Spokane7
36°
September 2, 2010 in City
Hikers found safe, laser aimed at searchers
Four hikers were found early today following a four-hour search in Liberty Lake Regional Park, Spokane sheriff’s deputies said.
A 65-year-old woman and three boys ages 5, 8 and 11 were found in good condition at 12:45 a.m. after spending four hours in the cool night air.
During the search, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department helicopter – Air One – was menaced by a laser beam repeatedly pointed into the cockpit of the aircraft, forcing the pilot to leave the search area.
Deputies pinpointed the source location of the laser beam, and went to a Liberty Lake residence where they arrested a 16-year-old boy for first-degree unlawful discharge of a laser, deputies said.
Meantime, searchers from Spokane County Search and Rescue, the county parks department, the sheriff’s office and Liberty Lake Police Department scoured the area to find the hiking group.
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uncleralph on September 02 at 8:18 a.m.
A public spanking at the mall on a Saturday live on TV should be the only punishment the kid gets. Crime would drop 60 percent or more among our youth. ACLU shut up.
soccermomsusie on September 02 at 9:37 a.m.
How did a kid even get a laser? This seems very suspicious to me.
I am glad he had it set to “stun” or “low” or “whatever” so he didn’t melt the helicopter or chop the whirlies off the bird.
I saw a movie once where they killed a giant creature that looked like a cross between a raccoon and a koi using one of these things. The people in the movie all looked Chinese but they spoke perfect English. Which is more than I can say for all the illegals here.
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
IHike4Fun on September 02 at 10:03 a.m.
How did he get a laser? You can buy them on Amazon for $10.
Itsgodswill on September 02 at 10:08 a.m.
Why buy off amazon when you can go to the gas station around the corner for your house and probably find one for $5 - $10?
lucs on September 02 at 10:13 a.m.
Harbor Freight sell them too.
hcamper on September 02 at 11:47 a.m.
Hey Ralph - great idea. You should run for mayor! I’d vote for you.
Montauban on September 02 at 4:04 p.m.
Lasers? Gee, I have several of them and use them for metering the exact levels on construction projects I have around the house. No common errors or mistakes made.
But at least these “hikers” were located.
I have one big question…what ever happened to that little 8-year old girl who got lost a couple of weeks ago? Was she ever located or what? Did I miss some news on this?
bripple37 on September 02 at 4:06 p.m.
This just in……2 of the 4 lost people were shot because they accidently surprised the county rescuer when they stepped from behind a tree. Sheriff Ozzie said in a statement just released, ” This was an unfortunate turn of events, we’ll get back to you later with the details, but in the meantime, we have apprehended a serious criminal laser thug”….
lewis8457 on September 02 at 4:19 p.m.
Felony wrap for a kid with a colored light? But a cop that kills someone gets a vacation. Where are all the posters that say we have the same rights?
lewis8457 on September 02 at 4:21 p.m.
Montauban they found that little girl wandering down a dirt road 2 1/2 miles from the campground. She was OK.
JetBlack on September 02 at 6:19 p.m.
I was just thinking how great and attention-getting a laser would be, for bringing the searchers to you… then I’m let down by your basic douchebaggery. I hope the kid got kicked in the balls, repeatedly, while in jail. That’d make me smile.
JetBlack on September 02 at 6:30 p.m.
Depends on the laser. A 1 watt blue laser will immediately and permanently blind the pilot. A green laser can dazzle his night vision, for several minutes. A red laser is mildly annoying as anyone who has been near a teenager, can attest.
JBlim on September 02 at 9:34 p.m.
“…A 1 watt blue laser will immediately and permanently blind the pilot…”
That’s pretty hard to believe, unless the pilot is 10 feet away. Do you have a URL for that?
Montauban on September 02 at 11:55 p.m.
LEWIS, thanks for the update on the little girl.