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Australia: Perth man aims blue laser at police helicopter

A man in Perth aimed a blue laser beam at a Western Australia Police Force helicopter on May 13 2021.

2021-05-14 Blue laser aimed at Western Australian Police Force helicopter

The helicopter crew directed ground officers to a home where the 22-year-old was arrested. He was charged with causing fear or alarm with a laser or light to people in conveyances or others. The man faces a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to AUS $36,000 (USD $26,600).

From The Australian

Australia: After Perth laser helicopter illumination, police seize lasers, rifle, knives

A police helicopter was “targeted by a green laser beam on numerous occasions” according to a spokesperson, as it flew over the Perth-area suburb of Beckenham on September 23 2014. The beam was traced back to a home in the East Victoria Park suburb.

At the home, police seized two green laser pointers, a rifle, and “several display knives.” There were no arrests as of the next day. Police said a 30-year-old man was assisting with their inquiries.

From the West Australian via Yahoo! News

Australia: Incident in Mandurah comes one week after another man fined $10,000

A 28-year-old man from Mandurah, Western Australia, was arrested for aiming a green laser beam at a police helicopter. The September 26 2014 arrest came one week after another Mandurah man, Raymond Alexander Moore, was fined AUS $10,000 for an August 25 incident where Moore continually aimed a laser at a police helicopter.

In the new incident, the helicopter was conducting a search when it was hit numerous times at about 2:30 am. The unidentified man was arrested at his home in Meadow Springs, northeast of central Mandurah.

From the Mandurah Mail and ABC News

Australia: AUS $10,000 fine for "stupid idiot" in Mandurah shining laser at police helicopter

A 40-year-old man from Mandurah, Western Australia, was fined AUS $10,000 (US $9,093) on September 19 2014 for aiming a green laser beam at a police helicopter. A news report said that Raymond Alexander Moore “showed his disregard for the court” by shaking his head as his fine was announced.

On August 25 2014, a police helicopter searching for a violent offender was continually blinded by a green laser beam. The pilot took evasive action and “was under immediate distress.”

According to Moore’s lawyer, Moore had been outside with his dog, playing with the laser, when he decided to aim at the helicopter: “He didn’t think it would hit or reach the aircraft.”

When ground officers, directed by the helicopter pilot, arrived at Moore’s home, he said he was “stupid” and “an idiot” for aiming at the helicopter.

Moore faced up to three years in jail and up to AUS $36,000 maximum fine. The judge said “the risk of damage was huge” and that Moore “should be grateful this offence was dealt with in this court” [instead of jail].

From the Mandurah Mail

Australia: Mandurah man arrested for aiming laser at police helicopter

A 39-year-old Western Australian man was arrested for aiming a green laser beam numerous times at a police helicopter on August 25 2014. The man, from Mandurah (about 45 miles south of Perth), was tracked by the helicopter’s infrared camera to his home.

From WA Today

Australia: Perth-area man hampers search by aiming laser twice at police helicopter

A search for a missing elderly person in a Perth suburb was disrupted when a police helicopter was twice hit by a laser pointer beam. At about 6:50 pm on September 6 2013, the aircraft was helping in the search when it was hit the first time. It left to do a different task, and came back about 40 minutes later. It was then hit again.

At the same time, several commercial aircraft in the same area reported being hit.

The helicopter directed ground officers to a property in Koondoola. They seized a laser pointer and charged a 36-year-old man with causing fear with laser or light to people in conveyances.

From 7 News and the Herald Sun

Australia: $10,000 fine after Woodvale man aims laser at police helicopter

Christopher Manning, 40, was fined AUS $10,000 (USD $9,140) on September 4 2013, for causing fear with a laser or light.

On August 3 2013, a police helicopter was conducting a search in the Perth suburb of Woodvale when it was hit a number of times by a bright green laser light. The pilot had “immediate distress” and took evasive action. Ground officers arrested Manning at his home in Woodvale, and seized the laser. He was later found guilty in Joondalup magistrates court.

From WAtoday.com.au: Original Aug 3 incident; Sept 5 fine

Australia: Perth-area man hits police helicopter multiple times, is arrested

A 40-year-old man from the Woodvale area of Perth was arrested August 3 2013 for the offense of using a portable device to direct a visible lasers at or near a conveyance. The Western Australia police helicopter was patrolling Woodvale at about 10 pm. It was hit several times with a laser light. About five minutes later it was hit again. A forward-looking infrared camera was used to locate the unnamed suspect.

From the Daily Telegraph and WA Today