Miami Man Guilty of Aiming Laser Pointer at helicopters

Miami Man Guilty of Aiming Laser Pointer at helicopters
MIAMI – Following a trial in Miami federal court, a jury has found Patrick E. Longsworth, 68, guilty of aiming a laser pointer at two United States Coast Guard helicopters and one Miami-Dade Police Department helicopter. According to the evidence at trial, the defendant aimed a green laser pointer at three government helicopters in late November last year – two U.S. Coast Guard helicopters, and...

Suspect pleads guilty to 2016 laser strike on Coast Guard aircrew

Suspect pleads guilty to 2016 laser strike on Coast Guard aircrew
SEATTLE — A Port Angeles-area man pleaded guilty Monday at the U.S. District Court in Tacoma for aiming a laser pointer at a Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles aircrew in 2016. Randall Muck, 35, pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of assault on a federal officer under Title 18 U.S. Code Section 111a. Muck was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement with electronic monitoring, one year of probation...

Coast Guard seeks information after laser strike hits Seattle boatcrew

Coast Guard seeks information after laser strike hits Seattle boatcrew
45 file photo by PA1 Adam Eggers SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is seeking information from the public in locating a suspect or suspects who pointed a blue laser light at a Coast Guard Station Seattle boatcrew conducting search and rescue operations Monday night near Point Wells. The crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium initially reported they were fit to complete their assigned search and reported...

Coast Guard rescue crew forced to seek medical assistance after being struck by lasers

Coast Guard rescue crew forced to seek medical assistance after being struck by lasers
PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Coast Guard is warning the public that pointing handheld lasers at Coast Guard boat and aircrews is dangerous and illegal. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Panama City received a report Sunday evening at 6:48 p.m. of a disabled 15-foot Jon Boat with four people on board, a 50-year-old father and his three children, who had lost communications with his wife on shore. The...

Laser aimed at Coast Guard airplane prompts investigation

Laser aimed at Coast Guard airplane prompts investigation
HONOLULU ­– A Coast Guard aircraft crew was targeted by an individual with a laser pointer while flying into Kalaeloa Airport on Oahu, late Tuesday night. The lased HC-130 Hercules airplane crew was returning to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point from a Department of Defense support mission when the incident occurred. Three crewmembers observed the laser sweeping the aircraft, but no one was...

Coast Guard helicopter crew targeted with laser pointers

Coast Guard helicopter crew targeted with laser pointers
NEW ORLEANS ­– A Coast Guard helicopter crew was targeted three times during a span of four days by an individual or individuals with a laser pointer near New Orleans. The first of the three lazing incidents began when an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans was conducting security patrols in support of the Super Bowl when the helicopter was targeted with a laser...

Laser pointer user attempts to distract Coast Guard helicopter after late night search

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. – A Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Humboldt Bay was illuminated with a laser last week following a late night search during a distress call south of the Humboldt Bay entrance. Fortunately, the pilot at the controls was not affected by the laser and the aircraft remained under control. At approximately 10:30 p.m. last Saturday, the crew in the Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin...