An Ontario, Calif., man was arrested Tuesday night after an Ontario Police Department (OPD) helicopter was hit by more than dozen laser strikes.
Jorge Quintero Jr., 18, has been charged with shining the laser at the helicopter, which had been helping ground patrol units investigate a shooting when the attack happened. The pilot noticed a green laser beam being shone towards the aircraft, which then illuminated the entire cockpit, forcing the command pilot and the tactical flight officer to avert their eyes.
The helicopter was repeatedly hit by the laser as least a dozen more times according to police. Despite this, the crew was able to focus a camera towards the beams location, allowing them to direct an unmarked police ground unit into the area. The ground crew eventually located Quintero, who was caught in the act of pointing the laser beam at other structures in the neighborhood.
Quintero admitted knowing it was illegal to point the laser at the helicopter, and was arrested.
An OPD spokesperson said that several police ground units traveling in the same area had been illuminated by an unknown suspect using a similar green laser beam in the past few weeks, though no suspect was found at the time.
This is not the first time someone has been arrested for pointing a laser at the police helicopter. On July 17, 2012, 19-year-old Sergio Ramirez of Ontario, Calif., was arrested after he was found with a laser that he pointed at the Ontario Police helicopter.
In that case, the police command pilot and the tactical flight officer had to seek medical care as a result of being hit with the laser beam. Ramirez was arrested and charged with a felony.
Sergeant Eric Weidner, who supervises the Ontario Police Department Air Support Unit, said the reason laser beams are so dangerous when directed towards an aircraft is because it is not necessary for the beam to strike directly into the pilots eye to cause injury. The laser beam has the ability to illuminate the entire cabin area of the aircraft, which can result in flash blindness to the crew; leading to disorientation and possible loss of control to the aircraft.
At the recent Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) annual convention, held in Reno, Nev., ALEA executive director Steve Ingley told Vertical that the issue of laser beams being shone at aircraft had become an epidemic.
Ontario Police have asked the public to remember that it is felony crime to discharge a laser beam at an aircraft. Not only can the beam cause injury or blindness to the occupants of the aircraft, but it can result in the crews inability to safely operate the airship. Those convicted of discharging a laser beam at an aircraft can face fines along with county jail or state prison time.
