PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A 70-year-old St. Petersburg man was arrested Thursday night for shining a laser pointer at a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
Around 8:10 PM, the helicopter was assisting deputies with a burglary call in unincorporated St. Petersburg when the flight crew noticed a blue laser light repeatedly aimed at them. The crew was able to pinpoint the source of the laser and directed ground units to a residence on 54th Avenue North.
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Deputies identified the suspect as Harold Church Jr., who admitted to shining the laser at the helicopter.
Shining a laser at an aircraft is a serious offense as it can temporarily blind and disorient pilots, potentially leading to a dangerous situation. In Florida, it is a third-degree felony to knowingly and willfully shine a laser at a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft.
Church was arrested and charged with felony misuse of a laser lighting device. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
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