Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

What would you do if your air-ambulance pilot decided to take a detour and get a closer look at a herd of elk on the way to the hospital? That's the situation that caused many to report a medical helicopter pilot to the state authorities.

DENVER, CO (Catholic Online) - Owen Park, 35, of Page, Arizona has been fined just $200 for a September 23 incident near Granite Creek, Colorado. Park, while flying his air ambulance helicopter for Classic Lifeguard Air Medical, observed a herd of elk and decided to get a closer look.

Hunters and wildlife watchers in the area witnessed the incident and reported it to police.

Witnesses say the helicopter dipped into a canyon and began harassing the elk herd which subsequently scattered.

Owen Park denied he was harassing the herd, saying he just wanted to get a better look at the animals.

Park was alone in the helicopter at the time, he had no patient or co pilot onboard.

There is no word on if he will be allowed to continue flying for the company in the wake of his stunt.

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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