Aloha man arrested, admits to aiming laser at helicopter

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Another Portland-area man has been arrested for allegedly pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft.

Aloha resident Brian Kapileo Nepaial faces federal charges of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after he allegedly aimed the green laser at a Customs and Border Protections helicopter flying near his home on Oct. 3.

In court documents obtained by KOIN 6 News, the laser lit up the cockpit and the eyes of the flight crew and caused them to abort their planned landing. The crew circled the area the laser was coming from and captured camera footage of its origin.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed the footage and determined the laser came from Kapileo’s home on Pinewood Way in Aloha.

They obtained a search warrant for Kapileo’s home and on Oct. 10 agents said they found a laser pointer as well as a pipe and a substance later determined to be methamphetamine. After he was arrested, he agreed to answer questions.

According to court documents, Kapileo told officers the laser pointer was his, and that he had recently purchased it from Temu. He also admitted to pointing the device at “an aircraft” while he was outside the residence smoking on Oct. 3.

Agents also found a bag under his bed with multiple smaller plastic bags each containing one gram of methamphetamine, for a total of about 100 grams.

Kapileo reportedly confirmed the drugs were his, and that he sold the smaller bags for $50 each.

Helicopters have been seen flying over the Portland area for weeks as federal law enforcement ramps up immigration enforcement.

Last month, four undocumented citizens were detained after one of them allegedly pointed a laser pointer at a law enforcement aircraft. On Saturday, medical flights were diverted from Oregon Health and Science University after a flyer circulated encouraging people to shine lasers at helicopters.

No federal court appearance has been scheduled yet for Kapileo. He was arraigned Monday in Washington County court on misdemeanor drug charges in a seperate case.