Bradenton Man Arrested for Pointing Laser at Sheriff's Helicopter
A Bradenton man is facing serious charges after authorities say he aimed a laser pointer at a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
Deputies reported that the incident occurred when the Sheriff’s Watch unit detected a laser beam coming from a backyard in the City of Bradenton. Law enforcement officers from the Bradenton Police and the Florida Highway Patrol were directed to the residence, where they took 39-year-old Tony Hill into custody. He was charged with pointing a laser light at a pilot, a third-degree felony under Florida law.
The charge stems from the severe risk such actions pose to aviation safety. Pointing a laser at an aircraft can temporarily blind or distract a pilot, impairing their ability to safely operate the aircraft. Federal and state authorities classify the offense as a third-degree felony because of the potential for catastrophic consequences, including loss of control, collisions, or other accidents that endanger both those in the air and on the ground.
In Florida, a third-degree felony carries penalties of up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine. Authorities continue to stress that laser strikes on aircraft are not harmless pranks but dangerous actions with potentially life-threatening results.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that pointing a laser at an aircraft endangers lives and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
