St. Pete man accused of shining laser at sheriff’s helicopter: PCSO
Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A 71-year-old St. Petersburg man was arrested after deputies say he pointed a laser at a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Tuesday night.
The backstory:
According to PCSO, the incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, while the agency’s helicopter was in the air near 38th Avenue North. Flight deputies reported that a green laser beam was flashed at the cockpit while they were in the air.
Deputies learned the laser was coming from a home on 29th Avenue North. Flight crews kept eyes on the suspect from above while leading deputies to the home, according to the sheriff's office.
PCSO says deputies spoke with James Mock and placed him under arrest. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and faces a felony charge of misuse of a laser lighting device.
Dig deeper:
Under Florida law, it is a third-degree felony to knowingly and willfully shine, point, or focus a laser beam at someone operating a motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.