Police: Assault of park ranger leads to 5 more charges

A man was arrested after he reportedly assaulted a park ranger at Copper Sky and drove away finding nothing but more trouble when officers stopped him.

On May 5, at 10:21 p.m., Maricopa police responded to Copper Sky Recreation Complex on a report of a disturbance between a man and a city park ranger.

The park ranger told officers a black Chevrolet Tahoe sped through the park and described the driver, who was later identified as Isaiah Coner. The park ranger contacted Coner, who reportedly exited the vehicle in an aggressive manner holding an orange item in one hand, yelling he would hurt the park ranger. Coner reportedly got closer to the park ranger, and the ranger “sideswiped Coner’s feet to keep him away from him.”

According to a probable-cause statement, Coner got back in the Tahoe, sped off, drove on park sidewalk and left the area on Greythorn Drive. He reportedly failed to stop at a stop sign on the way out of the park.

Coner drove northbound on State Route 347, reportedly reaching speeds of 65 mph in a 45 mph-limit area. Maricopa police stopped Coner near North Cherry Lane and Juniper Avenue in Desert Cedars. Officers pulled Coner out of the vehicle.

Coner was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, police reported. Coner responded no.

During an inventory search of the Tahoe, officers found 86 grams of marijuana, an open container of tequila within reach of the driver’s seat, and a firearm with 10 rounds.

The defendant was booked into Pinal County jail on suspicion of assault, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, reckless driving, misconduct with a weapon and possession of marijuana. MPD did not immediately release Coner’s age.