Cops: 3 men pointed laser at police helicopter (Chicago)

[marmar]

Three north suburban men face charges of pointing a laser beam at a Chicago Police helicopter Saturday night, police said today.

Arrested were Alvin Kang, 25, of Northbrook, Jeremy A. Smith, 24, of Skokie, and Mark P. Lawrence, 25, of Winnetka. The three face misdemeanor charges of unlawful use of a weapon -- pointing a laser at a police officer, according to a release from Chicago Police News Affairs.

Kang, whose defense attorney identified him as a graduate student at Northwestern University and who has a pending misdemeanor battery charge from a fight with a man early June 4, was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail in a hearing this morning at Cook County Central Bond Court. Smith and Lawrence have been released on their own recognizance. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-cops-3-men-pointed-laser-at-police-helicopter-20110619,0,763540.story

[ixion]

1. if that laser wasn't attached to a firearm, it wasn't a weapon

in my opinion.

Oh, and it wasn't, sounds like:

When the Near North officers got to the Menomonee Street address, they found Kang, Smith and Lawrence on a building roof and arrested them, according to police. Kang was seen dropping an object from the roof, according to a police report.

It doesn't say if the 'object' was recovered but it sounds like a pen laser.

[aikoaiko]

2. technically, firearms are a subcategory of weapons. There are more types of weapons than firearms.

Pointing lasers at cockpits of helicopters and planes is potentially dangerous.

[ixion]

4. exactly. A laser is not a weapon.

And while I do agree that it's not a bright thing to do, charging someone with improper use of a weapon seems difficult to make stick.

[aikoaiko]

6. I think you misinterpreted what I wrote. Lasers can be used as weapons.

Hopefully the charges and sentence will be appropriate.

[ixion]

8. I can see something like malicious mischief or interfering with a police investigation

but that's about as far as it goes.

[TheMadMonk]

11. Anything deliberately used in a fashion intended to injure is a weapon.

Stupid bloody sophistry games like you're playing, probably account for at least 90% of what is wrong with the World today.

[nosmokes]

3. There are millions of weapons besides *firearms.*

Certainly a laser when used in this fashion qualifies.

[ixion]

5. Well, gee, why is that? 'cause you say so?

:eyes:

No, a pen laser is not a weapon, nor was it being use as one in this case.

[nosmokes]

15. Is a @ x 4 a weapon? It is if used as a club.

Not because I say so but because I have more than 3 brain cells connected. sheesh.

[Nailzberg]

13. the law allows items to be defined as weapons by usage.

Outside the weapons already defined in the law, any item used in a manner dangerous to the individual being threatened is considered a weapon.

[KittyWampus]

7. This could be a great debate/argument. Laser pens aimed at pilots- weapon or not?

It could potentially blind a pilot.

So even if someone fooling around had no intention of harming anyone, they could wreck havoc and cause serious damage to persons and property.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

10. Pilots are grounded for 24 hours when exposed to lasers

When you're flying at night your pupils are wide open and therefore collect the maximum amount of light. The red spectrum is most sensitive, hence many planes use red lights to illuminate the instruments (been there, done that) while preserving your outside vision. Damage those optical receptors and you're putting the pilot at danger. That's why lasers of any power are dangerous. Some pilots fly using "star light" scopes, and a laser flash can destroy or damage the sensors.

Stand at one of a football field at night in the darkness and have a friend shine a laser at your eyes and see what happens. It's not pleasant -- especially a green laser.

With regard to whether or not the laser is attached to a weapon, a police officer on the ground or in the air doesn't know that. All he knows it that lasers are sold to improve the shooter's aim, and it's not good to be on the receiving end of the light. It's like someone holding a plastic gun and pointing at a police officer. You never know what's being pointed at you.

[mn9driver]

9. The charges are completely justified.

Pilots flying at night have been temporarily blinded by lasers pointed at the cockpit from the ground. Some have suffered permanent eye damage. This happens at least a few times per year in the United States. The flight deck is a very dark place at night and dark-adapted eyes are extremely vulnerable to this type of attack.

And make no mistake, it is an attack, with potentially deadly consequences.

on edit: This was a green laser, which means it was NOT just a low powered "pen" laser. Green lasers carry significantly more energy than red lasers and it is standard practice for anyone using them for a legitimate purpose to wear eye protection.

[-..__...]

12. Yep... they're not your grandfathers laser pointers anymore...

http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/Spyder_III_Pro_Arctic_Series-96-37.html

"Completely legal laser power. The 1000 mW output power of the blue laser beam is able to burn through balloons, plastic, and much more. In the U.S., it's totally legal to use a laser of any power for appropriate, non-commercial private use."

[Octafish]

14. Nice suburban psychopaths.

One is, er, was a grad student at Northwestern. Such a shame...