Police Accuse Campbell Man of Laser Tagging Pilots
Pilots have complained of being lasered for three years
By LORI PREUITT
Updated 4:07 PM PST, Fri, Nov 21, 2008
A Campbell man is in big legal trouble over something police say he was doing with a hand-held green laser.
Police arrested 39-year-old Michael Weeker, of Campbell, this week. They say he is responsible for shining the laser at helicopter pilots several times over the past three years.
He was arrested Monday night a short time after a Sheriff's office helicopter flight crew was struck with a laser while flying over the South Bay.
A flight observer was able to pin-point the source of the laser and guide special operation detectives in to the exact location. They said that's where they found Weeker.
The arrest is the result of a joint effort between the sheriff’s, San Jose police and the F.B.I.
It started following several reports from pilots who said they had been struck in the eyes with a green laser.
Police say lasers can be very dangerous and affect both civilian and commercial flight crews.
Exposure to green laser can cause permanent damage to the eye that may include blindness.
Prior to Monday's arrest, police said they had a general neighborhood location of the person who was point the laser, but it wasn't until this week that they were able to get an exact location.
If convicted, Weeker could face up to eight years in prison.
First Published: Nov 21, 2008 11:34 AM PST
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