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Police Accuse Campbell Man of Laser Tagging Pilots Pilots have complained of being lasered for three years

By  LORI PREUITT

Updated 4:07 PM PDT, Fri, Nov 21, 2008

Man accused of pointing lasers at helicopter pilots under arrest
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Man accused of pointing lasers at helicopter pilots under arrest

 

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.

Comments (4)

Sort by: Most Recent | Oldest
  • joe s Tuesday, Apr 7 at 2:51 PM FLAG COMMENT mather, have you been following this closely... go get em
  • Steve Friday, Nov 21 at 8:28 PM FLAG COMMENT Stupid is as stupid does!!!!
  • MIMI Friday, Nov 21 at 2:34 PM FLAG COMMENT WHAT A DUMMY
  • Maher Friday, Nov 21 at 1:20 PM FLAG COMMENT I hope the nail this idiot and send him to jail for the full term. How dare he think he has the right to endanger a planeload of people. I plan to follow this issue closely.

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