BOYS HUNTING RABBITS CAUGHT SHOOTING LASER AT SHERIFF'S HELICOPTER

By Miriam Raftery

June 14, 2010 (Lakeside) –It was a scene worthy of Elmer Fudd hunting down "wascally wabbits" -- only this time, the hunters were the rascals.

San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA 3 helicopter was struck by a laser around 10:03 p.m. last night while flying over Lakeside.  The chopper crew located two boys, ages 15 and 12,  near Idyl Drive and Lakeview Grenada Drive and notified Sheriff's deputies.  Under questioning, the youths admitted that they had targeted the helicopter at least twenty times while hunting rabbits with bows and arrows. 

 One juvenile archer was taken to a substation for questioning; both boys have since been released to custody of their parents.

A Sheriff’s deputy indicated that the older juvenile will likely face charges for the prank.  Fortunately, no harm befell the helicopter crew.  There is no word, however, on whether the boys bagged any rabbits during their ill-fated hunting adventure.