Man arrested in laser incidents

LAKEWOOD, Wash. – Deputies have arrested a 25-year-old man for investigation of shining a laser on three nights at jetliners arriving or leaving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The man was arrested Wednesday night and jailed for investigation of nine counts of unlawful discharge of a laser, which is a felony, said spokesman Ed Troyer of the Pierce County sheriff’s office.

“We don’t believe he intended to bring planes down or bother pilots but he was aware of the news reports” and didn’t stop, Troyer said Thursday.

A green laser hitting a cockpit window can temporarily blind the pilot, Troyer said, which is particularly dangerous during takeoffs and landings. No injuries or damage were reported from the incidents.

The Lakewood man bought the laser for $208 from an Internet site, he said. It arrived Monday; pilots of four planes reported seeing a light Monday night.

An Alaska Airlines pilot leaving Sea-Tac reported a laser Tuesday night, coming from an area along Interstate 5 near McChord Air Force Base, but a search turned up nothing, Troyer said.

Neighbors of the Lakewood man called authorities Wednesday night and reported that he was shining the intense light.

Troyer said detectives believe the man aimed at nine commercial aircraft but some incidents were not reported.