A man was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department after allegedly aiming a green laser at a helicopter during a street event in Paramount. The arrest was made amidst a street racing spectacle, which saw nearly 50 cars blockading the intersection at Alondra Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, as reported by CBS News. The name of the suspect, Brian Gutierrez, 27, was later released by authorities.
The incident, occurring just before the stroke of half-past midnight, spurred the dispatch of the LAPD Street Racing Task Force to the location. Despite the frantic scene, laden with screeching tires and cheering crowds, the gravity of the situation heightened when a high-powered laser was shone directly at an overhead LAPD helicopter. According to the LAPD's official release, Gutierrez was apprehended after fleeing and hiding in a backyard on the 15800 block of Berendo Avenue in Gardena.
The police later recovered a black laser pointer from the property, identified as the device used in the laser strike. "While pointing a laser at a helicopter may seem harmless, the actions of this individual are both illegal and dangerous," Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized, as per the LAPD's website. Gutierrez found himself not only facing charges for violations of California Penal Code but also had an active no-bail warrant on him.
Authorities have urged anyone with additional information on this occurrence to reach out to the LAPD's Major Crimes Division. Detective Beard can be contacted at (213) 486-7280 or, for anonymity, tips can be shared via the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or through the "P3 Tips" mobile app.
