A Calgary man is facing charges after a laser pointer was directed at the police HAWC1 helicopter -- an action that has temporarily grounded its crew.
The incident is the 11th of its kind recorded by Transport Canada in Alberta this year, surpassing nine in 2009.
Two Calgary police officers and a civilian pilot aboard the chopper were able to keep the aircraft under control and help find a suspect.
They'll be kept out of the air while doctors determine if they sustained any lasting vision damage during Monday night's scare.
Although Sgt. James Partridge wasn't aboard the chopper, he has been in the cockpit before when someone on the ground aimed a laser pointer.
"Think of when you're driving and somebody uses their high beams to blind you," he said.
"Imagine something a thousand times more intense."
Laser pointers have become a common tool in boardroom presentations, and statistics compiled by Transport Canada show they're increasingly being misused, as well.
In 2005, there were only three reports of aircraft being targeted by laser beams across Canada.
By 2009, the number had swelled to 108 nationally -- and there are 101 incidents so far this year.
The latest came at 10:45 p.m. Monday, as HAWC1 was assisting patrol cars with a weapons call near Memorial Drive and 36th Street S.E.
Someone on the ground aimed a bright green laser beam into the chopper's cockpit, forcing the pilot to take evasive action.
"It's incredibly distracting," said Partridge, who said the light typically fills the entire cockpit.
The crew donned protective eye-wear and began searching for the source of the beam, with help from officers on the ground.
While the protective glasses can defend crews against a beam from a laser pointer, Partridge said they're too dark to be worn during normal flight conditions.
Police said the helicopter was hit with the laser at least two more times during a 30-minute search for the source.
"Trying to find some guy standing on the ground with a laser is challenging," Partridge said.
"We were able to keep narrowing it down as a result of the multiple (laser) exposures."
Patrol officers arrested a man at a house in the 7800 block of Martha's Haven Park N.E. -- nearly 10 kilometres away -- and seized what investigators describe as a high-powered laser.
Jason John McConnell, 34, has been charged with one count each of obstructing a peace officer and mischief endangering life.
"They're blowing it way out of proportion," McConnell said in an interview Tuesday.
McConnell said he commonly uses laser pointers in trade show displays and described Monday's incident as an accident.
"I was playing with it inside the house and it hit a mirror. It's not like I was inside pointing it at them. It's pure coincidence."
In addition to the criminal charges, McConnell is accused of violating two federal statutes. He's been charged with projecting a bright light source at an aircraft under the Canadian Aviation Regulation, and lessening an aircraft crew's ability to perform its duties -- an offence under the Aeronautics Act.
