Daniel Maloney, Aiming Laser at Aircraft, Georgia 2020

Laser Pointers Aimed at Police Helicopters in Georgia

ATLANTA, Georgia – Four men have been arraigned on federal charges of aiming laser pointers at police helicopters in the state of Georgia. The incidents took place in Gwinnett County and Atlanta.

The defendants, Daniel Maloney, Fredy Contreras, Timothy Wilson, and Theodore Rowe, were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2022. The charges are serious, and the consequences can be severe.

According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, the charges allege that each defendant aimed a laser pointer at a police helicopter as the helicopter was assisting officers on the ground. The incidents occurred in 2020.

The first incident took place on February 13, 2020, around 9:50 p.m. A Gwinnett County Police Department helicopter was assisting officers in looking for a robbery suspect who had fled into a wooded area. Daniel Maloney saw the helicopter in the air and pointed a red laser at it, temporarily blinding the pilot and the tactical flight officer.

The second incident occurred on November 9, 2020, around 9:00 p.m. A Gwinnett County Police Department helicopter was assisting officers on the ground looking for a stolen vehicle. It was hit at least twice with a green laser. Using the infrared camera, the tactical officer was able to identify the home that the laser was aimed from. Officers on the ground went to the home, where Fredy Contreras admitted that he had been shining the laser at the helicopter.

The third incident took place in the early evening hours of May 26, 2021, an Atlanta Police Department helicopter was assisting grounds units with looking for a missing 6-year-old boy. The helicopter was struck several times by a green laser. After switching over to protective eye gear that minimized the light from the laser, the pilot was able to identify the home where the laser strikes were coming from. Officers on the ground went to the home, where Timothy Wilson admitted to shining the laser at the helicopter.

The defendants face serious consequences for their actions. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is extremely dangerous and can cause permanent damage to the eyes of the pilot or other individuals on board. The use of laser pointers in this manner is a federal felony and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The Atlanta Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) take these incidents very seriously and will continue to educate the public on the dangers of pointing a laser at any aircraft.

The exact date of sentencing has not been released, but the defendants will face federal charges for their actions. The charges and other information presented in court will determine the outcome of this case.

The public is reminded that aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a serious offense and can result in severe consequences. The use of laser pointers in this manner is not a game and should not be taken lightly.

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