A National City resident was arrested for allegedly pointing a laser at two commercial airliners and a police helicopter, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Police said the laser incident happened at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.
Air traffic controllers at Lindbergh Field told a San Diego Police Department helicopter crew that two commercial airliners had been struck by a green laser near a final approach beacon near Euclid Avenue and Imperial Avenue.
About 30 minutes later, the SDPD’s ABLE helicopter crew flew southbound near Euclid Avenue and East 4th Avenue in National City and were struck by a green laser, police said.
According to police the laser strike illuminated the cockpit of the police helicopter and the crew was forced to protect themselves.
The pilot and an observer were able to pinpoint the source of the laser strike to a small group of people seated in front of a house located on the 500 block of South T Avenue.
National City police officers on the ground responded to the scene and detained suspect Anthony Sheperd, who was in possession of a green laser, police said.
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Police said Sheperd admitted to pointing the laser at the police helicopter. He was arrested and booked into County Jail on one count of discharging a laser at an aircraft.
