WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A 22-year-old man was arrested for pointing a powerful laser at a Palm Beach County sheriff's helicopter hovering above his home at night.
Authorities say Thomas Kiefer Jr. was arrested Aug. 8. He is charged with a felony for misusing the laser device. He is free on bond.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says authorities have received numerous reports of people shining lasers at their helicopter and at planes coming and going from the airport.
He says the devices could temporarily blind a pilot and cause a crash.
Kiefer says he didn't know it was illegal and denied intentionally shining the laser at the helicopter cockpit.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox