San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser at Sheriff’s Helicopter

A San Diego Sheriff’s Department ASTREA helicopter in a file image. Courtesy of San Diego Sheriff’s Department

SAN DIEGO—A man who aimed a laser pointer at a San Diego County sheriff’s helicopter and commercial aircraft pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to a federal crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the Federal Aviation Administration received a series of reports on June 12, 2021, that a laser was being trained on commercial aircraft as they were landing at San Diego International Airport.