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Teen facing charges after pointing laser at police helicopter

A 19-year-old man is now facing five charges after an early morning patrol by the HAWCS helicopter was interrupted by a laser.

Michael Sanche is facing five charges, including assault causing bodily harm, mischief causing danger to life and common nuisance endangering life.

It happened around 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 5000 block of Dalhart Road N.W.

The police chopper was on routine patrol over the neighborhood of Dalhousie when the pilot had a laser aimed at him three separate times.

Officers on the ground conducted an extensive grid search and made an arrest a short time later.

While the pilot was able to maneuver away from the threat, one crew member aboard was impacted by the laser shining into the chopper.

That tactical flight officer is now experiencing symptoms of spotty blindness and a minor headache, according to

Insp. Blair White said he has also experienced the effects of a laser, himself.

“If you go to an eye doctor and you get a retina scam, they put those eye drops in, that’s the best description I can give you,” he said. “You see little dots all throughout your vision and it’s a little disorienting until those symptoms subside.”

White adds the motive of the act is still unknown.

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