Calgary Police have charged a local man in relation to an incident Monday evening involving a HAWC1 helicopter disrupted by a laser pointer.
Around 10:45p.m., a HAWC1 flight crew was flying over the community of Franklin when their helicopter was struck by a green laser light. The pilot was forced to take evasive action to avoid the light and the crew immediately put on protective eyewear.
The crew searched the immediate area for about 30 minutes afterwards trying to locate the source of the light. During their search, they were hit with the laser light another two times.
The source of the laser was eventually determined to be coming from a home in the 7800 block of Martha’s Haven Park N.E. Officers arrested one person inside the home and found a Class 3B laser, which can damage an eye instantaneously upon exposure.
The HAWC1 crew was grounded from flight for the remainder of their shift pending a medical assessment.
Jason John McConnell has been charged with obstructing a peace officer and mischief causing danger to life. He has also been charged under the Canadian Aviation Regulation and Aeronautics Act for pointing a laser at an aircraft and dangerous behaviors interfering with an aircraft crew’s ability to perform their duties.
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