CANAL WINCHESTER MAN INDICTED FOR SHINING EXTREMELY HIGH POWERED SPOTLIGHT AT POLICE HELICOPTER SEARCHING FOR MISSING CHILD

Posted on 8/18/2016

Defendant: Earl Warren Boorn

Franklin County Prosecutor said, “Due to this man repeatedly shining an extremely high powered spotlight at a Columbus Police helicopter, he not only interfered with the crew’s ability to fly safely, but he also hindered the crew’s ability to search in the dark for a child that had been reported as missing.  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Earl Warren Boorn, age 57, for one count of Interfering with the Operation of an Aircraft with a Laser (F-2) and one count of Possessing Criminal Tools (F-5), for a total of two counts.  Late in the evening on May 18th, 2016, Columbus Police were dispatched to an area in Canal Winchester on the report of a missing child.  While assisting the on ground patrol units, the crew in a CPD helicopter was temporarily blinded after being hit in the cockpit with an extremely bright spotlight.  The crew was able to recover and the source of the light was determined.  “A search warrant was executed at Boorn’s home and a Sport Spot 10 Million candlepower spotlight was recovered,” O’Brien stated.   O’Brien further stated, “This defendant faces up to 9 years in prison if convicted of the counts in this indictment.”  Arraignment for Boorn is set for Tuesday, September 6th at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.