Md. Man Arrested For Pointing Laser At MSP Helicopter
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A 30-year-old Sykesville man was arrested after authorities say he pointed a green laser at a Maryland State Police helicopter eight times early Monday morning.
Connor Grant Brown faces charges of reckless endangerment, obstructing and hindering, and shining a laser pointer at an aircraft.
Brown could also be facing charges from the FBI.
"These laser beams can really be catastrophic," said MSP spokeswoman Elena Russo.
The MSP Trooper 3 helicopter was up in the sky at 1 a.m. Monday. They were assisting the Carroll County Sheriff's Office with an investigation in the 800 block of Klees Mills Rd. in Westminster.
The pilot and crew report that the cockpit of the helicopter was hit by a green laser about eight times.
MD State Police say Connor Brown shined laser pointer at aircraft "multiple times" - forced chopper 2 land & hospitalized 2 @cbsbaltimore pic.twitter.com/j5vBFAS0Ht
— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) January 16, 2017
The green laser forced the crew to abandon their mission and land. The pilot and crew chief were then taken to be treated at a local hospital.
"The two members of the crew actually felt the effects of the hits of the laser beam," said Russo.
The two crew members were later released from the hospital, but still have to follow up for more testing.
Authorities then searched for the person who was pointing the laser at the helicopter, and investigators tracked the laser back to Brown's house.
"We can see where the laser beam is coming from, because it makes a line basically from point of the brightness down to the origin," said MSP Corporal Gregg Lentz.
"We have the risk of crashing the aircraft, killing everyone on board. We have risk of permanent eye damage."
As for a motive, State Police are still investigating, but they hope their charges, as well as potential charges from the FBI send a serious message.
Brown has been released from the Carroll County Detention Center, but he's due back in court in March.
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