SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — An investigation is underway in Seminole County after someone targeted the sheriff’s helicopter with a laser pointer on Saturday.
Deputies said around 6:40 p.m. during a patrol over the area of State Road 436 and Oxford Road in Casselberry, a person on the ground repeatedly targeted the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office ALERT 1 helicopter team with a green laser pointer.
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According to deputies, the tactical flight officer was able to locate the source of the laser, which was coming from a back patio of an apartment.
Casselberry police and the Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies found the apartment and waited to see if the helicopter would be hit with the laser.
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The person never came back out onto the porch, deputies said.
Deputies spoke to a few occupants of the apartment, but were unable to make any positive identifications.
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This is an ongoing investigation and deputies are not releasing the suspect’s name at this time.
Repeated laser strikes can be very dangerous to pilots, and may cause temporary blindness and potential eye damage.
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According to deputies, targeting an aircraft in this manner is a felony offense.
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