SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A piercing green light filled the sky of Spokane Valley on the night of Oct. 13, but it also caught the attention of two helicopters flying over the city.
That unknown, bright green light ended up getting a 42-year-old man arrested.
Johnny R. Blackstock was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree unlawful discharge of a laser, a felony. The charges stem from Blackstock allegedly pointing a green laser at two helicopters, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office (SCSO). He is still in jail on a $5,000 bond.
According to the sheriff's office, Spokane Regional Air Support Unit's (SRASU) Air 1 was flying on a regularly scheduled patrol when the pilot notices several strikes from a green laser. The pilot said the laser appeared to come from the area of North Pines Road and East Mansfield Avenue.
The flight crew was not impacted by the laser and was able to guide Spokane Valley deputies to the location the strike came from. Deputies located the suspect, later identified as Blackstock, and detained him. Shortly after, they reportedly found a laser in his pocket.
Deputies later learned Blackstock allegedly pointed the same laser at a Life Flight helicopter crew 15 minutes before the laser hit Air 1. The Life Flight helicopter was taking a patient through the same area at the time but was not impacted by the laser, according to SCSO.
Blackstock was booked into the Spokane County Jail on two felony counts of first-degree unlawful position of a laser. He is still in jail for these two charges, as well as an unrelated harassment charge.
Pointing a laser at any aircraft is a felony in Washington state and could potentially lead to federal felony charges. SCSO said this is "extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening" to the flight crew and people on the ground.
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