Men charged over shining a laser at chopper
Police helicopters have been targeted in two separate laser incidents across Melbourne on Sunday night, leading to the arrests of two men in the city’s west.
In both instances the men pointed lasers at the aircraft, with officers aboard the helicopter forced to direct police on the ground to find the individuals responsible.
In the first incident, the helicopter was flying above the Tarneit area at about 9.40pm when a laser was allegedly shone at the aircraft several times.
Officers aboard the helicopter instructed police on the ground to attend a property on Hummingbird Ave where a 36-year-old Tarneit man was arrested.
A laser was found at the address and the man was charged with 21 offences, including endangering the safe operation of an aircraft, possessing a prohibited weapon, reckless conduct endangering life and assaulting an emergency worker.
He was remanded to appear at Werribee Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
About three hours after the first incident, a helicopter was again targeted by a laser several times over the Werribee area.
Officers on the ground were once again directed to the source of the laser by Air Wing officers at about 1am on Monday, which led them to a Bronson Circuit address in Hoppers Crossing.
There, an 18-year-old St Albans man was arrested.
He was charged with endangering the safe operation of an aircraft, possessing a prohibited weapon, reckless conduct endangering life, committing indictable offences while on bail and assaulting an emergency worker.
He was also remanded to appear at Werribee Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
