A 36-year-old man who aimed a high-powered laser at a Denver Police helicopter last March was sentenced Wednesday to one year supervised probation.
Saher Mohammad Suleiman pleaded guilty on Nov. 16 to knowingly “aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft,” according to court documents.
At about 11:07 p.m. on March 18, 2015, a Denver Police Department Air Support Unit helicopter was conducting a routine flight patrol over vehicles traveling north on Interstate 25 from Santa Fe Boulevard.
During patrol, a “green laser pointer struck both the helicopter and its cockpit,” and the helicopter was able to identify the laser’s origin from a “black Lincoln Town Car.” Air patrol began following the vehicle.
Suleiman, who was driving the vehicle, then aimed the laser a second and third time at the helicopter, striking the helicopter pilot in the eyes and causing “temporary blindness and pain.” Denver Police dispatch was notified and ground units took Suleiman, who was alone in the vehicle, into custody near Auraria Parkway.
Suleiman told the FBI on April 8 that he admitted to pointing the laser.
Suleiman is married with four children and has lived between the U.S. and Palestine, where his family currently resides. He is saving money to bring them back the the U.S., according to the court.
During Wednesday’s sentencing, U.S. District Judge Christine M. Arguello said Suleiman acted “totally out of character,” and that his behavior is something “I’d expect out of my son.”
This is Suleiman’s first felony conviction. He previously faced a misdemeanor charge in 2008.
Suleiman addressed the court Wednesday and said his actions were result of a lapse in judgment and that “curiosity can kill you.”
He will face a probation term of one year and will pay $824 in restitution to the City and County of Denver.
Natalie Munio: 303-954-1666, nmunio@denverpost.com or @nataliemunio