At around 8:50 pm on Saturday, the Manatee County Sheriff Aviation Unit was assisting deputies with an unrelated call when the pilot and observation deputy noticed a flash of light at the helicopter.
They quickly discovered a suspect in the 300 block of 16th St. East, pointing a green laser light in their direction multiple times.
The Aviation Unit guided deputies on the ground to the location where the light was coming from.
When deputies arrived at the address they located a green laser pointer, and took Alejandro Bautista Wvalle into custody, charging him with Pointing a Laser Device at an Aircraft.
He admitted to shining the laser light in the sky, saying he was unaware that what he was doing was against the law, and was booked into the Manatee County Jail.
Footage from the aviation unit can be seen here.