Two Utah men already facing possible criminal charges for purposely toppling an ancient rock formation in a state park have now been removed from their posts as Boy Scout leaders.
A northern Utah Boy Scouts council announced Monday that Glenn Taylor and Dave Hall will no longer be allowed to lead scouting troops because of what happened Oct. 11 at Goblin Valley State Park, which they filmed and posted on Facebook.
The move comes on the heels of the national Boy Scouts of America condemning the men’s actions last week and promising a review of the incident. The Boy Scouts’ Utah National Parks Council posted a statement on its website saying the men’s actions are not in line with the principles the organization teaches about preserving nature.
“We encourage all leaders and Scouts to review the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles, as we are all a part of maintaining the integrity, character and the natural beauty of the outdoors for all living things,” the statement said.
The rock formation they toppled over is about 170 million years old, Utah State Parks spokesman Eugene Swalberg said. The central Utah park is dotted with thousands of the eerie, mushroom-shaped sandstone formations.
Hall and Taylor came under fire last week after posting a video on Facebook where Taylor can be seen wedging himself between a formation and a boulder to knock a large rock off the formation’s top. Taylor and his two companions can then be seen cheering, high-fiving and dancing.
They said the rock formation was loose and they feared it was dangerous. They were leading a group of teenage Boy Scouts on a trip when it happened.
Hall said they found out about losing their Boy Scouts positions Monday morning. They had been troop leaders for a few years, Hall said, and hope to continue to be involved in organization in the future using what happened as a teaching point. Both men are from Highland, Utah, about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City.
“We’ve always supported the Boy Scouts and if that’s what they feel is best, we support that decision,” Hall said. “We’re extremely sorry for our mistake. We look forward to doing everything we can to make it right and move on.”
Utah State Parks authorities are conducting a criminal investigation, and the Emery County attorney’s office also is reviewing the incident to determine whether charges should be filed.
Taylor has also faced questions about a personal injury lawsuit he filed a month before the incident.
He sued Alan MacDonald in September, claiming his daughter caused a 2009 car crash that left him with debilitating injuries.
MacDonald told a TV station that he questions whether Taylor’s back injuries were as serious as claimed after watching him in the video.
“In the video, I see a big strong guy who steps up to a 2,000-pound rock and dislodges it, and I just think to myself, ‘That guy doesn’t have a bad back,’ ” MacDonald said.
Taylor’s attorney, Mark Stubbs, said that the video may not play well to a jury, but it’s only one piece of a larger case. He said just because his client is beginning to recover from his back injuries does not mean he hasn’t suffered past pain.
Taylor’s medical bills stemming from the accident could continue for years, Stubbs added. According to his suit, Taylor has incurred some $5,000 in medical-related expenses.
The complaint alleges MacDonald’s daughter rear-ended several cars — including Taylor’s — causing him to “endure great pain and suffering, disability, impairment and loss of joy of life.”
About the Author
