Rangers Arrest Idaho Man As Arson Suspect

Rangers in Yellowstone National Park on Friday apprehended an Idaho Falls, Idaho, man suspected of arson.

A park visitor alerted staff he had seen a man on U.S. 191 near Black Butte Ranch in the Gallatin River area. Rangers went there and arrested James Manula, 24, without incident.

Fremont County, Idaho, sheriff’s deputies said Manula was a “possible suspect” in Thursday’s early-morning arson fire at a barn south of St. Anthony.

Fremont County asked West Yellowstone police to watch for the pickup Manula was driving early Thursday. They followed him north on U.S. 191, where they found the truck.

A West Yellowstone officer saw Manula on a knoll near the vehicle. When he tried to contact Manula, he disappeared into the woods. Officers heard two shots.

“It’s not clear whether the shots were fired at rangers,” Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said.

A search began by helicopter and on the ground, but it was called off at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

No weapon was found on Manula and he denied shooting a gun. He was charged with driving without a license. There also were two outstanding federal arrest warrants for him, one for speeding on U.S. 191 and the second for driving without a license in May. A portion of the highway is within the park.

Manula appeared before a federal magistrate Friday in Mammoth and pleaded guilty to all three traffic charges. He was fined $210 and placed on one year’s probation.

Park officials said Manula remained jailed so Montana authorities could take custody of him for probation violation, but they had no details.