Man, 48, Arrested After Allegedly Pointing Laser at CHP Helicopter in Richmond

A man was arrested in Richmond early Saturday morning after allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a California Highway Patrol helicopter, a police spokeswoman said today.

The CHP helicopter was flying over the Hilltop Mall area around 12:20 a.m. Saturday in pursuit of a suspected car thief leading Vallejo police on a chase into Richmond when the helicopter crew noticed a laser being pointed at them, Richmond police Sgt. Nicole Abetkov said. The helicopter crew realized the laser was coming from a vehicle and alerted police.

Officers found the car near Hilltop Mall and stopped the driver, identified as 48-year-old Kenneth Rumberger, who admitted to police that he had a laser pointer, Abetkov said. Rumberger was arrested on suspicion of pointing a laser at an aircraft, a felony that can potentially blind a pilot or others aboard an aircraft and cause a crash, Abetkov said.

By Bay City News