PHOENIX MAN CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING TWO GRAND CANYON PARK RANGERS

            PHOENIX – On September 28, 2012, a federal jury in Prescott, Ariz., found Anthony Keith Swint, 43, of Phoenix, guilty of two counts of assault on a federal officer. Senior U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt presided over the four-day trial.

            The evidence at trial showed that in March of 2012, Swint was a truck driver whose tractor-trailer broke down in a congested area of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Swint became angry with concessionaire employees and two park rangers when they attempted to assist him with unlocking his brakes so he could drive the trailer to Phoenix. Swint caused a disturbance by cursing repeatedly at the employees and park rangers. He was ultimately detained for creating the disturbance.

            Soon after rangers handcuffed Swint, he began physically resisting them. Swint started fighting the park rangers and kicked one of them while they tried to put him into the backseat of a patrol car. Park rangers eventually had to wrestle Swint to the ground, where he continued to fight them.

            Park rangers ultimately took Swint to the booking facility to be processed. At the booking facility, Swint thrashed around as four armed park rangers walked him into a cell. Despite their efforts, park rangers were unable to gain control of Swint, who bit one of the rangers in the webbing of his hand.

            A conviction for assault on a federal officer carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing is set before Judge Rosenblatt on December 17, 2012.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Jennifer E. Green and Tracy Van Buskirk, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-12-8080-PCT-PGR
RELEASE NUMBER:            2012-204(Swint)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az