Brit Arrested for Shining Light on Helicopter

Sunday, October 18, 2009

A British farmer has been arrested for shining a flashlight on an RAF Apache helicopter gunship outside his home. Torben Merriott, 63, awoke to what sounded like an earthquake at 1 a.m. in Stradbroke, England. He shone the light to identify the copter and call a Ministry of Defence complaint line.

Posted by diablo at 10:32 AM | 6 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry

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diablo

Paul Drake

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I've seen a similar "fireball" technique used to dissuade black helicopters in Arizona - their IR goes blind for at least 30 seconds, but usually for minutes afterwards. Perhaps the military and police shouldn't rely on such a dangerous navigation tool in such close proximity to scared civilians and thereby avoid endangering themselves?

#1 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2009-10-18 12:47 AM | Reply | Flag:

Since vision works pretty much the same way, our eyes capturing images of reflected light, it follows that Nanny Britian can now arrest you for just 'looking' at an official vehicle.

Look at what we've become.

#2 | Posted by Lipzoidial at 2009-10-18 10:42 AM | Reply | Flag:

Look if you perform exercise and wake up the country in the middle of the night, this has to be expected. There are better places to play and common sense needs to be applied. I also think if a hand light can take down a battle helicopter, maybe the helicopter is not the right piece of eqipment

#3 | Posted by Harrier at 2009-10-18 10:42 AM | Reply | Flag:

This could be bad for the nancster...I like to go out and take photos of the in-flight fueling and warthogs that we're in the flight pattern of - sometimes the flash goes off...

#4 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-18 10:50 AM | Reply | Flag:

that's just dick on part of the authorities but not historically out of line for brit authorities

#5 | Posted by Legio at 2009-10-18 03:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

Lucky bastard. I used to do this as a child. When I would hear an aircraft go overhead in the dark of night I would blink at it several times with a flashlight just hoping one would come down and investigate. Damned bastard got lucky.

#6 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-10-19 01:04 AM | Reply | Flag: