A man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after allegedly pointing a laser pointer at a medical helicopter.
According to Pottsville Police, on 08/15/17 at approx. 9:15pm, their department was notified by a MedEvac 7 pilot that the helicopter he had been operating had been lasered with a green laser light while they were passing over the city en-route to the Lawton’s Hill helipad.
Police say this is the second time recently that this type of incident had occurred in the area.
Pottsville Police began an investigation and assisted MedEvac 7 with identifying the origination area of the laser, which was found to be in the area of the 500 block of West Arch Street on this date.
As officers began to search the area they observed a male flee the area on foot heading southeast. The male was last seen in the area of the 300 block of W. Norwegian Street before officers lost visual contact with him.
Officers interviewed several people during the initial investigation and gained evidence to suggest the identity of the suspect.
Officers interviewed several people during the initial investigation and gained evidence to suggest the identity of the suspect.
As the result of an investigation conducted by Pottsville Bureau of Police along with the Criminal Investigation Division, Ptlm. Bryce Lewis filed a criminal complaint charging Timothy Michael Ebert, 23, Pottsville with Risking a Catastrophe, Reckless Endangerment, and Possessing Instruments of a Crime for being the suspect in the incident.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Ebert and on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at approximately 7:30pm, police received information that Ebert was at 511 W. Arch Street at which time officers took Ebert into custody without incident pursuant to this arrest warrant as well as for another outstanding Domestic violence arrest warrant.
Ebert was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley who set bail at $50,000.00 cash for the laser incident and $25,000.00 cash for the Simple Assault/Domestic Violence incident.
Ebert was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley who set bail at $50,000.00 cash for the laser incident and $25,000.00 cash for the Simple Assault/Domestic Violence incident.
Following arraignment, Ebert was remanded to the Schuylkill County Prison.