A Virginia man was arrested last week after shining a laser pointer at a police helicopter actively looking for an individual running from authorities.
Fairfax County police said its helicopter, Fairfax 1, was helping Virginia State Police search for somebody who ran from troopers on March 10 around 11:25 p.m.
While in pursuit, the helicopter’s crew saw someone pointing a laser on the chopper from an apartment complex.
Using the aircraft’s FLIR system, the crew discovered the laser got here from a balcony apartment within the 9200 block of Ashland Woods Lane.
Detectives from Fairfax County’s Special Investigation Division identified the person responsible as a 25-year-old man.
He was arrested for interference with the operation of an aircraft, which is a class 1 misdemeanor within the Commonwealth.
“Pointing a laser at an aircraft is illegitimate and in addition a really bad idea when that aircraft is a police helicopter,” Fairfax County police said on Facebook.
The person, who was not identified by name, was released on a secure bond, in response to Fairfax County police.