OJAI, Calif. – A 14-year-old was cited for discharging a laser at a Sheriff’s helicopter Tuesday night during a search for a still missing at-risk person in the area.
On Jun. 25, around 8:34 p.m., Copter 3 was conducting patrol operations as part of the search for Zyanya Valora of Ojai, an at-risk woman missing since Monday , when the crew chief and pilot experienced a laser strike stated the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in a press release about the incident sent out Friday.
According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, members of the crew were able to locate the origin of the laser strike to a residence in the 1900 block of Tiara Drive.
Ojai patrol deputies responded to the residence and located a 14-year-old boy who was later determined to have been responsible for pointing the laser explained the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Pointing a laser pointer at a helicopter seems harmless, but not only can it impair a helicopter crew’s ability to safely fly, but can permanently damage their eyesight and that is why a laser strike has its own penal code statute (PC 247.5) which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison shared the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.