Let me shine that into your eyes while you try to fly a helicopter.
That's your speculation unsupported by the probable cause affidavit. The affidavit does not say where it was pointed. The closest it comes is the helicopter "... flew at a relatively low height and directly above Officer Santiago and D1's location ... ."
A reasonable inference is that it was pointed at the bottom of the helicopter. As a lawyer, that's what I would argue. It's likely the jury thought the same thing. No harm no foul.
There's a reason it's illegal.
Agreed. Including this prosecution though I think it's thin. The difference between us is that I, not having a dog in the hunt, applaud the system. You on the other hand deride the system, "... all it takes is one Democrat ... ," because it did not provide your preferred result.
I really don't see much, if any thing, coming out of this. Other than partisan political performance theater. That I'll ignore.