Vaughan, ON – On Sunday, August 16, 2015, at 1:30 a.m., Air2 was in the area of Highway 7 and Pine Valley Drive assisting uniform officers on the ground, who were responding to a weapons call. While searching for a suspect from the air, the pilot and tactical flight officer were struck by an unrelated bright light source that originated in the area of Jenna Court. The strikes continued as the crew engaged in safety measures. The tactical flight officer used the camera system on Air2 to observe three men standing next to a vehicle at the end of Jenna Court. One of the men was seen pointing a handgun at the helicopter that had a laser pointer on it. Officers with the Canine Unit and Emergency Response Unit responded to the suspect’s location. As they approached, the suspect with the gun fled on foot, hopping a fence, throwing the gun, then attempting to hide in a nearby wooded area. Canine officers were directed to the suspect’s location in the wooded area by officers in Air2. The suspect was arrested by the Canine Unit while trying to hide beneath trees.

Following the arrest, officers with of Air2 were able to locate the handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun with a laser scope mounted on it.