Lancaster Sheriff’s deputies recently apprehended a 27-year-old man suspected of repeatedly pointing a laser beam at the cockpit of a commercial aircraft in flight. Authorities said the federal crime could have resulted in disaster had it not been for the “swift action” of the Sheriff’s Department which utilized Lancaster’s Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System (LEAPS) to quickly locate the source of the laser beam. The suspect was jailed on $25,000 bail.
The jet was flying over Lancaster on Sept. 3, when a green light from a laser illuminated its cockpit on multiple occasions. The beam reportedly impaired the pilot’s vision and prompted him to report the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Control. The FAA then contacted the Sheriff’s Department which, in turn, notified the on-duty LEAPS pilot. After responding to the call, LEAPS was informed that the laser beam appeared again; the LEAPS pilot then determined the laser’s origin and notified Lancaster deputies who detained and arrested the suspect.
“Time and time again, the LEAPS system has proven to be a great tool for identifying and apprehending criminals,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “In this particular instance, not only were the innocent lives of the many passengers and crew members aboard this commercial flight placed in great peril, but also the safety and well-being of the LEAPS pilot. I could not be more proud of our Lancaster Sheriff’s station for its quick and expeditious apprehension of this dangerous suspect.”
Studies cited by the FAA have shown that green laser beams are particularly dangerous, as they can travel for miles and can temporarily blind pilots or cause retina damage in as little as 60 seconds. This is said to make it impossible to safely land an aircraft.
“Without the near instantaneous response of our LEAPS system, finding the location of this suspect would have been much more difficult,” said Patrick A. Nelson, captain of the Lancaster Sheriff’s station. “We are fortunate to work at a station which has such strong support of its local government. Mayor Parris and the Lancaster City Council have funded and provided this system to ensure the safety of our city.”
