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US: Four arrests in Phoenix for lasing of helicopter using laser gunsight

Four persons were arrested in Phoenix on September 1 2013, for aiming the red beam from a .45 caliber handgun’s laser aiming sight at a police helicopter. The vision of the pilot and observer was temporarily blocked.

Ground officers found the four in a midtown apartment complex. Two men, Peter Ospitale, 28, and Paul Word, 31, were arrested for investigation of endangerment. Two women, Mary Grace and Marci Gomez, both 28, were arrested for investigation of obstructing government operations.

Peter Ospitale laserPaul Word laser
L-R: Peter Ospitale, Paul Word

Mary Grace laserMarci Gomez laser
L-R: Mary Grace, Marci Gomez


From MyFoxPhoenix.com, KHPO, and KJZZ