Teen arrested for pointing a laser at police helicopter

The Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Aviation Unit helicopter crew was on routine flight patrol in the city of Perris Friday night when a high-powered green laser was pointed at the helicopter.

The green laser lighted up the helicopter’s cockpit temporary blinding the helicopter crew’s Tactical Flight Officer, just before 8:30pm.

The crew was able to direct officers on the ground to where three teen males fed into a storm drain near the intersection of Patriot Lane and Wilson Avenue.

A patrol officer in the immediate area quickly located and detained the three suspects near the wash area.

Two teenage suspects, both residents of the city of Perris, were detained, interviewed, and released to their parents.

The third suspect, a 16-year-old Hispanic male juvenile and resident of the city of Perris, was found in possession of a handheld high-powered green laser.

Further investigation revealed this suspect had intentionally discharged the green laser at the Sheriff’s helicopter.

The suspect was charged Intentionally Discharging a High-powered laser at an Aircraft in Flight.

The suspect was booked at the Riverside County Juvenile Hall in Riverside.