Man jailed for allegedly shining laser at sheriff's helicopter

PICO RIVERA -- A Pico Rivera man was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of shining a laser light at a sheriff's helicopter, authorities said.
Josue Martinez, 24, was booked on suspicion of discharging a laser at an aircraft, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
The crime can be punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony at the discretion of prosecutors, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Jaime Baltazar said.
The incident occurred shortly before midnight Saturday when sheriff's officials patrolling from a helicopter notices someone repeatedly shining a green laser beam at the aircraft, according to the statement.
Deputies found the source of the beam, which appeared to coming from a group of three people in the 9100 block of Olympic Boulevard, officials said.
"Martinez had a green laser pen light in his possession and admitted shining it at the helicopter as it was flying," the statement said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Martinez was released Tuesday after posting $20,000 bail.
Shining a laser at aircraft is dangerous because it can impair the vision of the pilot, Baltazar said.
"We take this very seriously," he said. "If you do this at any aircraft, you could be arrested."