PHOTO RELEASE: Man arrested by CGIS for laser strike to Coast Guard helicopter in Puerto Rico

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office Office: 787-729-2381 After Hours: 787-510-7923 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands online newsroom

Man arrested by CGIS for laser strike to Coast Guard helicopter in Puerto Rico

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — One individual was arrested by Coast Guard Investigative Services, Thursday for performing multiple laser strikes on a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew in San Juan.

On June 12, 2018 a Dolphin helicopter safely landed after they observed a green laser multiple times in the cockpit during flight operations.

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a felony offense under 18 U.S. Code Section 39A, which states: "Whoever knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."

Coast Guard Investigative Service agents investigated the incident. 

"This type of crime affects the Coast Guard in a profound way since it impairs the ability to respond to rescues at sea and detect vessels involved in criminal acts, and could cause serious injury to the pilot's eyesight" said Miguel Angel Rivera-Cuadrado, Coast Guard Investigative Services special agent in charge in San Juan. "We will continue to work hard to identify, arrest and prosecute those that stand against the safety of the pilots and the intervention of the operations of the Coast Guard aircrafts."

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