Portland, Oregon- Federal agents searched a Portland residence Saturday morning in connection with an investigation into a laser being aimed at a Customs and Border Protection helicopter and another aircraft earlier this week, authorities said.
The FBI’s Portland Division, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Protective Service, executed the search tied to a Sept. 27 incident in which a subject allegedly directed a laser at aircraft conducting law enforcement activity over the city.
Agents made contact with the suspect and three other individuals inside the home. All four were in the United States illegally, according to officials, and were placed into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel.
Investigators also recovered the laser device during the search.
“The federal government will not tolerate violence against federal officers, nor will we tolerate assaults on personal, commercial, or government aircraft,” federal authorities said in a statement.
Laser strikes a growing concern
Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime and a growing safety hazard, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Lasers can temporarily blind pilots or cause eye injuries, putting crews, passengers, and people on the ground at risk.
In 2023, the FAA reported more than 13,000 laser strikes nationwide — a record high. Oregon pilots reported dozens of incidents annually, including several targeting commercial aircraft flying in and out of Portland International Airport.
In one 2021 case, a Springfield man was sentenced to federal prison for repeatedly pointing a green laser at a Lane County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
Investigation continues
Officials said Saturday’s case remains under investigation and declined to provide additional details.
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