SPOKANE, Wash – Federal prosecutors have charged a Spokane man with pointing a laser pointer at the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
Investigators say Air 1 was helping ground units look for a car that had left an accident scene in November.
Someone flashed a green beam at the aircraft, lighting up the cockpit.
The affidavit filed in federal court says “the laser beam shined directly in the eyes of the tactical flight officer sitting in the front left seat. The lasering caused immediate disorientation and black spots in the [officer’s] vision.”
Because of that, the affidavit says, the crew had to abandon their mission and they shifted their focus to finding who was shining the laser.
The crew found the source of the beam near north Ruby and East Sinto, just north of downtown Spokane and sent ground officers to the address.
They found a person hiding behind a parked vehicle.
Officers say they watched the man, identified as Brandon Ferreira, holding up what appeared to be a telescope to his face, looking towards the flight path of Air 1.
As they arrested him, police say Ferreira told them the oven was on in his house. When police went into the home, the officer saw what appeared to be a large laser.
Police obtained a search warrant and confiscated the laser, which emitted a green beam.
If convicted of this federal crime, Ferreira faces up to five years in prison.
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