Man Arrested After Laser Pointed at Charlotte Police Helicopter

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested a man accused of pointing a laser at their helicopter Tuesday night.

Authorities arrested Abrahan Romero after pilots noticed a green laser targeting them around 11 p.m. They said Romero was standing outside a vehicle, pointing the laser.

Officers on the ground were able to stop Romero and found a laser inside the car, WSOC TV reports.

A laser pointed into the cockpit of an aircraft can temporarily blind the pilot, which could result in a crash. Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.