An Aurora man has been charged after a laser was pointed at a York Regional Police helicopter Saturday.
Ryan Eusler, 29, was charged following the incident Sept. 18 at about 8:25 p.m. when the pilot and a tactical officer in Air2 had a laser pointed at them in the air during general patrol in the area of Wellington Street West and George Street in Aurora.
The crew was able to engage safety measures and direct officers on the ground to the location of the suspect, who was outside a residence on Hillview Road, which is off George Street.
Eusler was arrested and found to be in possession of a YL-Laser 303-laser pointer pen, according to York Regional Police.
He is now facing charges of mischief endangering life, endangering security of an aircraft in flight, and unlawfully projecting light into navigable airspace.
Police said that a split-second look at a laser pointer can cause flash-blindness, which fades quickly but can have serious consequences for a pilot flying over a populated area.
“Those who aim these pointers at aircraft are putting lives in danger, not only in the aircraft but on the ground, as there is a significant potential for harm to the pilot, as well as the prospect of a crash,” YRP said in a news release.
