Two men were arrested Sunday night after authorities say a laser was pointed at an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter assisting with a missing person search in Logan County.
The incident happened around 9:25 p.m. near Township Roads 88 and 224.
The helicopter crew alerted dispatch that a vehicle was shining a blue laser at the aircraft.
Deputies found the vehicle, but the driver, identified as Garth Hobart, 43, of Lakeview, took off at a high rate of speed when he saw the patrol vehicle.
Hobart failed to stop at a stop sign before deputies caught up with the vehicle just inside Auglaize County.
During the investigation, Hobart told deputies he thought he was pointing a flashlight at a drone and did not realize it was a helicopter.
The passenger, Zachary Potter, 41, of Lakeview, told deputies he did not know anything had been pointed at the aircraft.
K-9 Tega then alerted to the vehicle, leading deputies to search it.
Officers reported finding several pipes with burnt residue, small bags containing a white powdery substance, additional bags with residue, and a digital scale.
Both men were arrested and taken to the Logan County Jail on drug trafficking charges.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol will also pursue a separate charge against Hobart for interfering with the operation of an aircraft with a laser.
