St. James Man In Court Friday For Laser Pointing

David Smith of St. James is set to appear in court Friday stemming from a December 2011 incident where police say he pointed a green laser at an airplane.

Smith will have a court conference Friday morning at First District Court in Central Islip, according to Robert Clifford, director of communnications for the First District Court.

The St. James man was arrested on charges of obstucting governmental administration, a misdemeanor, .

Police said the Federal Aviation Administration notified Suffolk County Police that an aircraft had been targeted at roughly 9:55 p.m. by a green laser pointer on the ground. Following the call police said the responding helicopter where the alleged initial incident occurred and was also targeted by the laser.

Additonal reporting by Associate Regional Editor Joseph Pinciaro