HAMMOND | A Chesterton man caught drinking beer in a federal campground used his 2-year-old son as a human shield after smacking two park rangers in the heads with their own baton, federal court records allege.

Joshua Don Young, 27, was charged in Hammond federal court with two counts of assaulting federal officers following the May 3 confrontation at Site 20 of the Dunewood Campground in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Young was ordered to be held in jail without bond after he told U.S. District Magistrate Paul Cherry that he has a history of criminal and mental health issues and has regularly used marijuana and cocaine for years. He was arraigned Tuesday.

Defense attorney Michael Bosch said Young's family disputes the idea that Young used his son as a "human shield."

"He was just out visiting some family who were camping in the Dunes," Bosch said. "He had a beer. And the next thing he knew, he's in jail."

The incident began when U.S. Park Service Rangers Anthony Papesh and Jennifer Jackson saw an open can of Budweiser on a picnic table in a campsite where Young was sitting about 2 p.m., court records state. Alcohol is prohibited in the campground.

A search of Young's cooler revealed a six-pack of beer, but when Young was told to pour out the beverages, he became agitated and stated, "I'm not dumping it, and I'm not leaving," court records state.

The rangers said Young threw cold campfire ashes into Papesh's eyes and then pushed him down a flight of steps. Jackson then smacked Young in the leg with her baton, but the 260-pound suspect grabbed it from her and hit her above the ear, lacerating her scalp, the records state. Young also struck Papesh in the top of the head with Jackson's baton, records state.

After pepper spray failed to subdue Young, Jackson drew her gun and ordered everyone to the ground, federal authorities said.

Four juveniles appeared from a tent and got on the ground, but Young grabbed his 2-year-old son, holding the boy in front of his body, the criminal complaint states.

"Ranger Jackson told Young, 'Get down or I'll shoot you,'" court records state. "Young stated something similar to, 'What's she going to do, shoot me through the kid?'"

Young put the child in his car and then was captured after a short foot pursuit through the woods.