Man charged with pointing laser at air ambulance
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – A Walla Walla man has been formally charged for pointing a green laser at a Life Flight Network helicopter as it was approaching Providence St. Mary Medical Center in April. Mariel Angelo Crews, 37, is charged with second-degree unlawful discharge of a laser. Walla Walla City Attorney Tim Donaldson said the charge is a gross misdemeanor which means that is has a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
According to the Walla Walla Police Department, the pilot reported the April 3 laser strike on the helicopter. When officers spoke with the pilot, he stated that was not the first time they had issues with a green laser coming from about three blocks away from the hospital.
A WWPD 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, Crews 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 spoke to Crews about the laser incident. Originally, Crews 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 police because pointing a laser at law enforcement officers, firefighters, school bus drivers, transit drivers and pilots and/or aircraft is prohibited by law.
Crews has an Oct. 26 preliminary hearing on this case in Walla Walla County District Court.
File photo via Life Flight Network
