Edmonton man charged with assault with a weapon after laser pointed at police helicopter

A 46-year-old Edmonton man has been charged after a laser pointer was aimed at the police helicopter earlier this week.

At about 3 a.m. Monday, police said EPS Air-1 pilots alerted members on the ground that someone was “lasering the aircraft with a green light sporadically and placing Air-1 members in danger.”

Staff Sgt. Paul Shafer of the EPS Canine and Flight Operations Section said the laser was pointed at the helicopter for several minutes.

“These actions recklessly endangered the health of the Air-1 crew members and impacted the safe operation of the aircraft,” Shafer said in a news release Wednesday.

“I sincerely hope that by publicizing the results of this event and subsequent investigation, it will send a strong message of deterrence, so that Air-1 can carry out its mission to enhance safety in the city of Edmonton without this type of irresponsible hinderance.”

Police released photos of what the laser looked like from the helicopter.

The below photo is what the pilots first noticed from the ground when the laser was initially pointed at the chopper.

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The EPS said the below photo is what Air-1 pilots visually endured for several minutes while the laser was pointed directly at the EPS helicopter.

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Police said the members in Air-1 were able to direct patrol officers to an address in the Riverbend area. While speaking with the man at the home, police said they saw a laser pointer inside the suite.

John Barclay, 46, of Edmonton, has since been charged with assault with a weapon and mischief endangering life.