DETROIT, Michigan – A Wayne County man finds himself in police custody after he was caught shining a laser pointer at a Michigan State Police (MSP) helicopter on a Saturday night.
The incident occurred while Trooper 3 was on patrol above the city. The vigilant pilot of the MSP helicopter spotted an individual wearing a top hat and a peacoat aiming a green laser at their aircraft. Video footage released by the MSP on Sunday revealed the suspect and another person standing near the back steps of what the pilot believed to be a church.
Upon responding to the scene, troopers witnessed a man in a top hat and jacket pointing a green laser at the ground. The individual, identified as a 52-year-old resident from Willis, located just south of Ypsilanti, was promptly arrested. He is currently held at the Detroit Detention Center, pending a review by the prosecutor.
MSP First Lieutenant Mike Shaw emphasized the danger of pointing lasers at aircraft, saying, “We can’t stress enough how dangerous it is to point lasers at any aircraft. We will continue to track down those who do this in order to keep our pilots safe.”
MSP officials have identified the location of the incident as “in the area of 9321 Rosa Parks,” near Chicago Boulevard. This address corresponds to The Congregation, a former church that has been transformed into a popular bar and coffee shop situated in the Boston-Edison neighborhood. The individual’s distinctive attire certainly made him easy to identify, underscoring the seriousness of the offense.
