A green laser lighting up the cockpit of a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office helicopter last night ended with a 71-year-old St. Petersburg man in handcuffs, deputies say.
Flight crew members reported that a green beam struck the helicopter while it was on patrol near 38th Avenue North. They tracked the light to a home in the area and directed patrol units to the address, where deputies arrested James R. Mock. He was taken to the Pinellas County Jail on a felony charge of misuse of a laser lighting device, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said flight deputies were in the air around 8:58 p.m. when the cockpit suddenly lit up with the green laser near 38th Avenue North. The crew maintained visual on the source at 1643 29th Avenue North while guiding ground deputies in, and patrol units arrested Mock on one count of felony Misuse of a Laser Lighting Device. The agency’s news release includes his date of birth and notes that the investigation is ongoing.
The arrest was also detailed by the Tampa Free Press, in a report by Liz Shultz that closely follows the sheriff’s account and says deputies were able to pinpoint the laser to the St. Petersburg residence before ground units made contact.
Why Authorities Treat Laser Strikes as Serious Business
The Federal Aviation Administration says laser strikes on aircraft remain “dangerously high,” with pilots reporting more than 12,000 incidents across the country in 2024 and Florida logging 810 of those reports. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a laser beam can temporarily blind or distract a pilot, which is the kind of midair surprise nobody is looking for.
Florida law treats it as a crime to knowingly point a laser at someone operating a vehicle or aircraft, classifying it as a third-degree felony. Under Florida Statute 784.062, an incident that causes bodily injury can be charged as a second-degree felony.
What Happens Next
The sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing and that the case will move through the county’s criminal process, as outlined in its news release. If state prosecutors file formal charges, Mock would face the penalties allowed under Florida law, and federal authorities can step in on some laser incidents depending on the circumstances. Deputies did not release information on bond or court dates in the initial posting.
The FAA urges anyone who sees a laser aimed at an aircraft to report it to local law enforcement and through the agency’s online reporting tools, saying those tips help identify patterns and protect flight crews and the public. Officials also ask that anyone with information about this case contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office so investigators can follow up.
