“Do we really have to say, “Don’t put golf balls in the Grand Canyon?”
After an influencer posted a video showing herself playing golf on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim east of Mather Point, Grand Canyon National Park put it on social media.
The video was posted on Katie Sigmond’s account on Oct. 26. It shows Sigmond hitting a golf ball, and then losing most of her clubs when the shaft from the driver crashed into the canyon.
Social media users shared Sigmond’s stunt quickly on platforms like the r/NationalPark reddit. A screen recording of Sigmond’s Snapchat Story received more than 900 comments. Commenters condemned Sigmond’s littering and endangering wildlife and people below her. The Instagram influencer, who has 10 million followers on TikTok, and Instagram combined, was viral for the wrong reasons. She appeared to remove the posts.
Grand Canyon law enforcement received tips about the incident and identified Sigmond within a few days of her posting the video. They then charged her with three misdemeanor offences.
Influencer hits the golf ball and loses the golf club in Grand Canyon, NationalPark
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Sigmond was issued three federal violation notices. These are tickets that law enforcement officers issue to U.S. agencies like the National Park Service or U.S Forest Service. Sigmond was charged under Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations with three Class B misdemeanors.
Three charges were filed against her for littering, tossing objects into Grand Canyon and creating dangerous conditions through disorderly conduct. According to The Arizona Republic, a copy of the written record of the collateral forfeiture agreement provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona to The Arizona Republic, she was only charged with disorderly conduct and throwing or tossing items into the Grand Canyon. She faces a maximum penalty of $5,000 and six-month imprisonment.
Sigmond was fined $285 and required to pay $60 processing fees. The Arizona Republic was informed by a spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the U.S Courts that the Central Violations Bureau received $155 and $130 payments from Katie Sigmond, on Nov. 15.
Although Sigmond was initially scheduled to appear before the U.S. District Court, Flagstaff, her case was settled through a collateral forfeiture agreement with U.S. Attorney’s Office of Arizona. According to its website, the Texas-based Central Violations Bureau processes tickets and pays for “petty offences committed on federal property.”
This effectively ended Sigmond’s case, with no convictions. An emailed inquiry for comment was not answered by her.
Information about the fines for various federal violations, such as spitting on U.S Department of Veterans Affairs property and possessing bald or golden eagles without a permit, can be found on the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona’s website at https://www.azd.uscourts.gov/19-14.
Sunset from the Watch Tower, Desert View, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
People continue to throw items into Grand Canyon
Sigmond, a Southern California resident, is well-known for posting videos of her working out, traveling and dancing, as well performing public stunts. She’s not the only one who has submitted something to the Grand Canyon.
A visitor was seen hitting baseballs at the Yavapai Geology Museum, South Rim in October 2021. According to Joelle Baird (Public Affairs Officer, Grand Canyon National Park), the visitor was identified by the National Park Service after he received tips.
It is not known if the man was cited.
Baird stated to The Republic that the NPS was aware of these stunts at the Grand Canyon, and that it has received similar videos as Sigmond’s.
She said, “It’s unfortunate it happens.”
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The NPS wants to make it clear that it is illegal to launch items above the Grand Canyon’s rim. It can also be dangerous because the object could strike hikers or animals if it falls, or cause a landslide through the dislodging of rocks.
Damaging the Grand Canyon’s landscape is a crime committed on federal land. It is also considered disrespectful, as the Grand Canyon is the ancestral home of Native peoples including the Hualapai tribe and Havasupai tribe. The national park today recognizes 11 tribes who have been traditionally associated with Grand Canyon.
People who want to send tips regarding public safety or aid investigations can contact the Investigative Services Branch by calling or texting the ISB’s tip line at 888-653-0009, submitting an online form at https://www.nps.gov/ISB or emailing [email protected].
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow Kimi Robin on Twitter @kimiRobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.
