Phillip was arrested and charged with one count of pointing a laser at an occupied aircraft and one count of endangerment involving risk of imminent death.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Laser Pointed at Aircraft - Arrest Made
On 10/26/19 the Mesa Police Air Unit was flying around the area of 1140 S 111th Circle in Mesa, AZ when a green laser was pointed at them. They notified ground units of the approximate location and then returned and were again pointed at by the green laser. Ground units observed the suspect pointing the laser and he was identified as 30-year-old Phillip Merrell. Officers learned Phillip had pointed the laser the day before at a commercial airliner from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Officers also learned there were numerous other recent complaints from pilots saying someone in the area was shining a laser at them. Phillip said he didn’t know it was illegal to point a laser at an occupied aircraft.
Phillip was arrested and charged with one count of pointing a laser at an occupied aircraft and one count of endangerment involving risk of imminent death.
Phillip was arrested and charged with one count of pointing a laser at an occupied aircraft and one count of endangerment involving risk of imminent death.
