Deputies say a 40-year-old Lakewood man landed in handcuffs Wednesday night after he allegedly flashed a green laser at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter while it was patrolling the area. The aircrew reportedly radioed for help, guiding ground units to the suspect a short time later. According to the sheriff's department, deputies recovered a green laser device at the scene and booked the man on suspicion of felony discharge of a laser at an aircraft, with the case expected to be forwarded to county prosecutors.
NBC Los Angeles reports that the sheriff's department said the man was found with a green laser and arrested on suspicion of felony discharge of a laser at an aircraft. The station also notes that the Federal Aviation Administration has logged 763 laser incidents so far this year and nearly 11,000 last year, down from a 2023 peak of 13,304, figures authorities often point to when warning that this is far from a harmless prank.
Why lasers are dangerous
Laser beams can dazzle or temporarily blind pilots, especially during takeoff or landing, creating a risk of loss of control or midair collisions. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, pilots have reported thousands of laser strikes in recent years, and the agency says dozens of pilots have reported injuries from laser exposures since 2010. Aviation safety experts warn that even a brief distraction at low altitude can force crews to divert or abort missions, multiplying the potential threat to people on the ground.
Legal consequences
Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal crime under the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which created 18 U.S.C. 9A and carries penalties of up to five years in prison. The statute text is available on Congress.gov, and prosecutors have used the law in cases across the country. On January 23, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada said a Las Vegas man pleaded guilty after pointing a green laser at a police helicopter, an example of federal enforcement that can lead to prison time and civil FAA fines, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Nevada.
Local response and takeaways
In this Lakewood incident, deputies credited the helicopter crew's quick radio call with helping ground units track down and arrest the suspect, NBC Los Angeles reports. Authorities are urging anyone who sees someone aiming lasers at aircraft to report it to local law enforcement and to file a report with the FAA so investigators can track and respond to laser strikes.
