BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A recent incident created a dispute over practicing religion in a public place in California.

The incident happened at Standard Park, when neighbors saw a group of pagans practicing a harvest ritual, KERO-TV reported.

The men at the park said they practice Odinism, a Viking Earth-based religion.

The group known as the Ravens Folk Kindred formerly held their pagan rituals at Willows Park.

The group arrived at Standard Park on Aug. 12 for a harvest ritual, but some neighbors were frightened by what they were doing.

Collin Bentley, an Odinist, said, “Our arms are raised (in the air). So it's easy to see how a bunch of white guys, in a park, with tattoos, could be mistaken."

With all of the complaints from the nearby community, a park ranger and two Kern County sheriff's deputies were called out to investigate these rituals.

Don Parkins, an Odinist said, “We paused, answered their questions, pointed out our artifacts, the altar, the flag, what we were doing, laid it out for them in basic. And they said, 'OK, you're not breaking any laws, you're not being disruptive, so you folks have a good day now.'"

But the group said the ranger came back with five more deputies, and wanted them to leave.

Parkins said, "(The ranger) said, “I won't have that (expletive) in my park ever again.' And I said, 'Well let's go back to north of the river', and he said, 'You won't have it in any of my parks.'"

"He stepped over the line at that point. He's gone beyond what his call of duty is," Parkins said.

The Odinists said they just want to hold their earthly rituals in a place of nature.

James Evans, an Odinist said, “We just believe that under the Constitution of the United States, we have the right to practice our religion just as anybody else does."

As for those who were frightened, one neighbor who was too scared to go on camera because of possible retaliation told the station that he has watched the group from across the street and said they look like white supremacists, even going as far to say "(they were) saluting Hitler with their war bird flag.”

Thomas Turner, a neighbor, said that he thought they were white supremacists until he approached the group. He said, “I didn't see them do anything wrong at all. I think they were treated unfairly."

The group said they complained about the ranger to North of the River Parks and Recreations and said if it happens again, they are prepared to file a civil suit.

"There was some question on legality, whether or not a person can practice religious events in a public place, and from my understanding we can, it's our constitutional right."

The station called the NOR Parks and Recreation director, Dave McArthur, and asked about the Odinists' complaint against the ranger. McArthur said that he had received a phone call about the incident, but no official complaint had been filed.