On February 26 2021, Fort was sentenced to six months in jail, after he repeatedly aimed a laser at a police helicopter. Tags: US, Target: Aircraft, Age: 20-29, Photo Attorney David Weiser prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. In addition to 2 years of probation and 8 months of home incarceration, United States District Court Judge David Hale ordered Salazar-Leija, Jr., to pay a $2,500 fine and the costs of his home incarceration. Lasers can blind pilots and cause the aircraft to crash, and aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal felony offense. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky:Ī Louisville man was sentenced last week to 2 years of probation, including 8 months of home incarceration, for aiming a laser pointer at a Louisville Metro Police helicopter.Īccording to court documents, Manuel Martin Salazar-Leija, Jr., 26, of Louisville, aimed the beam of a laser pointer at an LMPD helicopter on September 25, 2020, during protests in the city.

Tags: US, Target: Aircraft, Jail: None, Age: 30-39įrom a Jnews release from the U.S. Prosecutors said they wanted the felony conviction to 'send a message' that aiming at aircraft, especially during civil unrest, is dangerous.īelen could have received up to five years in prison for his action, but was given probation due to no previous criminal history and having found a job since his arrest.įrom 715 Newsroom, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via MSN Belen said he aimed at the aircraft because he was bored after being laid off during the COVID pandemic. He said he had the laser for astronomy pointing with his two children.

Ground officers then went in and arrested 39-year-old Jeremiah Belen, a resident of Milwaukee.īelen apologized to the judge during his sentencing. A camera on board their aircraft was used to determine the laser's location. The FBI crew began wearing anti-laser goggles to protect against bright laser light. An FBI surveillance airplane and a Wisconsin National Guard helicopter were targeted. Laser strikes occurred seven times between May 31 and Jin the summer of 2020 during protests in Milwaukee. Tags: Australia, Age: 40-49, Jail: None, Target: Aircraft, Photo The page includes a video of the laser illumination, from which the two frames above were taken. He signed a two-year good behavior bond, will be supervised for 18 months, and will perform 80 hours of community service.Īfter the sentencing, his lawyer said Golka was sorry for what he had done.įrom ABC News. Golka was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended.

At sentencing, the judge told Golka '…that is no excuse to having committed these offences.' He was said to have been drinking alcohol and taking prescription pain medication when he aimed the laser. The perpetrator was found to be Mark Andrew Golka, 49, who lived in the Adelaide suburb of Woodcroft. The human eye would have a similar effect, first seeing the beam then being dazzled and flashblinded by the bright direct light. In the second frame the beam is aimed directly at the camera lens. In the first frame the laser beam is aimed to the left of the camera. Two frames from the South Australia Police helicopter. There was no injury to the crew but one officer was dazzled temporarily by the beam. A South Australia Police helicopter checking on COVID compliance during a three-day lockdown was hit seven times by a blue laser on November 20, 2020.

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