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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Police pilot takes evasive action after laser show

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 07/27/2012 1:00 AM

A 19-year-old man was arrested late Wednesday and accused of pointing a laser light at the crew of the Winnipeg Police Service helicopter.

Police spokesman Const. Eric Hofley said the helicopter was assisting patrol officers break up a bonfire party on the banks of the Assiniboine River in Omand Park just before midnight Wednesday night, when a green laser light was repeatedly flashed at the helicopter.

Hofley said the pointing of laser light beams at the helicopter flight crew is potentially dangerous, adding this is the fourth such incident since the helicopter went into service on Feb. 1, 2011.

"Youth tend to not think properly about what the outcome might be," of flashing a laser pointer at the helicopter crew, Hofley said, adding the pilot was forced to take evasive action to ensure no one on board was harmed.

Hofley said the man was released on a promise to appear. He did not have information on what charges the young man is facing but added that in the past, similar incidents resulted in charges of assault with a weapon and charges under the Aeronautics Act of projecting a bright light source at an aircraft.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 27, 2012 A5