FBI seeks help to nab laser user in Medford - February 20, 2005

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2005-03-10

Document text

46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, March 10, 2005   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery      SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Menu Guide   How To Guide   Health   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Real Estate Guide   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Passport to the Rogue Valley   SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad  TOP JOBS   EXTRA   NIE   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   Volunteer   Moving here?  eSouthernOregon   CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 20, 2005 FBI seeks help to nab laser user in Medford With the search for someone who tracked an incoming passenger plane with a high-power laser narrowed to an east Medford neighborhood, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for the public’s help to find the culprit. Between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3, the FBI reported eight incidents across the United States in which a laser was aimed at either an incoming or outgoing aircraft. On Dec. 25, at approximately 8 p.m., SkyWest Flight 6166 was making its approach to the Medford airport when the cockpit of the aircraft was illuminated by a green laser light. The co-pilot averted his eyes to avoid injury. The laser caught the captain’s left eye for a split-second, which caused him to be momentarily "flash blinded." The laser light tracked the aircraft over a 60-second period and illuminated the cockpit five times. One of the pilots said the cockpit was lit up as if by lightning. The aircraft landed safely but had the incident happened when the aircraft was in closer proximity to the airport and to the ground, it definitely would have created a hazardous situation, according to the co-pilot. The investigation, conducted by the FBI, has identified the area from which the green laser originated — within a boundary that includes Roberts Road to the south; Crater Lake Avenue to the west; Delta Waters Road to the north; and Springbrook Road to the east — essentially due north of North Medford High School. Anyone with information concerning incidents or persons using a green laser light within the described area should call Crime Stoppers of Southern Oregon at 800-3-DETECT (800-333-8328) and refer to case No. MT-101. Crime Stoppers will pay a reward up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest in these cases or any unsolved criminal activity. Callers can remain anonymous. The reward is sponsored by Sonitrol of Southern Oregon. Mail Tribune Home  | Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives  |  Site Map  | Community  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress Advertisement s