NORTH ANDOVER — Local police will today meet with the FBI to determine whether a 20-year-old Johnson Street man will face federal criminal charges for allegedly pointing a laser light at a state police helicopter Friday night.
Christopher Phaneuf of 939 Johnson St. was at a backyard barbecue with friends when he pointed the light at the helicopter and it interfered with the pilot's vision, according to North Andover police Lt. Paul Gallagher.
Though Phaneuf was not arrested, Gallagher said he will be summonsed to court with the possibility of facing criminal charges, including interfering with an aircraft and interfering with a police officer in the performance of his duty. Phaneuf was interviewed by police Friday night.
"We sent the federal authorities a copy of the report," said Gallagher. "We'll be speaking with them (today)."
North Andover police received a call reporting the incident from the helicopter at 9:39 p.m. Patrolmen were able to speak with witnesses and identify the area the light was coming from — the backyard of 110 High St., where Gallagher said about a dozen youths had gathered for a barbecue.
Contacted last night over the phone, Phaneuf's mother, Donna, said her son is a student at Northeastern University in Boston and a 2007 graduate of North Andover High School.
Donna Phaneuf said Christopher is a junior in a five-year undergraduate program, majoring in philosophy with a concentration in law. She said he was home for the weekend visiting with friends.
"My son is a good kid and he's never been in trouble," said Donna Phaneuf. "It's a tough situation."
This isn't the first time a Massachusetts resident has run into trouble with the law for a similar incident.
In January, Gerard Sasso, 51, of Medford, was found guilty in U.S. District Court of shining a laser beam into a state police helicopter as it guided a liquefied natural gas tanker through Boston Harbor. Authorities said he pointed the laser at the helicopter from his apartment window.
Sasso was charged with willfully interfering with an aircraft operator with reckless regard for human life and making false statements, and faced a maximum 20 years in prison before his sentencing hearing was scheduled for April.
Gallagher said North Andover police are working with the FBI, state police and District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office, but it will be up to the FBI and U.S. attorney's office whether Phaneuf will face more serious federal charges, he said.
The state police helicopter is based at Lawrence Municipal Airport on Sutton Street.
"We have an airport in North Andover and we've always been on the lookout for that," said Gallagher. "This is the first time in this area we've seen it though."
