Roseville man arrested after allegedly pointing laser at helicopter

Roseville, Calif.- Early Tuesday morning, Roseville Police arrested a man on suspicion of pointing a laser device at aircraft.  At 11 p.m. Monday, March 16, a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department helicopter pilot notified Roseville Police that someone on the ground had pointed a laser device at both a commercial airliner and at their helicopter. With the help of the helicopter crew, Roseville Police located the source of the laser beam at a home in the 100 block of Elm Street.

Roseville officers went to the residence and arrested Balltazar Valladares, 29, of Roseville. Officers also seized a high-powered laser device.

Valladares is being held in the Placer County Jail on suspicion of discharging a laser at a moving, occupied aircraft, a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, or a fine of up to $2,000. Valladares’ bail is set at $45,000.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a violation of both state and federal law because of the danger for flight crews, passengers and people on the ground. It can cause pilots to suffer a temporary loss of vision while operating their aircraft, and vision problems and headaches afterwards.