Driver Arrested on Golden Gate Bridge for Aiming a Laser at CHP Officers
Photo: Tyler Hickerson in custody
SAUSALITO — A foolhardy driver was arrested on the Golden Gate Bridge for blinding California Highway Patrol officers with a laser. The suspect pointed a beam of light at officers responding to a solo vehicle crash.
This disabled vehicle blocking the fast lane was creating a hazard for southbound drivers swerving to avoid hitting it. Officers were conducting a traffic break to slow the approaching traffic, during the predawn hours of March 9th.
Hickerson’s car on Golden Gate Bridge
Responding officers had all their emergency flashers turned on to alert motorists. Suddenly, bright green light flooded the interior of the CHP patrol car, and temporarily blinded the officers.
Fortunately, the CHP officer driving managed to avoid crashing, before regaining his vision. The suspect’s car was easily identified. It was the only vehicle on the freeway, approaching the bridge ahead of the traffic break.
The suspect was driving at a high rate of speed through a construction zone. Officers radioed to a CHP unit assigned to the construction detail, warning it might be targeted by a laser.
The suspect’s car was stopped on the bridge. The driver identified as Tyler R. Hickerson, 24 of Larkspur was detained. Hickerson was questioned and officers determined that he was responsible for aiming the laser at them.
Hickerson’s car was searched and a high-power green laser pen was recovered as evidence. He was arrested March 10th on open charges for exhibiting a replica firearm, but he is no longer in custody.
Evidently, Hickerson used the laser several other times on the freeway in Marin County on the same night. Drivers intimidated by laser light pointing at them, reported they moved over, so the perpetrator could pass them.
