Shining Laser Light At Tampa Police Helicopter Leads To Arrest

TAMPA, FL — A Temple Terrace man was arrested Monday after pointing a green laser at Tampa police helicopter pilots while in flight.

At 12:19 a.m., the police helicopter pilots reported that they'd been targeted twice by a green laser from an apartment complex off Busch Boulevard and 56th Street in Temple Terrace.

With assistance from Temple Terrace police officers, Tampa police identified the apartment where the laser originated and arrested 26-year-old Juan Lozada-Zamorano, who was charged with one count of misuse of a laser lighting device.

Under Florida statutes, it is a third-degree felony for anyone to intentionally shine or point a laser light at a person driving, operating a boat or flying an aircraft.