A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly shining a laser pointer at planes as they were landing at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Officials said that Charlie James Chapman Jr. was captured on video pointing the laser at four different aircraft. In one instance, the laser hit a pilot in the eyes, causing temporary blindness and lingering blurred vision.
Authorities launched a helicopter to search for Chapman, and he made their job easy by shining the laser pointer at them. When officers on the ground made contact with Chapman, he picked up a hammer and motioned toward the deputies who shot him with a taser.
Chapman was taken to the hospital and then released into police custody. He was charged with aggravated assault on an officer, pointing a laser at a pilot with injury, pointing a laser at a pilot without injury, and resisting without violence.