Man charged with shining laser at officer in car

A man was arrested for shining a laser pointer at an officer as he drove his squad car in Fairhill, police said Wednesday.

A sergeant in the 25th District was responding to a call for backup about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on Mutter Street near Somerset when a blinding light caused him to slam on the brakes. "When he was able to regain his sight, he noticed that somebody was shining a laser directly into his line of vision," said Capt. Frank Vanore, supervising officer of the 25th District. Francisco Gonzalez-Rosado, 41, of Mascher Street near Somerset, was charged with aggravated assault.

On July 27, Brian Lawhon, 24, of Hunting Park, was arrested after police said he had beamed his laser pointer at a police helicopter, temporarily blinding two officers inside. - Staff report