Police investigate laser strike at air ambulance

WALLA WALLA – A Walla Walla man is facing possible felony charges after he allegedly pointed a green laser at a Life Flight Network helicopter as it was approaching Providence St. Mary Medical Center over the weekend. The pilot called the Walla Walla Police Department to report the laser strike on the helicopter at 10:32 p.m. Sunday.

“When officers spoke with the pilot, he stated this is not the first time they have had issues with the same green laser coming from about three blocks away from the hospital,” WWPD Public Information Officer Gunner Fulmer said.

Fulmer explained an officer remembered seeing someone using a laser while out on patrol in the 200 block of Eagan Street, which is just a few blocks away from the hospital. The officer went over to the area, parked, and watched the residence. After a couple of minutes, the officer spotted a man, who has been identified as Mariel A. Crews, 37, come out onto his front porch and start shining a green laser into the sky and into the trees in the direction of the hospital.

The Walla Walla Police Department has spoken to Crews about the laser incident. Fulmer said Crews originally denied pointing the laser at the hospital to the investigating officer, but then Crews later stated he did not know it was illegal. The laser was seized by WWPD, and Crews was advised that charges will be submitted to prosecutors.

Pointing a laser at law enforcement, firefighters, school bus drivers, transit drivers and pilots/aircraft is prohibited by law.

File photo via Life Flight Network

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