Laser pointers might seem like a harmless gadget, but aiming one at an aircraft can turn into a felony in a matter of seconds. Wait, what?! Yes, that’s exactly what investigators say happened early Friday morning in Pinellas County, Florida, when a Sheriff’s Office helicopter was suddenly illuminated as it flew over Dunedin.
The helicopter wasn’t out on a routine patrol. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Aviation Unit was assisting the Clearwater Police Department with a call for service when the cockpit was struck twice by what officials described as a blue laser. Investigators have not said what prompted the incident.
Despite being airborne, the crew says they were still able to determine the laser’s apparent point of origin and directed patrol deputies to a home in the 1200 block of Sunset Lane in Dunedin. There, deputies made contact with 62-year-old Eric Gelman, recovered the laser investigators believe was used during the incident, and arrested him on one count of felony Misuse of a Laser Lighting Device. Gelman was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
By the end of the morning, the helicopter crew had safely returned to the hangar, and what may have seemed amusing for a few moments had turned into a felony case. Whatever amusement someone may have gotten from pointing a laser at a helicopter wasn’t worth the charge that followed.
Police Helicopters Are More Capable Than Most People Realize
One question that often comes up after cases like this is how a helicopter crew can determine where a laser originated.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office did not explain exactly how flight deputies identified the laser’s apparent point of origin in this case. However, laser beams travel in a straight line, and when they strike an aircraft’s windshield or cockpit windows, they can scatter throughout the cockpit while still allowing crews to visually trace the beam back toward its source.
Modern law enforcement helicopters are also far more sophisticated than many people realize. In addition to powerful searchlights, many are equipped with stabilized high-definition cameras, FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) thermal imaging systems, moving-map technology, and powerful zoom lenses that allow crews to observe activity on the ground from hundreds of feet to thousands of feet away. Those systems routinely help crews locate fleeing suspects, find missing people, coordinate pursuits, and direct deputies on the ground to specific locations.
Some agencies also deploy specialized airborne signal-detection equipment during search-and-rescue missions to help locate Bluetooth or other radio-frequency signals from certain devices. Authorities have not suggested anything like that was used here, but it is another reminder of how advanced today’s police helicopters are.
Whatever method was used here, this is not the first time we have seen someone quickly tracked down after allegedly pointing a laser at an aircraft. We’ve previously covered cases involving a New York State Police helicopter, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter, and an Arizona man who repeatedly targeted F-35 fighter jets and an FBI surveillance aircraft.
Why Pointing a Laser at an Aircraft Is Such a Big Deal
You would think people would eventually outgrow pointing lasers at things they absolutely should not point them at, but we keep seeing cases that suggest otherwise. Earlier this year, we covered a 56-year-old Arizona man who was sentenced to federal prison after repeatedly targeting F-35 fighter jets and an FBI surveillance aircraft with lasers.
While a handheld laser may seem insignificant from the ground, it can become a major distraction for pilots. Even brief exposure can cause intense glare or temporary flash blindness in a cockpit, especially during nighttime operations when pilots rely heavily on their night vision. That’s one reason law enforcement agencies take these incidents seriously, whether the aircraft is a medical helicopter, news helicopter, or law enforcement aircraft.
We were curious what kind of laser deputies recovered, but authorities didn’t say. It could have been anything from a cheap presentation pointer to one of the far more powerful handheld lasers sold to astronomy enthusiasts. Honestly, though, that doesn’t really change the story. Whether it cost $20 or $200, deputies say it still led them right back to its apparent source. Whatever Gelman paid for it, the felony charge is almost certainly going to be a whole lot more expensive.
Fortunately, deputies reported no injuries during Friday’s incident.
Florida law prohibits knowingly pointing a laser at someone operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. Under state law, the offense is classified as a third-degree felony because of the potential danger it creates for pilots, passengers, and people on the ground if an aircraft is forced to react unexpectedly.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing.