Laser incident targeting Detroit police helicopter prompts cross-border investigation
FILE PHOTO - A Customs and Border Patrol helicopter was struck by a laser beam while conducting operations over protests in Detroit, June 3, 2020CBPGreatLakes/X
A laser pointed at a Detroit police helicopter late Monday night prompted a cross-border investigation involving Canadian authorities.
Detroit police said the laser was directed at one of their aircraft units multiple times as it flew near the Detroit River. Officers believe the beam originated from the Windsor, Ont., side of the border.
'The Detroit Police Department contacted the Windsor Police Service to investigate this incident,' said Windsor Police Const. Bianca Jackson in an emailed statement.
'Our officers conducted a search of the area for a suspect and any evidence but were unable to locate anything. As a result, we are no longer investigating this matter.'
Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal offence in both Canada and the U.S. Experts warn the consequences can be severe.
'This is a real dangerous game,' said Chris Lewis, CTV public safety analyst and former OPP commissioner.
'When you point a laser at an aircraft, you risk blinding the pilot — the aircraft, helicopter or airplane falling out of the sky, killing the people in it, maybe landing on a house and killing a family or much more. So, this is pretty dangerous stuff.'
Lewis said pilots often have tools to identify the precise location the laser originated from.
'Ultimately, pilots can basically pin — like you can on a Google map on your phone — a location, so they have the exact coordinates as to where that light came from,' he said.
'That might come to somebody's backyard, for example, as opposed to somebody on downtown Ouellette (Avenue). It may come to some area that specifically allows them to then track who was there at that time.'
He compared the act of pointing a laser at an aircraft to using a weapon.
'It's like pointing a rifle at an aircraft — that can have the same consequences,' Lewis said.
Lewis also warned the public that this kind of behaviour can carry serious legal penalties.
'It's a good reminder to the public how dangerous this is, given that Windsor is going to have a helicopter flying regularly around the city and the area, throughout Essex County, I assume,' he said.
'So, this is dangerous stuff, and it's a criminal offense. It brings up to five years in prison, and if someone gets hurt or dies, you're looking at a heck of a lot more time than that. So, let's not do this again.'
Aviation expert John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University's School of Aviation Management said these types of incidents are becoming increasingly common.
'This is a very regular occurrence,' Gradek said.
'It's not something that happens once a year or once every couple of months. It is something that does happen, and law enforcement is really quick to respond.'
He acknowledged the difficulty of finding those responsible, but noted police have tools at their disposal.
'It is a very difficult situation to investigate and to find the culprits,' he said.
'But there are tools that are used by law enforcement to be able to pinpoint where the laser was sighted and the exact physical address of the origin of that laser point. So, more often than not, they do catch the individuals that have been pointing the lasers.'
No injuries were reported in this week's incident, and no suspects have been identified.
-With files from CTV Windsor's Travis Fortnum and AM800's Dustin Coffman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
34 minutes ago
- CTV News
Police charge 33-year-old Toronto man after shooting on Bloor Street West
The firearms Toronto police say they seized following a months long investigation (TPS photos). A 33-year-old Toronto man has been charged following a shooting that injured one person in the Bloor Street West and Margueretta Street area earlier this year. Police say they initially responded to a shooting call just after 1 a.m. on May 18, after an altercation between the suspect and a group of people. It's alleged that the suspect discharged a firearm towards the group and ended up striking one person. On Wednesday, the Toronto police Gun and Gang Task Force identified the suspect, and executed a search warrant near Allen Road and Ranee Avenue. Officials say they seized a fully automatic handgun, a semi‑automatic handgun, three magazines — including a 'drum-style' pack with a 50‑round capacity. In addition to the firearms, police say they found a quantity of cocaine, and proceeds of crime over $5,000. drugs and cash The drugs and cash Toronto police seized following a months long investigation (TPS photos). The suspect, who police identify as 33-year-old, Alan Scott MacDonald, of Toronto, is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm with intent, making a firearm automatic, and numerous counts of possessing prohibited weapons and drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Police say MacDonald appeared in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Thursday. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact police at 416‑808‑2510.
CTV News
35 minutes ago
- CTV News
Armed robbery at jewellery store under investigation: OPP
Provincial police are investigating an alleged armed robbery at a jewellery store in Collingwood Friday evening. According to Collingwood OPP, officers responded to reports of the robbery while it was in progress at around 5 p.m. on Hurontario Street. Police say several masked suspects broke into the store while armed with tools and forcibly removed merchandise before fleeing by car. The responding officers secured the scene and began an immediate investigation through witness accounts and nearby video surveillance. Members of OPP Central Region's Forensic Identification Services were involved in collecting and examining evidence. Initial findings of the investigation claim that the incident involved a degree of coordination and planning. Collingwood OPP's Crime Unit is leading the investigation. Police say they are exploring all avenues, including potential links to networked or regional crime activity. Anyone with additional information or footage that may assist the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Collingwood OPP.
CTV News
35 minutes ago
- CTV News
Workshop being held in Windsor to assist people with the legal name and gender marker change process in Ontario
A workshop is being held in Windsor on Saturday for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Dana Rosamund Teagle is leading the workshop. Rosamund Teagle is a web and software developer for , a free online tool that helps navigate the legal name and gender marker change process in Ontario. The site offers guidance on required documents, fees and steps — with a focus on trans inclusion and reducing administrative barriers. Rosamund Teagle said they've been running ID clinics for teaching trans people how to change their name and gender markers in the province since 2021. 'If I can be a person who's like, hey not only have I been through this myself, I've also helped this huge pile of people go through it as well, and I think that gives people short of the confidence they need to tackle that,' says Rosamund Teagle. Rosamund Teagle said they've noticed how meaningful the workshops and website are to people. 'I really believe also very firmly in trans people helping trans people with solving trans problems whenever possible,' says Rosamund Teagle. Rosamund Teagle says it's free to attend the workshop. 'I've heard from the people who have been to these workshops and benefited from my site, that it's meant a lot to them for it to be lead by someone who is also trans themselves,' says Rosamund Teagle. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. at Hackforge HQ at 300 Ouellette Ave. Trans, non-binary, gender-diverse individuals and their allies are invited to connect with Rosamund Teagle and learn about the site plus have conversations about accessibility, identity and the power of self-determination. The event will include presentations, a question and answer period and open dialogue. - By Dustin Coffman, AM800
