Reed Beers denied he had done anything when officers arrived at his door, but was sentenced today for shining a laser at a police aircraft as they searched for a firearm suspect
19:29, 27 Mar 2026Updated 20:56, 27 Mar 2026
Richard Beers swore at officers and denied he had done anything wrong when they arrived at his doorstep(Image: West Mercia Police)
This is the moment Midland man Reed Beers was arrested by police officers at his home after he shone a laser at a police aircraft pilot.
The 60-year-old shone the laser at the fixed-wing plane from his bedroom window in Old Office Road in Dawley, Telford, as officers tried to locate a man reported to have a firearm.
In the video of his arrest released by West Mercia Police after he was sentenced today, officers knock on his door and have to encourage Beers to speak to them through the glass.
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When he does open the door his first comment is: “Have you got a f****** problem?”
The officers ask to come in but Beers refuses. A police officer then explains that a laser has been shone at a helicopter from the address and they have ‘thermal imaging’ proving it came from the house.
Police used thermal imaging to track the laser directly to his home(Image: West Mercia Police)
Beers tells them ‘go get the evidence to prove it’ and the officers tell him he will be arrested if he doesn’t comply. He denies that any offence has been committed but admits he has heard some type of plane flying about and tells the officers he is alone in the property.
He then tries to leave the doorway to fetch his own camera as he tells the officers ‘as you’re recording me’. The police officers try to enter the property but Beers rushes back telling them ‘get out’.
There is then a struggle as they pull Beers out of the doorway as he shouts ‘you can’t touch me’ and they handcuff him and read him his rights.
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Beers claimed he had actually been shining a laser at a drone from an air rifle, but was today sentenced after pleading guilty to dazzling or distracting a pilot during the incident on Tuesday 10 March – and had to forefeit his laser.
During the hearing, Telford Magistrates Court was told how at 6.23pm officers were called to Ketley Bank following reports a man had a suspected firearm.
As officers carried out searches on the ground to locate the suspect, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) was called in to assist and the fixed-wing plane was called in to help from Nottingham.
It was circling around Telford for 59 minutes but at 7.52pm the pilot alerted officers after a green laser had been shone at the aircraft.
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The crew were able to pinpoint the location of the laser and told officers on the ground, who attended Beers’ address on Old Office Road in Dawley.
In police interviews Beers claimed he only had a red laser – despite later police searches of his property finding two green lasers.
He told officers that night he had been shining a red laser from an air rifle at a drone while trying to take a picture with his camera.
He said he also checked the Flight Radar App and said there were no aircrafts showing in the area at that time.
Officers checked his camera and found no pictures had been taken that evening of any aircrafts.
Beers claimed that was due to the fact he was holding the air rifle with one hand and his camera with the other, so was unable to focus correctly.
Beers was subsequently charged with dazzling or distracting a pilot the following day.
He was handed a 12-month custodial discharge at Telford Magistrates Court today.
Detective Inspector Paul Drury said: “Shining a laser at any aircraft is inherently dangerous but doing so while it is supporting officers during an active incident places both the crew, and the public at even greater risk.
“Our colleagues at NPAS play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, and this reckless behaviour could have had truly serious consequences.
“I hope this sends a clear message that endangering an aircraft will be met with firm and decisive justice.”
