A Tampa man is facing charges after investigators say he pointed a laser at a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office helicopter.
- Ismail Abdullah charged with misuse of laser lighting device
- Two pilots in HCSO helicopter say people shining laser into cockpit
- Responding deputies found Abdullah's car at Tampa apartment complex
Investigators say the incident happened Wednesday at 10:20 p.m. in the area of 4000 Rocky Circle in Tampa. Two pilots in a HCSO helicopter saw a dark vehicle with three people who were shining a laser/light device into the helicopter's cockpit, the report said.
The pilots sent patrol units to the vehicle, and deputies who arrived saw a black Toyota Corolla parked in the 4050 Lofts Apartment Complex.
Investigators say the driver was identified as Ismail Abdullah, 20, and a six-inch laser was found in the front passenger side door.
Abdullah was taken into custody. Investigators say he told them he was the one who was playing with the laser and that he had done so as a joke.
Abdullah was booked into the Orient Road Jail on charges of misuse of a laser lighting device.