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Greeley Man Accused Of Getting Near Old Faithful Arrested In Chase

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A man accused of walking dangerously close to Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park faces additional charges after a police chase in Wyoming's capital city.

Police said Thursday that they arrested 27-year-old Gabriel Villalva of Greeley, Colorado, after he drove recklessly around Cheyenne, which is a seven-hour drive from Yellowstone.

GABRIEL VILLALVA
Gabriel Villalva

Police say they stopped Villalva with spike strips after a 15-minute chase Wednesday. They say he spun his wheels and his SUV caught fire.

View of the 'Old Faithful' geyser which
Old Faithful (credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Police say they fired beanbag rounds to subdue him.

Yellowstone rangers cited Villalva for walking off boardwalks and within a few feet of Old Faithful on Sept. 14.

Video: Colorado Man Comes Dangerously Close To Yellowstone's Old Faithful

Tourists also captured video of a man resembling Villalva sitting next to one of Yellowstone's hottest springs.

Villalva was jailed Thursday and couldn't be reached for comment.

(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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