Sunday, November 01, 2020

Trick-or-treaters arrested for pointing lasers at Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies flying helicopter




LEE COUNTY, Florida – Three people were arrested on Saturday after shining green lasers at Lee County deputies flying a helicopter over Fort Myers.

Lee County deputies arrested 15-year-old Alexander Harry, 18-year-old Xavier Satchell, and 40-year-old Adam Schlesier after the incident.

The deputies in the aviation unit for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office were responding to a call in the central district when a trick-or-treater shined a green laser light into the cockpit of the helicopter.

The Tactical Flight Officer in the helicopter used Forward Looking Infrared camera to find out where the laser light was coming from, according to LCSO.

The aviation deputies found three people walking through a neighborhood and intentionally pointing lasers at the helicopter.

The sheriff’s office said the pilot and TFO tracked the people and notified LCSO ground units they were standing in a driveway getting candy on Arbor Avenue.

Patrol deputies responded and arrested all three men for misusing a laser, which is a third-degree felony.

This is the second incident where laser lights were pointed at LCSO helicopters in the past three days, according to Lee County deputies.

“Our patrol and aviation units worked together to arrest four subjects for this crime in the last 72 hours,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said. “Those who want to play this game will find themselves in the Lee County Jail.”

ALL TRICKS, NO TREATS: Three Arrested for Striking LCSO Chopper with Laser

“I can’t begin to explain how dangerous it is to put our aviation crew members in jeopardy by pointing a laser light at their eyes,” stated Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “Any person who intentionally tries to harm my family members will go to jail.”

On October 31, 2020, members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit were responding to a call in Central District when a trick-or-treater shined a green laser light into the cockpit of the helicopter.

With the help of the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera, the Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) was able to locate where the laser light was coming from.

Aviation deputies observed three individuals walking through a neighborhood and intentionally pointing a laser at the helicopter.

The pilot and TFO tracked the subjects and advised LCSO ground units they were standing in a driveway getting candy at 6190 Arbor Avenue.

Patrol deputies quickly responded and took Alexander Harry (DOB 8/17/05), Xavier Satchell (DOB 4/20/02), and Adam Schlesier (DOB 5/19/80) into custody and charged them with Misuse of a Laser, which is a third-degree felony.

“Our patrol and aviation units worked together to arrest four subjects for this crime in the last 72 hours. Those who want to play this game will find themselves in the Lee County Jail,” stated Sheriff Carmine Marceno.