Laser pointer used on police helicopter involved in missing person search

By Monique Preston

Oct 23, 2023

Charges pending: A teenager was arrested after allegedly pointing a laser pointer at a police helicopter in Shepparton on Sunday night. Photo by Ray Sizer

A teenager has been arrested after allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a police helicopter involved in the search for a missing person in Kialla on Sunday, October 22.

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Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit’s Detective Senior Constable Lance Wiltshire said a laser pointer was shone from the ground into the helicopter’s cockpit several times about 9pm.

Police allege the laser pointer was shone at the helicopter several times from several different spots in the Kialla area.

Det Sen Constable Wiltshire said laser pointers were prohibited under the Civil Aviation Act and shining a light at an aircraft was illegal.

A 16-year-old Kialla boy was arrested by police in a vehicle driving in Kialla and is expected to be charged on summons with interfering with an aircraft and possessing a prohibited weapon.

The police helicopter had earlier been used to help locate a missing person in Kialla.

It was used to pinpoint the man and give directions so police could walk into bushland on foot to get him.

The man was safely located by police.