Court docs: Man accused of pointing laser at chopper thought it was drone

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids man charged criminally for pointing a laser at a state police helicopter said he mistook the chopper for a drone, according to an affidavit filed in 61st District Court.

Nicholas Adam Lester, 37, is believed to be the first person charged in Kent County under a state statute titled Beam of Light or Energy Aimed at Plane or Train.

The law, passed in 2017, made it a felony to aim a laser at an aircraft or moving train. It’s punishable by up to five years in prison.

On July 7, Michigan State Police notified Grand Rapids police that a vehicle was shining a laser at MSP’s chopper as it flew over the city.

“The Troopers operating the helicopter were able to follow the black 2014 Chrysler 300 … as it traveled north on US 131 from Martin Luther King St,” wrote an officer in a probable cause affidavit. “The Troopers provided real time updates as the vehicle exited from I-196 to the Lane Ave NW exit.”

The vehicle ultimately stopped on Stocking Ave NW just south of Second Street, according to the court document.

“As Officers approached the Chrysler in the parking lot, Troopers confirmed they were contacting the correct vehicle. Officers made contact with the lone occupant of the vehicle, Nicholas Lester.”

Police said when they told Lester why they were making contact with him, he offered an explanation before they could ask any questions.

“Nicholas told Officers he thought it was a drone,” wrote a Grand Rapids police officer. “Nicholas was read his Miranda Rights. Nicholas told Officers that he had dropped a friend off and could see something in the air following him. Nicholas thought it was a drone, so he shined a laser at it to stop the drone from following him. Nicholas was adamant that he did not know it was a helicopter that was following him.”

While the felony charge has been issued a handful of times statewide, Lester’s case is believed to be the first such instance in Grand Rapids.

“We can’t stress enough how incredibly dangerous (shining a laser at aircraft) is,” said Lt. Michelle Robinson of Michigan State Police. “It does cause eye damage to the pilot if that laser device strikes them in the eyes, and if you have a pilot who’s trying to fly an aircraft and they can’t see, there’s a potential that the aircraft could crash.”

Robinson said MSP’s aviation unit has experienced an increase in laser pointing incidents over the last decade.

Since 2012, state police have partnered with local and federal agencies to provide air support for officers on the ground.

State police have said previously that its chopper flies over the city of Grand Rapids once a week, usually on Saturdays.

“Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety hazard that puts everyone on the plane and on the ground below at risk,” said Rick Breitenfeldt of the Federal Aviation Administration in an email exchange with News 8. “It is also a violation of federal law. The agency conducts outreach to educate the public about the hazards of lasers aimed at aircraft. The agency also works closely with other federal agencies and state and local governments to report and investigate incidents, help apprehend suspects, and advocate for the prosecution of offenders.”

For more information or to report laser strikes , visit the FAA’s website. You can also view where laser strikes are happening and yearly data .

At the courthouse Thursday for a probable cause hearing, Lester and his attorney declined comment on the case, which has been bound over to Kent County Circuit Court for further proceedings.

Online records show Lester’s most recent conviction was a 2019 arrest for felony controlled substance-possession/analogues.

He also has prior convictions for fleeing police and attempted misdemeanor larceny.

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