Laser shows cops where to find alleged felon

A Chula Vista man pleaded guilty Sept. 29 to discharging a laser at a police helicopter at night, something that could blind a pilot and lead to a crash.

Patrick John Keohane, 44, was to appear in court Oct. 7 in an unrelated case that was filed earlier involving possession and being under the influence of methamphetamine.

Keohane was free on his own recognizance on the drug case when he shined a laser on a San Diego Police helicopter on Sept. 22.

National City Police arrested Keohane after the helicopter crew directed officers to a house on A Avenue near East 24th Street in National City.

A friend with him was arrested on a drug warrant. Keohane is now being held in the South Bay Detention Facility on $35,000 bail for both cases.

Keohane pleaded guilty to the felony charge of discharging a laser at an aircraft before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Esteban Hernandez.

No sentencing date was set, but court records say the drug case would be resolved before he would be sentenced on the laser charge.

Keohane is also charged with unauthorized possession of a hypodermic needle in a Sept. 2 incident. He has prior convictions for grand theft, receiving stolen property, auto theft, felony evading of police and a federal case of interstate shipment theft in Seattle, according to court records.