CHARGES LAID FOLLOWING LASER STRIKE ON AIR2
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2015-08-20
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Investigators with the York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau have arrested and charged a man after he pointed a laser at the Air2 police helicopter in the City of Vaughan.
On Sunday, August 16, 2015, at 1:30 a.m., Air2 was in the area of Highway 7 and Pine Valley Drive assisting uniform officers on the ground, who were responding to a weapons call. While searching for a suspect from the air, the pilot and tactical flight officer were struck by an unrelated bright light source that originated in the area of Jenna Court. The strikes continued as the crew engaged in safety measures. The tactical flight officer used the camera system on Air2 to observe three men standing next to a vehicle at the end of Jenna Court. One of the men was seen pointing a handgun at the helicopter that had a laser pointer on it. Officers with the Canine Unit and Emergency Response Unit responded to the suspect’s location. As they approached, the suspect with the gun fled on foot, hopping a fence, throwing the gun, then attempting to hide in a nearby wooded area. Canine officers were directed to the suspect’s location in the wooded area by officers in Air2. The suspect was arrested by the Canine Unit while trying to hide beneath trees.
Following the arrest, officers with of Air2 were able to locate the handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun with a laser scope mounted on it.
Charged:
• Nicholas CARANCI, 19, City of Vaughan
Charges:
• Mischief Endangering Life
• Unlawfully Engage in Behavior that Endangers an Aircraft - Aeronautics Act
• Project Bright Light Source into Navigable Airspace - Canadian Aviation Regulation
Mr. CARANCI is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in the Town of Newmarket on September 18, 2015.
York Regional Police reminds the public of the potential harm laser pointers can cause. Health Canada advises that a split-second look into a laser pointer can result in a condition called flash blindness. This is similar to the effect you get during flash photography, where the image of the flash remains in your eyes for a few seconds, then fades away. However, for a pilot in control of an aircraft flying over populated areas, the consequences can be serious. Those who aim these pointers at aircraft are putting lives in danger, not only in the aircraft but on the ground. There is a serious potential for harm to the pilot and the prospect of a crash.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com, or text your tip to CRIMES (274637) starting with the word YORK.
On Sunday, August 16, 2015, at 1:30 a.m., Air2 was in the area of Highway 7 and Pine Valley Drive assisting uniform officers on the ground, who were responding to a weapons call. While searching for a suspect from the air, the pilot and tactical flight officer were struck by an unrelated bright light source that originated in the area of Jenna Court. The strikes continued as the crew engaged in safety measures. The tactical flight officer used the camera system on Air2 to observe three men standing next to a vehicle at the end of Jenna Court. One of the men was seen pointing a handgun at the helicopter that had a laser pointer on it. Officers with the Canine Unit and Emergency Response Unit responded to the suspect’s location. As they approached, the suspect with the gun fled on foot, hopping a fence, throwing the gun, then attempting to hide in a nearby wooded area. Canine officers were directed to the suspect’s location in the wooded area by officers in Air2. The suspect was arrested by the Canine Unit while trying to hide beneath trees.
Following the arrest, officers with of Air2 were able to locate the handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun with a laser scope mounted on it.
Charged:
• Nicholas CARANCI, 19, City of Vaughan
Charges:
• Mischief Endangering Life
• Unlawfully Engage in Behavior that Endangers an Aircraft - Aeronautics Act
• Project Bright Light Source into Navigable Airspace - Canadian Aviation Regulation
Mr. CARANCI is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in the Town of Newmarket on September 18, 2015.
York Regional Police reminds the public of the potential harm laser pointers can cause. Health Canada advises that a split-second look into a laser pointer can result in a condition called flash blindness. This is similar to the effect you get during flash photography, where the image of the flash remains in your eyes for a few seconds, then fades away. However, for a pilot in control of an aircraft flying over populated areas, the consequences can be serious. Those who aim these pointers at aircraft are putting lives in danger, not only in the aircraft but on the ground. There is a serious potential for harm to the pilot and the prospect of a crash.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com, or text your tip to CRIMES (274637) starting with the word YORK.
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