VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — An Edgewater man was arrested Tuesday after deputies said he pointed a laser at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Air One helicopter.
Deputies said Ryan Hutton, 29, was arrested after the helicopter pilot led deputies and police to his boat on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Investigators said a green laser pointer was recovered from the boat. Hutton told deputies he pointed the laser at the helicopter because he thought it was a drone.
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Deputies said the helicopter was in flight on a burglary call when the laser beam hit the right side of the aircraft, illuminated the cockpit and hit the pilot in the right eye.
The pilot said he lost partial vision for about three to five minutes and described it as similar to having a flash bulb go off in front of his eye.
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Hutton was taken to the Volusia County Brand Jail, where he posted $5,000 bail.
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