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Man arrested for pointing laser at Spokane Co. Sheriff's helicopter

Spokane County Sheriff’s officials said at 10:30 p.m. Air-2’s flight crew encountered two laser strikes while on patrol over Spokane Valley.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A 41-year-old man was arrested Wednesday night after pointing a laser at a Spokane County Sheriff’s helicopter.

Spokane County Sheriff’s officials said at 10:30 p.m. Air-2’s flight crew encountered two laser strikes while on patrol over Spokane Valley.

Officials said Air-2 provided the location of the suspect, a home in the 300 block of Dishman Mica Road to deputies. Deputies said when they arrived they contacted Janson McElfish, 42. They said when he answered the door, he was still holding the silver pen laser in his hand.

McElfish told deputies he was playing outside with the laser and began pointing it at trees. As he moved the laser toward the top of the tree, he accidentally pointed it at something in the air and then pointed it at an aircraft, officials said. He told deputies he didn’t think it would reach the helicopter and admitted pointing it at Air-2 a second time a couple of minutes later.   

McElfish was charged with first degree unlawful discharge of a laser, which is a felony.

This isn’t the first time this has happened to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.

Back in September 2016, Brandon J. Neeser, 32, was arrested for the same thing in Spokane Valley.

Deputies said Neeser told them he “thought it would be funny” to point the laser at Air 1 and said he did not know it was a crime.

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