MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Bradenton man has been arrested and charged for shooting a laser pointer at planes approaching the Sarasota Bradenton Airport and temporarily blinding a pilot.
- Man charged with pointing laser at planes
- Incident occurred at Bradenton Sarasota Airport
- Pilot was also temporarily blinded
Charlie James Chapman, Jr., faces several charges including pointing a laser at a pilot and causing injury.
According to Ted Kohuth, Chief of Police for Sarasota Bradenton Airport, the incident started Wednesday night when a Cessna Skyhawk was practicing takeoff and landing on the runway. Over the course of roughly 45 minutes, a laser flashed multiple times at the pilot.
Just before 9 p.m., the pilot of a United Airbus A320 in route from Newark also reported a laser strike.
Both planes landed safely.
Officials say while the MCSO Aviation Unit was attempting to locate the suspect on the ground, he also used the laser on them.
“One of the pilots of the plane advised that the laser hit him directly in the eyes causing temporary blindness,” the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office stated in a written report. “The pilot stated he still felt his eyesight was blurry from the laser.”
The Aviation Unit located the suspect in a parking lot nearby. Investigators say Chapman grabbed a hammer once he spotted deputies and started making striking motions at them. Deputies used a taser on Chapman and arrested him.
The laser pointer was found in Chapman's right pants pocket. Deputies said Chapman also had a green ski mask in his possession.
Chapman was transported to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and then to the Manatee County Jail.
(Photo of Charlie Chapman, courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office)