What to Know
Clarence “Chuck” Coyl claims he and a friend wanted to fish at Catfish Paradise in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge in Topock, Arizona, on July 16, 2026. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer allegedly told them they were trespassing and they had to leave.
According to Coyl, he and his friend complied with the officer’s request. Shortly thereafter, Coyl allegedly encountered the same officer at the Thaylpo Fuel Station on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation.
The situation between the men evidently escalated, and the officer used a Taser to subdue him, causing a fire. The interaction was caught on camera, prompting many to question the officer’s actions.
Coyl claimed he and his friend left the area willingly.
Coyl shared his side of the story with 12 News. He said the unidentified officer told him and his friend to leave, and they complied. But the officer apparently changed his tune.
“He got snotty all of a sudden, and he goes, ‘Well, I’ll give you a ticket.’ And I said, ‘Give me a ticket for trespassing,’ and I got in my truck, and because he said leave, so I got in my truck and left,” Coyl told 12 News.
A short time later, he encountered who he believed to be the same officer at a gas station, who confronted him a second time.
“I come out with two sodas in my hand in my wallet, and he’s screaming at me, ‘Give me your ID. Give me your ID,’ and I’m looking. I’m going. No, what for? You know, there’s no reason for me to give it unless you explain it to me,” Coyl said.
The officer got out a Taser and used it on Coyl.
Video from a witness shared by civil rights attorney Ben Crump shows the officer yelling at Coyl and then using a Taser right near a gas pump. A fire ignites, and Coyl begins to moan and runs while on fire, eventually dropping to the ground. Coyl told 12 News he thought he might die that day.
“I have first- and second-degree burns on my left hand and my right wrist and hands. I have nerve damage done to my pinky finger and ring finger,” he said. “I literally thought, oh, it’s going to burn to death and die. I really did.”
The officer’s actions seemed a bit too strong to some.
Roy Taylor, who has more than four decades of law enforcement experience, told AZ Family the situation appeared to escalate without cause. He added the officer never should have used a Taser near a flammable element like gasoline. The officer didn’t appear to try to de-escalate the situation, and as far as Taylor is concerned, things got out of control.
Instagram comments on Crump’s page agreed with Taylor’s take.
“They have regulations SPECIFICALLY to avoid this by forbidding the use of tasers near flammable objects… Dude wasn’t armed or being a threat,” someone wrote.
This person agreed, commenting, “Smh. Crazy work! I’d definitely sue especially suffering burns. The gas station could’ve easily blew up.”
No one ever arrested Coyl.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Spokesperson shared a statement with 12 News.
“We can confirm that our officer deployed a taser during this incident. We thoroughly review every taser deployment and don’t have any additional comment at this time. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remains committed to public safety and to ensuring visitors can safely enjoy recreation on refuge lands in the Havasu area,” the statement reads.
Coyl told 12 News he was never arrested or charged with any crime in connection with the terrifying encounter. He plans to pursue legal action against the officer.
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