Full Notification

Pointing Lasers at Sheriff's Aircraft Results in Arrests

Laser strikes at sheriff's helicopter pilots and Aero Bureau aircraft of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (and other agencies) have resulted in several arrests. Fortunately, there have been no reported laser strikes against LASD aircraft so far during 2013.

Pointing a Laser at Aircraft is a Crime! For the safety of the pilots and people on the ground, the public is asked to be aware of this public safety threat and If You See Someone Point A Laser At An Aircraft, Call 9-1-1.

Recent laser strike events in the past few years involving the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department include:

* 2013 - No reported laser strikes to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department aircraft from January 1 - July 31, 2013

* October 3, 2012: Bellflower area- Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* September 12, 2012: West Covina- Suspect Jesus Luna, MH/27 of Los Angeles, arrested for pointing a laser at LASD aircraft.

* September 6, 2012: North Hollywood area- Suspect Isaias Gonzalez, MH/24, arrested for pointing a laser at LASD aircraft. Federal charges filed. Suspect pled guilty, awaiting sentencing. (News Release - http://nixle.com/alert/5039173/ )

* August 15, 2012: Montebello area- Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* August 12, 2012: Rancho Palos Verdes- Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* April 18, 2012: Valencia- Suspect Chad Martinez, MH/23 of Valencia, arrested for pointing a laser at LASD aircraft.

* March 22, 2012: West Covina area- Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* March 13, 2012: Long Beach area- Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* December 22, 2011: Lakewood- 17 year-old male suspect detained (arrested) for pointing a laser at LASD aircraft.

* September 23, 2011: Compton- Suspect Kimberly Rogers, FW/27 of Compton, arrested for pointing a laser at LASD aircraft. (News Release: http://nixle.com/alert/4734858/ )

* June 6, 2011: East Los Angeles area- Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* April 26, 2011 - Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station area. A 16-year old male resident of Los Alamitos was arrested. (News Release: http://nixle.com/alert/4685847/ )

* April 18, 2011 - Century Sheriff's Station area (near Lynwood). Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* January 23, 2011 - West Covina area. Unknown suspect shined a laser at LASD aircraft.

* December 20, 2010 - Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station area. A 15-year old Hispanic male resident of Pico Rivera was arrested.

* December 11, 2010 - Industry Sheriff's Station area (La Puente). Antonio Chavez, a 25-year old Hispanic male resident of La Puente was arrested.

* September 22, 2010 - East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station area. (Maywood) Julio Pineda a 25-year old Hispanic male resident of Maywood was arrested.



Pointing a laser at an aircraft is extremely dangerous and is a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison and a fine of $2,000.00. Civil penalties of $11,000.00 per violation can also be imposed. It can also be a Federal offense, punishable by 20 years in Federal Prison. Sheriff's deputies, police officers and all law enforcement ask that for the safety of the pilots and people on the ground, if you see someone point a laser at an aircraft, immediately call 9-1-1 and report it.

"When the laser hits the plexiglass windshield, it refracts the light and fills the cockpit with laser light, causing disorientaiton or temporary blindness. It has caused long term damage to some pilots," said Sergeant Morrie Zager, a helicopter pilot assigned to Sheriff's Aero Bureau. "This is a serious matter. The pilot's disorientation could cause loss of control of the aircraft."

One example of an incident occurred on Tuesday night, April 26, 2011, at 10:47 p.m. ---

Sheriff's deputy pilots flying a Los Angeles County Sheriff's helicopter reported to deputies on the ground that a person in a car near the Interstate 5 freeway and Rosemead Boulevard was pointing a laser at them.

Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station deputies immediately responded and stopped the car which was traveling south on the 605 freeway. The occupants of the car, including a 16-year old male resident of Los Alamitos who pointed the laser at the aircraft, were detained by deputies. A green laser pen light was found in the juvenile's possession. The suspect admitted that he shined the light at the sheriff's helicopter as it was flying overhead.

The suspect was arrested and transported to Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station. He was later released to his parents and ordered to appear in juvenile court to face the felony charge.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported by either the sheriff's helicopter pilot or the tactical flight deputy.

During other incidents, pilots have been so distracted or disoriented by laser lights, they have had to land, cancel landings, or take evasive action resulting in not being able to help the public, in order to ensure the safety of flight crews and people on the ground.

The number of incidents nationally in which people pointed lasers at planes and helicopters nearly doubled when comparing 2009 to 2010, from 1,527 incidents in 2009 to 2,836 incidents in 2010, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. In 2011 the numbers increased to 3,591 strikes and in 2012 there were 3,482 strikes nationwide.

"The FAA is actively warning people not to point high-powered lasers at aircraft because they can damage a pilot's eyes or cause temporary blindness," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "We continue to ask pilots to immediately report laser events to air traffic controllers so we can contact local law enforcement officials."


The awareness of law enforcement has been heightened on the ground and in the air. But we need the public's help to protect everyone's safety. Sheriff's deputies, police officers and all law enforcement ask that for the safety of the pilots and people on the ground, if you see someone point a laser at an aircraft, immediately call 9-1-1 and report it. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://www.lacrimestoppers.com


Facts and Videos about Laser Strikes and Flying:

*** VIDEOS About Laser Strikes and Flying

http://nixle.com/alert/5039173/


Laser Illumination of Helicopters: A Comparative Analysis With Fixed-Wing Aircraft for the Period 1980 – 2011 (FAA, April, 2013):

http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201308.pdf


FAA to Impose Civil Penalties for Pointing Lasers into Cockpits

http://nixle.com/alert/4696805/


Pointing lasers at sheriff's aircraft resulting in arrests (2011)

http://nixle.com/alert/4685847/


FAA news release and the Top 20 Laser Event Reports by Airports in 2010:

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=12298

Aircraft Laser Illumination for the Aviation Community (FAA Video)
http://www.faa.gov/tv/?tag=lasers

Laser News, Laws, & Civil Penalties (FAA)
http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/lasers/laws/


Laser Strikes Against Aircrafts (FBI News Releases)

http://www.fbi.gov/newark/press-releases/2012/laser-strikes-against-aircrafts

http://www.fbi.gov/philadelphia/press-releases/2013/philadelphia-man-sentenced-for-laser-strike-incident

http://www.fbi.gov/losangeles/press-releases/2013/north-hollywood-man-who-aimed-laser-at-aircraft-in-violation-of-2012-federal-law-sentenced-to-30-months-in-prison



* Flying with the LA Sheriff's Aero Bureau - VIDEO


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF8eeEAfUMs&list=UUlrCXRurpUlzY7gt7AUJPSw&index=1

* The flight crews of the Aero Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department fly a total of 21 aircraft:
15 - AS350B2 (Astar) patrol helicopters
3 - AS332L1 (Super Puma) Search and Rescue Helicopters
2 – Cessna 210, training and Special Projects
1 – Beechcraft B200 (King Air) response and transport plane

* LASD Aero Bureau: View from Above! Formed September 27, 1926, (Click here:) http://www.lasdblog.org/sites/page_render.aspx?pagename=aero_history when five "volunteer" pilots were sworn in as "Deputy Air Sheriffs," Aero Bureau expanded (Click here for 1966 Video:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_JUqhMcPcc&list=UUlrCXRurpUlzY7gt7AUJPSw&index=20
(Click here for more photos and links...)
http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/lasd-aero-bureau-view-from-above/









Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800 '
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.lasd.org
LASD HQ Text and Emails: www.Nixle.com
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Twitter: @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk
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Facebook LASD HQ: http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
LASD Photos: http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/
LASD YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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