I saw this on Repset the other day, forgot about it for a bit, then just got reminded. I thought it might be a hoax for a bit too, but it checks out:
“I’ve been reading a bunch about this incident online over the last couple days, and after all the crazy hype around green lasers in BMX right now I thought there was no way that such a coincidence could actually occur. The 19 year old man from Ajax, facing prison time and a fine of up to $100,000, is actually a BMX rider. Brendon Schoenwald (pictured above, seriously) was shining a laser at a police helicopter from his backyard on the 3rd of April. The helicopter was in the midst of tracking down a suspected drunk driver, and the pilot apparently almost lost control of the aircraft after the laser illuminated the cockpit. They used infrared to track down where it came from, and (I assume) they busted in and arrested our fellow laser wielding comrade.
Brendon is being charged with obstructing the police, common nuisance, mischief to property, endangering life, projecting a directed bright light source at an aircraft and under the Aeronautics Act for Dangerous Behaviour. If he’s convicted he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 for his ‘attack’ on the helicopter.”
The laser thing has always been stupid and carrying one around is a great way to let everyone around you know you’re a douchebag. It’s a shame Brendon here will be forking over a ton of money for just doing something he heard was cool on the internet, but by doing something so blatantly irresponsible and careless, what did you expect? SMH.
::waits on class action lawsuit against Catfish to pop up::