COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — The Coeur d'Alene Police have arrested a man accused of pointing a laser at a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office helicopter that was on a routine patrol on Friday, August 16 around 11 p.m.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), the man pointed a high-powered laser from the ground and interfered with the helicopter crew's night vision goggles, causing them to lose vision and momentarily lose control of the helicopter.
KCSO says the crews were able to use the helicopter's forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera to locate the man on the ground and direct police to his location.
The suspect, a 30-year-old man from Coeur d'Alene, was arrested for three counts of felony assault and disorderly conduct.
KCSO says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have also been notified. The FAA can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation and the FBI says interference with aircraft operations with a laser is a felony that can carry a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
KCSO reminds community members that helicopter patrols are meant to assist emergency responders and that interference threatens both the aircraft crew and the community on the ground.
