By Natalie Pompilio
The Philadelphia Daily News
PHILADELPHIA — Illustrating the latest case of a growing problem, a 23-year-old Philadelphia man has been federally charged with interfering with an aircraft after he allegedly shone a laser pointer into the cockpit of a police helicopter flying over Hunting Park.
Brian Lawhon faces penalties that include a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine.
Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers said the department has seen an increasing number of people arrested for misusing laser pointers.
“People think they’re playing a game and it’s a federal crime,” Evers said. “It’s definitely dangerous . . . If there’s a major incident with a helicopter, what goes up must come down.”
Lawhon, of Hunting Park, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, alleged shone the laser pointer into the eyes of the two helicopter pilots while they were flying a routine patrol on July 27.
Laser pointers are increasingly being aimed at aircraft in the area, particularly near airports. In 2010, 68 laser incidents were reported near Philadelphia airports, with the majority - 64 - at Philadelphia International, said Arlene Salac, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
To date in 2011, there have been 83 reported incidents, 79 of them at Philadelphia International.
“It is very serious,” Salac said. “It can cause damage to the individual, the pilot, and can pose a danger to aviation.”
One problem is the availability and inexpensiveness of many laser pointers. A more-expensive model, the S3 Krypton, is sold by Wicked Lasers for $1,000 and is strong enough to “blind an astronaut,” according to promotional material.
Cases have popped up across the country in recent years. Earlier this month, a Baltimore teen was charged with reckless endangerment, attempted second-degree assault on police and prohibited use of a laser pointer after twice flashing a green laser at a police helicopter searching for a suicidal person.
In June, the FAA imposed a civil penalty of $11,000 for pointing a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft. In July, officials in Ocean City, N.J., took steps to ban the sale of high-powered laser pointers after a beam from one bought on the city’s boardwalk was aimed at a Coast Guard helicopter.
In that case, the perpetrator, Eric Bouda, 21, of Gloucester County, pleaded guilty to interference with transportation. He was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 15 days’ community service.
Copyright 2011 Philadelphia Newspapers, LLC