Man Arrested, Accused Of Pointing Laser At Long Beach Aircraft

LONG BEACH, CA — The Long Beach Police Department arrested a man who authorities said had been pointing a high-powered laser at aircraft in the Long Beach area for almost a year, the department announced Tuesday.

Over the past several weeks, LBPD said investigation uncovered several instances of a laser being pointed at LBPD's FOX helicopter, commercial airliners and private planes near the Long Beach Airport.

"Through their investigation, detectives learned that for nearly one year, an unknown individual would anticipate the arrival of aircraft, and intentionally use a laser to point towards the cockpit of these aircraft," LBPD said in a statement.

Pilots of the LBPD helicopter narrowed down where the laser could have been coming from through multiple incidents and determined it was in the 1500 to 1600 block of Silva Street in Long Beach.

With the help of the FBI, officers said they were able to watch the suspect — Mark Allen Berger a 46-year-old resident of Long Beach — point a high-powered laser at the LBPD helicopter multiple times outside his house.

Detectives arrested and booked Berger into the Long Beach City jail on one count of felony discharge of a laser at an occupied aircraft and violation of parole. Berger is being held without bail.

"As a reminder, pointing lasers at any aircraft is a serious offense, can be subject to state and/or federal charges," LBPD said.