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US: LA Sheriff's Department announces 4 arrests

From September 2010 through April 2011, lasers have been pointed at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopters six times. In this period, the LACSD has made arrests for four police helicopter illuminations:
  • A 16-year-old boy from Los Alamitos, for an incident in late April 2011, in the Pico Rivera sheriff’s station area.
  • A 15-year-old boy from Pico Rivera, for an incident in December 2010, also in the Pico Rivera sheriff’s station area.
  • A 25-year-old man from Maywood, for an incident in December 2010.
  • A 25-year-old man from La Puente, for an incident in September 2010.
A helicopter pilot said that lasers have “caused long term damage to some pilots”. Officials also noted that incidents have forced pilots to land or to break off their operations in order to take evasive action.

From 660 WORL, the Los Angeles Times and WalnutPatch