Aircraft's Infrared System Helped Track Down The Suspect, Weapon

A Canadian police helicopter was targeted by a person on the ground with a laser beam early Sunday morning, but the person with the light soon found himself in police custody.

Canadian media reports indicated that the York Regional Police helicopter dubbed Air2 was supporting officers on the ground responding to a weapons call when it was hit by the laser over Vaughan, Ontario north of Toronto.

After being hit by the laser, the air crew switched over to an infrared system, which located a person on the ground with what appeared to be a handgun. While talking to officers, he bolted into a nearby wooded area and tossed the gun away. When the suspect was arrested, and the weapon recovered, it turned out to be an air gun with a laser sight.

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Nicholas Caranci of Vaughan, faces a variety of charges. One of those is projecting a bright light source into navigable airspace, which is contrary to Canadian aviation regulations.

Transport Canada reports that while laser attacks against aircraft there are not as common as they are in the U.S., they are increasing. The number of incidents rose from 108 in 2009 to 443 in 2013.

(Image from police helicopter video posted to YouTube)

FMI: www.tc.gc.ca/eng