Yellowstone National Park rangers arrested Newton during the early morning hours of May 21, 2002, after receiving a report that a local resident had been intentionally run over twice by a pickup truck in front of the Blue Goose Saloon in Gardiner, Montana (located on the north boundary of the park). Newton's vehicle was stopped as he fled the scene.

Investigation revealed that Newton was involved in two heated verbal altercations with the victim while in the saloon and that a third altercation erupted in the street within Yellowstone National Park boundaries a short time later. As Newton was beginning to drive his pickup truck away, he suddenly veered back toward the victim and struck him while traveling at a high rate of speed, leaving him seriously injured and disabled in the street. Newton then drove a short distance, turned again and struck the disabled victim as he lay in the street, resulting in critical injuries. Yellowstone National Park medics administered advanced life support, and the victim was airlifted to a trauma center in Billings, Montana, where he remained in critical condition for several days and underwent multiple life-saving surgeries.

Yellowstone National Park rangers, headquarters staff, and Park County, Montana, deputies conducted crime scene documentation, processing and on-site witness interviews. The FBI-Denver Evidence Response Team assisted the park by processing the suspect vehicle, and multiple park staff provided Yellowstone agents instrumental assistance during the investigation.

Information provided by the NPS

Comments or Suggestions are Welcome. Send To: John@Yellowstone-Natl-Park.Com. Thank You!