An Idaho man was sentenced to over six years in prison after assaulting two southern Utah park rangers. The man collided with the rangers’ vehicle while fleeing from a traffic stop.
On May 3, 2025, while at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Gregory Aaron Farley, 52, of Hazelton, Idaho, used his pickup truck to assault two on-duty park rangers who initiated the traffic stop. While one of the rangers was speaking to Farley, he took off, nearly hitting the Ranger.
Park rangers began to pursue Farley, and during the chase, Farley struck the rangers’ vehicle. The suspect was attempting to turn his truck around when he hit the driver’s side of the vehicle, pushing the rangers to the road shoulder. This collision also caused airbags on the driver’s side of the rangers’ vehicle to deploy and disabled the driver’s side door.
Farley was sentenced in St. George by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen. On Dec. 1, 2025, Farley Pleaded Guilty to assault on an employee of the United States with a deadly weapon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervision after release, according to the Department of Justice.
Melissa Holyoak, an attorney for the District of Utah, said her office will not tolerate violence against park rangers.
“This case underscores the dangers our park rangers and other law enforcement officers face as they work to keep our national parks and communities safe,” Holyoak said in a news release. “My office, in alignment with this administration, has zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement. Together with our partners, we will thoroughly investigate and prosecute offenders who commit such acts.”
Author: Andrew Streeter
Photo of Glen Canyon, courtesy of the National Park Service
Editor: Hannah Clove
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