Apparently it’s not a good idea to shine a laser pointer into the cockpit of a helicopter. Especially if it’s a Sheriff’s copter.
James McDonald (52) was arrested early this morning accused of doing just that shortly before midnight.
On July 9, 2014, at 11:50 pm, a white male subject was seen shining a green class II laser pointer in the cockpit of PBSO Eagle. James McDonald was identified as the suspect and arrested on the following charges: Public Order Crimes – Point a Laser Light at Pilot and Misuse of a Laser Lighting Device (Aircraft). He was booked into the PBC Jail. His current bail is $3000.
McDonald’s reported address is on Tradewind Road, on the west end of Watergate Estates (aka West Sandalfoot or the Sandalfoot trailers).
We should note that from the limited facts we’ve seen so far this may be a difficult case for the prosecution to prove.
PBSO is particularly tweaked by this one:
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office REMINDS the Public that Misuse of Laser Lighting Device is a FELONY. There has been an ongoing problem with the misuse of a green laser that has been pointed into the cockpits of aircrafts landing at PBIA.
They added that if any injury results the charge is upgraded to a 2nd degree felony, and if it causes an aircraft to crash that puts it in 1st degree territory – and you don’t want to be there.
PBSO requests:
Should anyone witness the misuse of a Laser Lighting Device please report it immediately to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the nearest law enforcement agency, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS or text to [email protected].
We see no previous criminal history for Mr. McDonald in the county, though he has had several traffic cases. And we did find a couple felony cocaine cases and a DUI misdemeanor for him (or someone with the same name and date of birth) in Broward from back in the late 1980s.