Shropshire Star

Telford man arrested after laser was shone at police plane hunting road rage suspect

A man has been arrested after a laser was shone at a police plane hunting a road rage suspect.

Published
Last updated

West Mercia Police said the laser had been targeted at the National Police Air Service (NPAS) fixed-wing plane in Telford yesterday evening (March 10).

NPAS was deployed to Telford to help officers locate a suspect involved in a road rage-related incident on Mossey Green Way at around 6.20pm.

While assisting West Mercia Police, officers on the ground were alerted to a laser being shone at the aircraft.

Police said enquiries quickly led to an address on Old Office Road in Dawley, where a 60-year-old was located and arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.

He remains in police custody as officers carry out further enquiries.

Detective Inspector Paul Drury said: “Shining a laser at any aircraft is inherently dangerous but doing so while it is assisting officers with an ongoing incident puts both the crew and the public at even greater risk.

“Our colleagues at NPAS play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, and actions like this could have had serious consequences.

“Thanks to swift enquiries, a man has now been arrested and remains in custody as we continue with our enquiries.”

A man who was arrested in relation to the road rage incident on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence has now been released on bail.