Florida suspect pointed laser at sheriff's office helicopter, authorities say
Florida suspect pointed laser at sheriff's office helicopter, authorities say
A Florida man is potentially facing charges after he repeatedly pointed a laser at a Brevard County Sheriff's Office helicopter on Sunday night, temporarily blinding and blurring the pilot's vision, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida man is potentially facing charges after he repeatedly pointed a laser at a Brevard County Sheriff's Office helicopter on Sunday night, temporarily blinding and blurring the pilot's vision, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said.
The sheriff's department was assisting the Palm Bay Police Department with its search for a man following an alleged fight with a roommate, BCSO said in a Facebook post.
Video from the helicopter – and released by Brevard County Sheriff's Office – shows what appears to be a green laser repeatedly flashing in the direction of the helicopter.
Dean Gordon Beolet, 33, was arrested and booked into jail on one count of felony misuse of a laser light.
Helicopter pilot blinded by laser pointed in cockpit; man arrested, deputies say
A Brevard County Sheriff's Office helicopter pilot was temporarily blinded after a laser was repeatedly pointed into the cockpit, according to BCSO. The pilot was assisting another police agency in its search for a man allegedly involved in a dispute with a roommate. A 33-year-old man was arrested and booked into jail on felony misuse of a laser light. BCSO said the pilot was evaluated and deemed OK to fly again.
"Not only did the laser put officers from the Palm Bay Police Department in harm's way as it impacted the equipment our team was utilizing to search for the armed suspect, but it also put our flight crew in immediate danger as the laser refracted through our pilot's night goggles temporarily blinding him and blurring his vision," the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "The impact to his vision was so significant that he had to immediately turn the controls over to our Tactical Flight Officer, who thankfully on this particular flight crew is also a pilot or this situation could have been even worse."
According to online court documents, Beolet reportedly admitted to deputies that he intentionally pointed the laser at the helicopter. He was booked into jail on a $2,000 bond.