Already In Jail On Unrelated Charges
A South Florida man who initially blamed his son for pointing a
handheld laser at a sheriff's helicopter last month is now in jail,
charged with not one but two crimes... only one of which is related
to a laser.
Authorities questioned Eric Newsome, 28, shortly after the
incident involving a Collier County Sheriffs Department helicopter.
The helo's pilot states someone shined a laser at the helicopter
four times in the early morning hours of January 20.
According to local television station NBC-2, the pilot guided
police officers to the house where the light came from --
Newsome's. The man confirmed he owned a laser, but maintained his
five-year-old son must have shined it on the helo.
Little progress was made on the case until two weeks later, when
an investigator looking into the incident noticed Newsome was in
the Collier County Jail on a charge of failure to pay child
support. The officer spoke to Newsome, who once again said his son
must have pointed the laser at the helicopter.
The investigator discovered a small flaw with that statement,
however -- they say Newsome's son wasn't with him on January 20.
Authorities then charged him with the crime... which prompted a
judge to raise Newsome's bond from $2,500 to $50,000.
Aviation Supervisor Lieutenant Mark Cherney notes shining a
laser at an aircraft is a third-degree felony in the state of
Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.
"I do not advise anyone to do this at all..." Cherney told
NBC-2. "We don't know if the laser is actually attached to a
weapon. It could be on a handgun, it could be on a long gun, we
just don't know the intent of this person shooting their laser at
us."
Newsome was not available for comment on the matter. His
girlfriend's father says he believes Newsome shone the laser on the
helicopter, for reasons unknown to him.
"I think he done wrong, I really do," said Edgar Thomas
Jacob.
ANN has reported extensively
on a rash of incidents where persons have shone lasers on aircraft
passing overhead. Lasers can cause short-term vision loss and other
potential safety issues.
Cherney said, frankly, deputies can't understand why Newsome --
or anybody -- would want to pull such a thoughtless act.
"We're not really sure and that's why we take each and every
case very seriously," said Cherney. "We will put you in jail for
it. If we catch you, you will go to jail."