vehicle, but he didn’t comply. His speech was slurred and his responses were incoherent as he made references to items including the ranger’s ancestors, rape and Christopher Columbus and making comments such as “You did this to me” and “I’m drunk.”

In his vehicle, officers found two empty alcohol containers and a pill bottle.

For the record, the alcohol was Corona hard seltzer and a Crown Royal Apple whiskey; the pills were prescription pain pills.

RELATED STORIES: More Yellowstone legal proceedings against visitors; Jail time issued for Yellowstone visitor after disorderly conduct

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