ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A routine flight over St. Petersburg turned into a criminal investigation Tuesday night after a local man allegedly targeted a law enforcement helicopter with a laser pointer. Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 71-year-old James R. Mock following the incident, which occurred just before 9:00 P.M. on March 3, 2026.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, flight deputies were patrolling the area near 38th Avenue North when a green laser light suddenly illuminated the cockpit of their aircraft.
Despite the distraction, the crew was able to pinpoint the source of the light at a residence located at 1643 29th Avenue North. The flight team kept a constant visual on the suspect while directing ground units to the specific address…