Teen Charged With Pointing Laser Beam At Police Helicopter

Durham police have charged an Ajax teen who they say aimed a hand-held laser pointer at their Air1 helicopter, forcing the pilot to descend immediately for safety.

At about 8pm on Saturday, the aircraft was attempting to track a suspected drunk driver when the crew was hit by an intense green light coming from below.

Using infrared technology, the crew traced the source of the beam to a backyard on Parkins Dr. Officers arrested 19-year-old Brendon Schoenwald of Hills Dr. and seized the laser pointer.

“When directed into the cockpit, laser lights can create temporary blindness that may affect the pilot’s ability to operate the aircraft safely,” Staff Sergeant Alan Mack said.

“We take incidents of this nature very seriously.”

Schoenwald has been charged with obstructing police, common nuisance, mischief to property and endangering life under the Criminal Code and projecting a light source at an aircraft under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

He also faces a fine of as much as $100,000 and five years in prison if convicted of dangerous behaviour under the Aeronautics Act.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 3440 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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