PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A routine police assist turned dangerous in the early hours of Friday morning when a high-powered blue laser repeatedly struck a law enforcement helicopter, leading to the felony arrest of a Dunedin resident.
The incident unfolded on July 3, 2026, at approximately 3:47 a.m. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was airborne at the time, providing aerial assistance to the Clearwater Police Department on an active call for service.
While navigating the night sky, flight deputies were suddenly targeted by a blue laser beam that pierced the cockpit twice, temporarily illuminating the flight deck and risking the safety of the crew…