Video: Man jailed after repeatedly shining laser into helicopter cockpit

By Ben Orner
mlive.com

DETROIT — A Washtenaw County man is in jail after Michigan State Police say he repeatedly shined a laser pointer at a police helicopter flying overhead Saturday night.

The 52-year-old from Willis wearing a top hat and peacoat, MSP said, was standing outside a restaurant in Detroit and shining a green laser toward the MSP copter flying above. Troopers on the ground responded and arrested him.

Video from the helicopter that state police posted to X shows the incident happening just after 9 p.m. outside The Congregation, a bar and café on Rosa Parks Blvd. Ten minutes later, the video shows, troopers handcuffed him.

“We can’t stress enough how dangerous it is to point lasers at any aircraft,” Lt. Mike Shaw said in a statement. “We will continue to track down those who do this in order to keep our pilots safe.”

MSP did not release the suspect’s name. He is booked at the Detroit Detention Center pending a prosecutor’s review.

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