Man arrested after shining laser at police chopper in Adelaide’s western suburbs

A man who police allege directed a laser pointer at a police helicopter overnight barricaded himself inside a western suburbs home before he was arrested.

A man who police allege directed a laser pointer at a police helicopter overnight barricaded himself inside a western suburbs home before he was arrested

The police helicopter was flying over the western suburbs when the crew noticed a laser pointed at the aircraft about 9.45pm on Wednesday.

The laser was traced to a house in Beverley and patrols were directed to the Port Rd property.

Officers attended the address where the occupant barricaded himself inside the home and refused to engage until police forced entry, police said.

Once inside, a laser was found and a man, 42, was arrested.

Police have smashed their way into a Beverley house to arrest a 42-year-old suspect accused of shining a laser at the police helicopter. The PolAir crew was targeted while flying above the western suburbs and directed detectives to the Port Road property. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/aWkTBTQQjN

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) September 26, 2024

The man was charged with prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

He was bailed to attend Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on November 7.

A police spokesperson said it was the second incident within eight days in the western suburbs when someone had “recklessly put the lives at risk of the crew of the helicopter”.

Last week, SA Police warned pointing a laser at an aircraft was not a harmless prank. It came after PolAir was assisting patrols in the western suburbs on September 18 when the crew noticed a green laser shining at the cockpit.

The laser was coming from a house in West Croydon and police later arrested a 45-year-old man and seized a laser pointer, which are deemed a prohibited weapon.

“Lasers, and high-intensity lights, pose a serious risk to pilots that can result in difficult flying and impaired vision,” a spokesperson said.

This week, SA Police reaffirmed the behaviour “would not be tolerated”.

“The police helicopter regularly engages in life saving operations and having this type of incident occur detracts from any urgent taskings they could be undertaking,” a spokesperson said.