Teen charged with pointing laser at Police helicopter

Source: Charlotte Observer

by Benson Agoha

A 19-year-old from Charlotte is spending time in jail, after he was arrested and charged for pointing a laser at the pilot of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police helicopter on Tuesday night.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Smith Hayden Brundage, was charged with two counts of using a laser device toward an aircraft, according to the CMPD.

* Smith Hayden Brundage,was charged for pointing
laser at a Police Helicopter.
(Photo Credit: Charlotte Observer).

“Investigators said the incident took place shortly before 10:30 p.m. in the 4600 block of Camp Stewart Road,” the paper said.

CMPD sent a tweet shortly before midnight, reporting that someone had pointed a green laser at the helicopter as it flew over an open field.

Two people were detained, but only Brundage has been charged with a state felony, which carries a prison term of up to five years.

Lasers can have adverse effects on the operation of some technological equipment and according to the Charlotte Observer “Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft can temporarily blind a pilot, jeopardizing the safety of everyone on board.” it said quoting FAA Administrator, Michael Huerta.

It was not the first time the Police will charge an offender in the Charlotte area, for pointing a laser device toward an aircraft. In May, a man from Oak Island was also arrested and charged with pointing a laser device toward an aircraft, during which the pilot said “the light temporarily blinded her and a passenger in the cockpit,” according to the Brunswick County authorities.

The Charlotte Observer said the federal charge of “interfering with the operation of an aircraft” has more serious penalties of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.”

Earlier this summer, the Charlotte office of the FBI announced a crackdown on the use of lasers to point at aircraft. The FBI said 68 laser incidents were reported in North Carolina last year and 20 through mid-May in the state. Six were in Charlotte, according to the FBI.

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