He pointed a laser at planes landing at SRQ airport, cops say. They were not his only target

A 42-year-old Manatee County man was arrested after he pointed a laser light at airplanes that were landing at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies, including those in the sheriff’s office helicopter, responded to the airport about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. The suspect, later identified as Charlie James Chapman Jr., pointed the laser light at the helicopter, the sheriff’s office said.

Video shot from the helicopter shows the laser light hitting the chopper. Chapman is then seen picking something up from the ground — more than once — and making a throwing motion at the helicopter, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies on the ground were directed to Chapman’s location where he was arrested, but not without further incident.

Deputies say Chapman grabbed a hammer and “made a striking motion,” as they approached.

Chapman was struck with a taser, which put him on the ground. Deputies say they found the laser pointer in his pocket.

“One of the pilots advised that the laser hit him directly in the eyes, causing temporary blindness,” the sheriff’s office reported.

Chapman was booked into the Manatee County jail on charges of aggravated assault on an officer, pointing a laser at pilot with injury, pointing a laser at pilot without injury and resisting arrest without violence.

SRQ Police Chief Ted Kohuth sent out a prepared statement following the arrest, noting that a Cessna Skyhawk was struck multiple times by the laser between 7:25 p.m. and 8:17 p.m. as the pilot was practicing takeoff and landing.

Just before 9 p.m., an inbound United Airbus A320 reported an “intentional laser strike,” and described by the pilot as “intense.”

“Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety risk and violates state and federal law,” Kohuth said. “Many high-powered lasers can completely incapacitate pilots who are responsible to fly safely to their destinations and may be carrying hundreds of passengers.”

This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 11:31 AM.