A Tulsa man was charged Tuesday with aiming a laser pointer at a Tulsa Police Department helicopter Saturday night.
Carl Don Floyd, 42, made a court appearance on the federal charge Tuesday afternoon, and bond conditions were set.
According to an affidavit that accompanied the complaint, the helicopter was flying northwest at 1,400 feet above ground level about 7:50 p.m. Saturday when a green laser was shined on its front left side.
The crew determined that the light was coming from West Archer Place and flew toward its source, the document says.
A tactical flight officer was then struck in both eyes by a second laser beam, according to the affidavit.
A third activation of the laser enabled the crew to trace the light to a porch at a residence in the 2100 block of West Archer Place, the document says.
Sgt. Nick Cory, who is in charge of the Police Department's Air Support Unit, said laser pointers have been posing problems for aircraft in Tulsa, and the FBI has requested police assistance in locating offenders.
"For some reason, over the past six or eight months, it seems like the Tulsa area has had a large amount of these on fixed-wing aircraft, so the FBI has asked us to assist them," Cory said.
The FBI has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone aiming a laser at an aircraft.
The light from a typical classroom laser pointer, even though it has relatively low wattage, is strong enough to travel three to five miles, Cory said.
"If it hits your view screen, it obstructs your view of seeing out momentarily," Cory said. "If you get a direct eye shot, you can get temporary blindness, ... and you'll have the issue of if you'll be able to maintain your aircraft. And you can have permanent eye issues."
Cory said an air ambulance in Texas was recently hit by a laser, "and a nurse on board got a permanent injury from it."
An FBI report released last week states that 3,960 laser strikes on aircraft were reported nationwide in 2013 -— an average of 11 per day. But "thousands of laser attacks go unreported every year," the report states.
Saturday's incident occurred as the Police Department's helicopter was on a routine patrol, Cory said.
Floyd initially told police that "three unknown males who since left the area" were responsible for the laser activity, the affidavit states.
FBI agents arrived shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday, and Floyd eventually admitted to them that he had, in fact, pointed a green laser at the helicopter, the document says.
He said he had been pointing the laser at a nearby tower and "accidentally struck" the aircraft, the affidavit states. He said he didn't intend to harm the helicopter crew, the document says.
Floyd told authorities the laser was in a closet in his house, which is where agents found it after obtaining written consent to search the home, the affidavit states.
During Tuesday's court hearing, Floyd waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction. He was released from the Tulsa Jail on bond Tuesday evening.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/crim...cle_823f4d81-48df-511b-a7b1-806efa9e0585.html
Carl Don Floyd, 42, made a court appearance on the federal charge Tuesday afternoon, and bond conditions were set.
According to an affidavit that accompanied the complaint, the helicopter was flying northwest at 1,400 feet above ground level about 7:50 p.m. Saturday when a green laser was shined on its front left side.
The crew determined that the light was coming from West Archer Place and flew toward its source, the document says.
A tactical flight officer was then struck in both eyes by a second laser beam, according to the affidavit.
A third activation of the laser enabled the crew to trace the light to a porch at a residence in the 2100 block of West Archer Place, the document says.
Sgt. Nick Cory, who is in charge of the Police Department's Air Support Unit, said laser pointers have been posing problems for aircraft in Tulsa, and the FBI has requested police assistance in locating offenders.
"For some reason, over the past six or eight months, it seems like the Tulsa area has had a large amount of these on fixed-wing aircraft, so the FBI has asked us to assist them," Cory said.
The FBI has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone aiming a laser at an aircraft.
The light from a typical classroom laser pointer, even though it has relatively low wattage, is strong enough to travel three to five miles, Cory said.
"If it hits your view screen, it obstructs your view of seeing out momentarily," Cory said. "If you get a direct eye shot, you can get temporary blindness, ... and you'll have the issue of if you'll be able to maintain your aircraft. And you can have permanent eye issues."
Cory said an air ambulance in Texas was recently hit by a laser, "and a nurse on board got a permanent injury from it."
An FBI report released last week states that 3,960 laser strikes on aircraft were reported nationwide in 2013 -— an average of 11 per day. But "thousands of laser attacks go unreported every year," the report states.
Saturday's incident occurred as the Police Department's helicopter was on a routine patrol, Cory said.
Floyd initially told police that "three unknown males who since left the area" were responsible for the laser activity, the affidavit states.
FBI agents arrived shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday, and Floyd eventually admitted to them that he had, in fact, pointed a green laser at the helicopter, the document says.
He said he had been pointing the laser at a nearby tower and "accidentally struck" the aircraft, the affidavit states. He said he didn't intend to harm the helicopter crew, the document says.
Floyd told authorities the laser was in a closet in his house, which is where agents found it after obtaining written consent to search the home, the affidavit states.
During Tuesday's court hearing, Floyd waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction. He was released from the Tulsa Jail on bond Tuesday evening.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/crim...cle_823f4d81-48df-511b-a7b1-806efa9e0585.html
