Epress.am News from Armenia
A 19-year-old Glendale man was arrested late Friday after he allegedly flashed a green laser device at a police helicopter, officials said, reports the Glendale News-Press.
Narek Karapetyan (pictured) was taken into custody about 11:15 pm after shining the laser twice at a Glendale and Burbank police aircrew, Sgt. Steve Robertson, the pilot, said.
The arrest is the second of its kind this month in Glendale, in addition to a similar incident in Burbank.
Shining a high-powered laser at an aircraft can damage a pilot’s eyes or cause temporary blindness.
In the incident Friday night, Robertson was piloting the aircraft about 9:15 pm in skies above Glenoaks Boulevard when the green laser struck his eyes. His corneas were severely burned in a similar incident 15 years ago.
He and a Burbank police co-pilot pinpointed the laser near Hoover High School. They checked the area, but couldn’t find anyone, so continued on their patrol.
About 45 minutes later, they were preparing to land when the Burbank officer was hit again by the laser, Robertson said.
They switched to infrared equipment and flew to the area around Hoover High School, where he said they spotted a group of men next to a car.
Robertson immediately called for patrol cars to respond to the area, where they arrested Karapetyan, who allegedly was seen hiding the laser behind a nearby tree.
Karapetyan told police that he flashed the laser, but denied pointing it directly at the aircrew, Robertson said.
If convicted, Karapetyan could face stiff civil penalties.
Photo of Narek Karapetyan courtesy of the Glendale Police Department.