Man arrested on suspicion of pointing laser at LAPD chopper during downtown protests

A man accused of aiming a laser pointer at a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter that was monitoring immigration-raid protests in downtown Los Angeles has been arrested, the FBI said.

The 21-year-old, whose last known address was in Hemet, was arrested on Monday, July 7, with investigators having filed a complaint against him on June 27 in U.S. District Court.

According to the complaint, on June 10 the man allegedly aimed the laser at a LAPD helicopter flying at 950 feet while its crew monitored anti-immigration-enforcement protests.

The airship was struck three times by the green laser beam, according to the complaint.

“The LAPD helicopter pilot and flight officer were able to identify the person using the laser … and relay his description and location near a parking lot to LAPD officers on the ground, who located (the man) and arrested him,” according to an FBI news release. “An LAPD officer searched (the man) and found a laser pointer in his pocket.”

The man admitted that he pointed the laser at the chopper, according to the FBI, which noted that the beam lit up the helicopter’s cockpit for three to five seconds each time and forced the pilot to change altitude.

The man was released after an initial court appearance and, if convicted, faces up to five years in federal prison.