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Lynden Man Blinded Border Patrol Helicopter Pilot Faces Jail Time By Daniel Baxter |
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May 2, 2011 - Wayne P. Groen, 42, of Lynden, Washington,
was convicted on Friday of incapacitation of an
individual during authorized operation of an aircraft,
following a two day jury trial in U.S. District Court in
Seattle.
The jury deliberated about one day before finding Groen
guilty on one count, and not guilty on a second charge
of interference with the authorized operation of an
aircraft.
Groen was indicted in January 2011, for the events of September 22, 2010, when Groen shined a high powered spotlight on a border patrol helicopter that was being flown by a pilot wearing night vision goggles. |
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The spotlight blinded the pilot making it impossible for him to
see the airspace around him, and the dials necessary for flying
the aircraft. The co-pilot had to direct the pilot to fly out of
the area. Groen is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District
Judge Thomas S. Zilly on August 4, 2011.
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial,
at about 9:35 in the evening on September 22, 2010, the
helicopter was supporting law enforcement on the ground working
to intercept those illegally crossing into the U.S. from Canada.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerrod Patterson and Jill Otake. |
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