Florida Man Arrested Pointing Laser at Marion County Sheriff Helicopter

A 41-year-old Florida man, Adam Santiago-Lugo, was arrested after repeatedly pointing a green laser at a Marion County Sheriff's Office helicopter during a security check. The laser beam obstructed the pilot's vision while flying the AIR-1, prompting the helicopter crew to use a FLIR camera to locate Santiago-Lugo in his driveway, where he was also seen using binoculars. Despite deputies directing him to stop, Santiago-Lugo continued to aim the laser and initially resisted arrest before being taken into custody. He claimed he was "just being silly" and bored at the time of the incident. Santiago-Lugo was charged with pointing a laser light at a pilot, a felony, and resisting arrest without violence, with the laser pointer, binoculars, and a flashlight seized as evidence. The Marion County Sheriff's Office highlighted the danger of such actions to aviation safety.