Idaho law enforcement is not taking laser pointing at aircraft lightly. A Post Falls man is getting just shy of three years in prison for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. Once he’s out of prison he’ll serve an additional 3 years on supervised release.
31 year old Aspen Schaffer was indicted by a grand jury, charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. A release from the Attorney General says he was out with friends in August and pointed a bright green laser at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office helicopter as it flew overhead. The laser shone into the helicopter multiple times and the release says it impaired the vision of the pilot, the sergeant, and the deputy who were on board. The helicopter lost altitude, but the pilot regained control.
Law enforcement tracked the car he was in and arrested him. He had a blood alcohol level of .11 when he was booked into jail. The release also says he was known to law enforcement and has prior felony convictions.
