Full Notification

https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment/posts/1170276742999237

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter was taking part in ground-to-air coordination training in Agoura Hills with deputies from the Malibu / Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station at 11:30PM, on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.

During the training, the sheriff’s helicopter flight crew told patrol deputies that a laser had been pointed at the helicopter from the ground. The pilot directed deputies to the source of the laser strike, which is house in the 5300 block of Francisca Way, in Agoura Hills.

An investigation by the deputies at the residence led to the arrests of 31-year old Christopher Cooper of Lake Elsinore and 33-year old Tanjelina Meredith of San Juan Capristrano. The suspects were visiting a friend at the Agoura Hills home. The suspects were arrested for the felony charge of felony discharging a laser at an aircraft, 247.5 PC California Penal Code. Bail was set at $20,000.00.

If You See Someone Point A Laser At An Aircraft, Call 9-1-1.
You could save the lives of the flight crew and also the people on the ground.

                                  
**

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 many adult arrests and juvenile detentions. 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:

08/11/15: Agoura Hills area: Arrested Suspects Christopher Cooper MW/31 of Lake Elsinore and Tangelina Meredith FW/33 of San Juan Capistrano
07/26/15: Walnut Park area: Arrested Suspect Fernando Del Real MH/28 of Walnut Park
07/10/15: West Valinda area: Arrested Suspect Jaime Castro MH/26 of West Valinda
05/03/15: Canyon Country area: Juvenile of Canyon Country Detained
02/18/15: East LA area: Arrested Suspect Gabriel Miranda MH/44 of Los Angeles
02/05/15: Gardena area: Arrested Suspects Jose Cortez MH/39, Diego Cortescoranado MH/28, Lucio Luna MH/23, and Enrique Gomez/MH/19 all of Gardena
05/26/14: Montebello area: Arrested Suspect Richard Garcia MH/22 of Monterey Park
04/30/14: Palmdale area: Arrested Suspect Danny Gonzalez MH/23 of Palmdale
03/28/14: Huntington Park area: Arrested Suspect Franklin Villadares MH/31 of Huntington Park
03/23/14: East LA area: Juvenile of Los Angeles Detained
03/10/14: Bellflower area: Arrested Suspect Zein Himdan MH/20 of Bellflower
01/05/14: East LA area: Arrested Suspect Ricardo Ganivet MH/38
11/17/13: East LA area: Arrested Suspect George Elali MO/32 of Los Angeles. FBI successfully indicted him with the US Attorney
11/09/12: West Covina area: Arrested Suspect Jesus Luna MH/27 of Los Angeles
09/06/12: North Hollywood area: S Arrested Suspect Isias Gonzalez MH/26 of Denver, Co. Indicted and Convicted of Federal Charges
04/18/12: Valencia area: Arrested Suspect Chad Martinez MH/25 of Valencia
12/22/11: Lakewood area: Juvenile of Long Beach Detained
09/23/11: Compton area: Arrested Suspect Kimberly Rogers FW/29 of Compton
04/26/11: Pico Rivera area: Juvenile of Los Alamitos Detained
12/16/10: Pico Rivera area: Juvenile of Pico Rivera Detained
12/11/10: La Puente area: Arrested Suspect Alejandro Chavez MH/23 of La Puente
08/22/10: Monterey Park area: Arrested Suspect Brian Anthony Wheeler MW/43 of Monterey Park
05/23/10: South Los Angeles Unincorporated area: Arrested Suspect Steve Urquizo MH/22 of Los Angeles

The Aero Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department began keeping laser strike statistics on our aircraft in early 2010. Since then, LASD aircraft have struck 35 times.
In 24 of those events, we were able to identify the suspect and he/she was arrested by ground units and booked for Pointing a Laser at an Aircraft, 247.5 PC California Penal Code Section. If the suspect is prosecuted federally by the U.S. Attorney, Federal Statute 18 USC 32 (a) (5), carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in Federal prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

In addition, the FAA can impose a civil fine of $11,000.00 per laser strike on suspects (regardless of the outcome of the criminal case), under CFR 91.11.

There are four types of physiological reactions to laser strikes:
• Dazzle
• After-Image Formation (light a flashbulb going off in your eye)
• Flash-Blindness
• Irreversible Damage to the retina

In any case, these effects can cause a pilot to lose control of an aircraft and crash.

***FOR VIDEOS ABOUT LASER STRIKES AND FLYING (CLICK ON LINKS BELOW:

* LASER STRIKE: Laser strike incidents against aircraft have increased dramatically since 2009 and pose a serious threat to aviation across the U.S. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in association with the LASD Aero Bureau, Homeland Security and the FBI has produced a video about the possible dangers of green laser pointers

http://www.youtube.com/watch…

* Laser Strike: Interview 1 of 4 - LAPD Pilots comment on effect of Laser Strikes while in flight over a rave party at the LA Coliseum.
http://www.youtube.com/watch…

* Laser Strike: Interview 2 of 4 - An LA News helicopter pilot discusses her experiences with laser strikes, including an incide3nt that caused temporary injury to her eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch…

Laser Strike: Interview 3 of 4 - Glendale Police Chief Pilot relates his story of a laser strike and the painful result.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olVpxKae-6Q

* Laser Strike: Interview 4 of 4 - National recognized UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute Professor of Ophthalmology Dr. Kevin M. Miller discusses how the eyes react to a laser strike, and how vision can be effected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt1XOb2EH8A

* Flying with the LA Sheriff's Aero Bureau
http://www.youtube.com/watch…

Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-229-1700

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Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department