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 has also cited Hobart for interfering with the operation of an aircraft.
