There are plenty of dumb ways to break the law—and even dumber ways to go to jail. Two individuals in Florida recently discovered this the hard way after pointing lasers at police helicopters over the weekend.
In both cases, police helicopters captured crystal-clear video of the incidents and guided ground units directly to the suspects. Now, both individuals are facing felony charges following their arrests.
Using the aircraft’s high-powered camera, deputies tracked down the suspect at the Avina apartment complex. There, they found 13-year-old Angel Lacen, who they say was responsible for the laser incident. Lacen was arrested and charged with misuse of a laser lighting device—a third-degree felony in Florida.
A few days earlier, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office dealt with a nearly identical situation in Bradenton. Their Watch Unit reported a laser strike coming from a backyard as the helicopter circled overhead. Deputies quickly zeroed in on the source, directing officers from the Bradenton Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol to the scene.
There, they arrested 39-year-old Tony Hill, who reportedly still had a pen-style green laser in his hand. Hill now faces the same charge as Lacen, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison.
Both departments have released footage of the events, and it’s pretty impressive. The advanced onboard camera systems made identifying the exact laser locations incredibly easy.
You might be asking, “What’s the big deal about a laser?” It might seem innocent enough, but there’s more to it.
To date, the FAA has no recorded plane or helicopter crashes caused by laser strikes, despite over 18,000 reports of laser strikes on pilots in the last year and a half.
However, evidence shows that laser strikes can temporarily blind pilots. In 2024, one pilot survived being temporarily injured by a laser thanks to modern airplane instruments—he later regained his sight entirely.
Lasers might be fun to play with at all ages, but appropriate use is critical. As the Manatee County authorities put it:
**“Shine a laser pointer at the Sheriff’s helicopter and expect to end up in jail.”**
*Lead image: Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office*
https://www.carscoops.com/2025/09/florida-teen-just-found-out-what-happens-when-you-aim-a-laser-at-a-helicopter/
