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Man filmed walking on Old Faithful arrested after WY car chase

Posted at 9:47 AM, Sep 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-21 11:49:27-04

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (KGWN) – The man suspected of walking onto Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park last week was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyo., Wednesday afternoon after leading police on a chase.

Gabriel Villalva, 27 of Colorado, led police on a pursuit around a park and golf course and struck a Cheyenne police vehicle before he ran over spike strips and stopped his SUV, according to Cheyenne-based KGWN.

His vehicle then caught on fire after he continued to rev his engine while stopped. Officers deployed bean bags to subdue Villalva, and Cheyenne firefighters put out the blaze. He was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center for minor injuries.

According to the National Park Service, a man with the same name and age was the man caught on videowandering too close to Old Faithful Sept. 14 and faces multiple charges related to that incident.

Cheyenne police said Thursday the man they arrested was most likely the same Villalva who was on Old Faithful.

Cheyenne police haven’t released any charges that Villalva could be facing in regards to Wednesday’s incident, according to KGWN.