Thursday, January 02, 2014

Man arrested for shining laser light at helicopter

A Holly Hill man was arrested early New Year’s Day accused of shining a green laser light into the cockpit of a Volusia County sheriff’s helicopter as the craft flew on patrol over his neighborhood, investigating deputies said.

Andrew Decker, 18, a Daytona State College student, was charged with pointing a laser light at a pilot/driver.

Deputies said Air One was on patrol over the city of Holly Hill when the green laser light was shined at it at least four times around 12:18 a.m. On one occasion, the light was shone into the cockpit as the pilot wore night vision goggles trying to locate Decker, an arrest report shows.

The pilot guided deputies to 1569 Hammock Drive in Holly Hill where they found Decker outside with the laser in his hand. Even as deputies were walking toward Decker, he again pointed the laser at the helicopter, reports said.

Decker said he just wanted to find out if the laser could reach as high as the helicopter was flying, even after a neighbor told him it was a crime to do so, reports said.

Source:   http://www.news-journalonline.com

Andrew Decker