POLICE ARREST TEEN, 16, FOR POINTING LASER AT HELICOPTER

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February 4, 2012 (San Diego) - San Diego Police Department patrol officers from Southeastern Division have arrested a 16-year-old boy for pointing a laser at the police helicopter, ABLE. Such actions can put a pilot’s light in danger, since night vision goggles amplify light 30,000 times and the flash can be blinding.

ECM news partner, 10 News, has video of the attack caught on camera by police: http://www.10news.com/news/30375661/detail.html

On Wednesday, January 18 around 7:30 p.m., pilots in the San Diego Police Department helicopter were on patrol in the Shelltown area when they were struck by a red laser beam pointed at them from 4100 Eta Street. Officers were directed to the area where the laser beam came from, but were unable to locate the suspect.

On January 26, just after 7:40 p.m., the pilots were again struck by a red laser beam pointed at them from 4100 Eta Street. Due to the repeated laser strikes on the helicopter from this location, the air crew again directed officers to the area.

The pilot and observer located the source of the laser strike as a lone male in the backyard of a residence. The air crew maintained visual contact with the suspect as they directed patrol officers to him. The juvenile was contacted in his backyard and booked into Juvenile Hall on one count of discharging a laser at an aircraft.
 


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