Man awaits charges after helicopter incident

A Riverside man is free on bail and awaiting possible felony charges after Newport Beach police arrested him, claiming he shined a green laser into a police helicopter cockpit.

Bryce Auten, 22, was arrested Friday just before 11 p.m. near Francisco Drive and Tustin Avenue in Newport Beach after a police officer in the department’s Eagle helicopter reported being blinded and disoriented by a light from below, Lt. Craig Fox said.

Authorities said the pilot immediately flashed Auten and his friends with their spotlight, sending them on their way. They reported the incident to ground units who found Auten with the laser nearby, Fox said.

The light caused vision problems for the pilot, Fox said. In the past, helicopter pilots have reported recurrent headaches and dizziness after getting blinded with a laser, he said.

Auten was released from Orange County Jail Sunday after posting $20,000 bail.

— Joseph Serna