Charges laid after laser pointed at police chopper

AJAX -- Charges under Canada’s Criminal Code and Aeronautics Act have been laid against a visitor accused of directing a hand-held laser at the Durham police helicopter Saturday in Ajax.

Members of Air 1’s crew were temporarily blinded and the pilot had to take evasive action after what was described as an intense green light struck the helicopter, police said. Staff Sergeant Al Mack, head of the air support unit, said the action could have had tragic consequences.

“When directed into the human eye laser lights can create temporary blindness that may affect the pilot’s ability to operate the aircraft safely,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

“We take incidents of this nature very seriously.”

Seriously enough that the accused man, a 31-year-old visitor from Colombia, is facing charges that could result in a $100,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

The incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. when cops in the helicopter flew over Ajax, following up on a report of an armed suspect in an unrelated call, police said. Air 1 was at an altitude of 1,200 feet when the blinding light struck the craft, police said.

On-board infrared technology pinpointed an individual standing in a driveway below and that information was passed along to officers on the ground. They arrested a man and seized a small laser device.

Juan Carlos Orozco Pelaez of Colombia faces charges under the Criminal Code and the Aeronautics Act. He was released Monday after posting a $10,000 bond and surrendering his passport.

Officers struck by the laser were checked out by doctors and found to have no permanent damage, said police spokesman Dave Selby. He noted there have been a number of similar incidents in Durham.

“I’m aware of there being several other incidents over the past four years (involving Air 1),” he said.

“I know there are others involving other aircraft as well.”

Police released information on the latest incident to highlight the extreme danger caused by such behaviour, he said.

“This is an extremely dangerous practice,” he said. “It’s not funny.”