Teen accused of pointing laser at Nebraska State Patrol helicopter in Lincoln
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A teen was arrested Thursday night after pointing a laser at a Nebraska State Patrol helicopter in Lincoln, officials say.
Around 10 p.m., a patrol helicopter was helping the Lincoln Police Department with the pursuit of a reckless driver.
While tracking the vehicle, the helicopter was hit with a green laser, according to the patrol.
The pilot determined the laser came from a window in the area of Abel Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s City Campus.
Officers from the UNL Police Department found an 18-year-old man who was responsible, the patrol said.
A trooper arrested Riley Palma on suspicion of second-degree assault. The patrol reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Pointing a laser at an aircraft is not only a federal crime, but also extremely dangerous,” said Lt. Justin Grint, commander of the NSP AirWing. “A laser strike, at the very least, takes a pilot’s attention away from the flight of the aircraft, but it can also temporarily blind a pilot.”
WATCH | THIS is why shining a laser pointer at an aircraft is so dangerous. #LPD Tactical Flight Officer Nate Grimm explains what it’s like in the cockpit when this happens. He was flying last night with a @NEStatePatrol pilot when they were struck by a green laser. https://t.co/h1nwranoH8
— Lincoln Police (@Lincoln_Police) January 24, 2025
Palma is due back in court on March 5.
