BASE Jumper Arrested
An Angwin man was arrested at the foot of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan on Dec. 3 for allegedly BASE jumping off the famous rock formation.
According to Ranger Leslie Reynolds, Walden Grindle, 28, of Angwin, and Fernando Motta, 29, of Oakland, were ascending fixed ropes on the rappel route when they encountered off-duty Ranger Keith Lober, who struck up a conversation with them.
The two men asked if Lober was a ranger, and when he assured them he wasn’t, they said they planned to BASE jump from El Capitan that night, Reynolds said. Later in the evening they did so, and Grindle was arrested by Lober and other rangers as he landed. Motta evaded the rangers in the dark, but turned himself in two hours later, Reynolds said.
Both men were charged with illegal air delivery, and Motta was charged with possession of marijuana, Reynolds said. Among the evidence seized by rangers was video from Motta’s helmet camera, Reynolds said.
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