California Man Faces Federal Charges for Alleged BASE Jump at Yosemite
A California man is confronting federal criminal charges after allegedly leaping from a cliff at Yosemite National Park and deploying a parachute to land safely. Jack Matthew Propeck, a resident of Mission Viejo, was arrested following an investigation triggered by a video he posted on his Instagram account, according to a complaint filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Video Evidence and Investigation Details
Footage from October 8 captured Propeck running off Glacier Point and free falling above the iconic national park. The video showed his face before and during the parachute deployment. Propeck was charged with delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, a violation of federal regulations.
His since-deleted Instagram video was captioned 'track like you mean it' and included comments where Propeck claimed to have a permit for the activity, known as BASE jumping. However, Yosemite National Park does not issue permits for such jumps, as stated in the complaint.
Defence Claims and Contradictions
When contacted about the video, Propeck initially denied involvement, asserting that 'it was not him' and that he had used artificial intelligence to edit his face onto the clip. The complaint noted there was no evidence to support this AI claim. Propeck later insisted he 'just posts cool videos to his page' and questioned why authorities were 'wasting [their] time' on the footage.
He also mentioned that there is 'currently a court case to make base jumping legal in Yosemite.' The complaint added that the Yosemite clip was consistent with other videos Propeck had previously posted, and it was also shared on a Facebook profile under the same name.
Law Enforcement Findings
Authorities began investigating after receiving a tip on October 10 regarding Propeck's video. A National Park Service law enforcement officer identified the dive location as Glacier Point based on numerous visits and patrols. The officer specified that Propeck ran off a rock between the railings of the viewpoint, with shots showing North Dome and Washington Column.
The video appeared to have been filmed in the early morning just after sunrise. The complaint explained that 'Sunrise and sunset is a common time for BASE jumpers to jump because less people are around, jumpers are more difficult to see and harder to catch.'
Supporting Evidence and Legal Proceedings
A license plate reader detected Propeck's silver Smart car entering Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance on October 7 around 12:26 PM and leaving approximately one day later. Images from the system showed Propeck driving the vehicle, and he was wearing the same purple mirrored sunglasses as the person in the Instagram video.
Propeck is scheduled to appear in court on April 7. He was previously set to be arraigned on February 3 but requested a continuance due to being 'out of the states' until the end of next month. According to court documents, Propeck is representing himself in the legal case.
Park Officials' Response and Previous Cases
Park officials emphasized that illegal activities at Yosemite will be investigated and prosecuted. Spokesperson Scott Carr told the Los Angeles Times, 'Engaging in such illegal activities endangers both visitors and National Park Service first responders. Yosemite’s grandeur is a treasure that everyone should experience responsibly.'
Last October, three base jumpers were convicted by a federal court after parachuting at Yosemite. Their sentences included two days in jail, probation within the park, and fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The park is considered a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the US under federal law.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Propeck and the National Park Service for further comment on the ongoing case.
