By james art A 27-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly pointing a laser at a police helicopter in Oshawa over the weekend.
The Durham Regional Police Service said they responded to the area of Deer Valley Drive and Snowbird Street, north of Rossland Road West and west of Thornton Road North, on Friday night around 11:05 p.m. after an Air1 helicopter was “ hit repeatedly by a green laser.”
The laser targeting created an “immediate and serious” safety risk, endangering the lives of everyone in the helicopter, police said. They did not say how many people were on board.
Police said they found three men walking in the roadway at the time and arrested the suspect with the help of a K9 unit. They added that the laser pointer was found nearby.
Arsh Sharma, of Oshawa, faces one count each of being drunk in public and failure to appear, and two counts of mischief endangering life. The allegations have not been tested in court.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 1-888-579-1520, ext. 2531, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.