Police arrested a Baltimore County juvenile Tuesday night after he allegedly repeatedly spotlighted a Maryland State Police helicopter with a green laser, police said.
At about 11 p.m., Baltimore County police asked State Police to assist with an aerial search for a suicidal person. Trooper One, a State Police 365N Dauphin III helicopter based at Martin State Airport, was flying in the vicinity of Eastern Blvd and Kingston Road when a flash illuminated the cockpit of the aircraft at least twice.
The flight crew pinpointed the source of the potentially dangerous beam. It was coming from a house a half-mile from the aircraft’s search position, police said.
Temporarily abandoning the search for the suicidal person, the pilot flew to the location and hovered directly over it, blasting the house with Trooper One’s search light, a three-million candlepower lantern known as Nite-Sun. Baltimore County police dispatched patrol units to the residence. Within six minutes of the laser incident, officers arrived at the house, identified a juvenile suspect and recovered a green laser pointer.
Trooper One returned to the search for the suicidal person.
Shining lasers at aircraft can have catastrophic effects, police said. A laser strike in the cockpit can temporarily blind and disorient the flight crew, even rendering them unable to safely fly the aircraft.
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has experienced a half dozen laser incidents in 2011. Two cases have led to prosecution.
“The safety of our flight crews is paramount and we continue to remain vigilant to aggressively inform the public of the serious nature of this unnecessary act before any injuries occur,” said Lt. Walter A. Kerr, helicopter operations commander. “We intend to do everything possible to curtail this activity and allow our flight crews to perform their duties of behalf of the citizens of Maryland.”
The 14-year-old arrested last night is charged with reckless endangerment, attempted second-degree assault on police, obstruction and hindering police, and prohibited use of a laser pointer. After processing, he was released to the custody of his parents.
