Suspect who said he may have "lasered" planes released

A Burien man arrested last week after he said he may have shined a laser at an airplane landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been released from custody, according to King County prosecutors.

The Port of Seattle Police Department will continue to investigate the case, and prosecutors say they will decide later whether to file charges.

Christopher Charles Saunders, 24, was arrested Friday by Port of Seattle police after a series of incidents in the past two weeks in which a laser was aimed at planes making evening landings at the airport. All of the flights landed safely.

"He's still a suspect, and we are actively investigating this for further information," said Perry Cooper, spokesman for the port. "We are waiting until we have a full, secure case we feel best about until charges are finally filed."

The incidents began Feb. 22, when the airport's Federal Aviation Administration tower reported that 12 flights had been hit by a laser, according to probable-cause documents filed in court.

One Alaska Airlines pilot told police his plane had been hit by a laser light while landing. He said he saw someone standing in the front yard of a house and, after examining a Google map, narrowed the location to the 2300 block of South 132nd Street, according to the probable-cause documents.

Port police arrested Saunders after he said he pointed a laser light in multiple directions while attending a Feb. 22 party in the 2200 block of South 136th Street in Burien, according to the probable-cause documents. He said there was a chance he might have "lasered" a plane, according to the documents.

Saunders surrendered a pen-style greenlight laser, the documents say.

Saunders, who was investigated for unlawful discharge of a laser, a felony, was released Tuesday.

"Obviously we've made some progress but we're continuing the investigation," Cooper said. "It's a dangerous offense that could turn into a serious situation."

This story includes information from Seattle Times archives.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com