Both men fall into the water, then Hicks is seen getting out and running off.
The ranger was called to the park around 4:54 p.m. about a large crowd who were illegally smoking and drinking in Commons Ford Park, KXAN reported.
"The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is saddened by the action taken against our Park Ranger," officials said in a statement, KEYE reported. "Rangers are not law enforcement officers. The Ranger program was created to provide educational services, safety, and security in Austin's parks and recreational facilities. Through these actions, Rangers help protect and foster stewardship of the natural world."
Hicks was arrested and charged with attempted assault on a public servant, KXAN reported.
“Brandon’s intentional and reckless action could have caused the ranger to strike his head on the dock as he was falling, and render himself unconscious in at least 3 feet of water where he could have drowned to death,” investigators said.
About the Author