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Organization: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Date: September 15, 2008
Laser Beam Light Leads to Arrest
Saturday, September 13, 2008, 8:50 p.m. — Valencia:
An Oxnard man was arrested in Valencia Saturday night after he allegedly directed the green beam from a laser at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department patrol helicopter. Deputies reported that their airship was illuminated by a strong green laser light as they conducted aerial patrols in the area of Ash Glen Circle, Valencia.
The deputies followed the light directly to a Valencia residence where they contained it and called in ground patrol units from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. Additional investigation led to the arrest of Mathew Ponek, MW/26, of Oxnard. A hand-held laser pointer was recovered. Ponek was transported to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station where he was booked on a felony charge of Discharging a Laser at an Aircraft. He later posted $20,000 bond and was released pending future court proceedings.
Some are under the misguided belief that pointing such laser devices at an aircraft or persons is a harmless practical joke without consequences. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station would like to remind all residents that pointing such devices at an aircraft is not only a felony, but Class IIIb lasers produce sufficient amount of energy to cause personal injury, start fires, and potentially cause a pilot to lose control of an aircraft. Pointing the beam from lasers at any person, into their eyes or into moving vehicles, under some circumstances, is a misdemeanor under California Law, and the possession of laser pointers in elementary and secondary schools by those not engaged in classroom instruction is also against the law in California. It is also illegal to sell such a device to anyone under the age of 18. Law enforcement personnel do not take the use and possession of such lasers lightly and anyone deploying, pointing or using such a device in a an unlawful manner will be subject to arrest and prosecution.
The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. -ref 16399
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
