Marin County Parks Warns Visitors About Man Posing as Rangers

Posted by Alexander Nguyen

Marin County Parks officials are cautioning visitors to the Blithedale Summit Open Space Preserve above Mill Valley and Corte Madera about a man who is posing as a park ranger.

There have been two incidents in the past month on or near the popular Blithedale Summit Fire Road where the un-uniformed man allegedly gave incorrect information to dog walkers about the Preserve's rules pertaining to dogs, Marin County Parks said in a news release.

The man allegedly kicked one dog and took photos with his cellphone of two women, Marin County Parks officials said.

One incident happened on June 25 or 26 and the other a month before, Marin County Open Space Superintendent Brian Sanford said.

The man is described as white, in his 40s, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with short salt-and-pepper hair and very fit. The man said his name is Dave Stevenson and he worked for "the department." 

He was wearing black and sliver bicycling clothing and had a black mountain bike at the time of the incidents.

The man is not employed or associated with Marin County Parks or the Marin County Open Space District, Marin County Parks officials said.

Rangers on duty in open space preserves always wear uniforms, officials said.

Sanford said ranger patrols and volunteers on bicycles are on the lookout for the man posing as a ranger.

Marin County Parks is investigating the incidents, and anyone with information about them is asked to call (415) 473-2816

— Bay City News