Vaughan teen charged after laser aimed at helicopter
Posted January 7, 2013 7:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VAUGHAN, Ont. – A teenager is facing charges after allegedly pointing a laser at a police helicopter in Vaughan early Friday.
Around 12:30 a.m., the York Region Air2 police helicopter was assisting ground officers in the Hwy. 407 and Islington Avenue area in a break-and-enter call when a laser beam hit its windshield, police say.
Police began an investigation in the Pine Valley Drive and Rutherford Road area.
On Sunday, a 17-year-old boy turned himself in to police.
The teenager is charged with obstructing a police officer, common nuisance, projecting a bright light source and endangering the safety and security of an aircraft.
He will appear at a Newmarket courthouse in February.
According to Health Canada, looking into a laser pointer can cause “flash blindness,” when the image of a flash remains in your eyes for a few seconds before fading away. For pilots in control of aircrafts flying over populated areas, the consequences can be serious.
