Monday, July 16, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ranger is recovering after being repeatedly punched in the face while patrolling a park at Lake Lanier.

Tim Rainey, the Corps' operations manager at Lake Lanier, said the attack on Sunday comes after the agency had to reassign shoreline rangers to working the parks because of increased rowdiness and crowds.

Hall County sheriff's Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks tells The Times of Gainesville that the ranger attacked Sunday was patrolling Burton Mill Park when he saw people with alcoholic beverages in a prohibited area. While issuing a citation, the ranger was punched several times before ending the assault by deploying pepper spray.

Authorities say the ranger was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, but was not seriously injured.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)