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A man accused of shining a laser pointer at Marine One, the US presidential helicopter, when Donald Trump was on board, has been arrested on a federal criminal charge.
Jacob Samuel Winkler, 33, from Washington, is charged with aiming the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, a felony with a maximum prison sentence of up to five years.
Marine One was in flight on Saturday near the White House when a US Secret Service patrol officer saw Winkler walking on the sidewalk, topless and talking to himself, according to an affidavit filed by the agent.
The officer reported that when he directed a flashlight at Winkler, the man responded by aiming a red laser beam at the officer’s face.
As Marine One flew above, Winkler looked up and pointed the laser pointer at the helicopter, the officer stated. After being handcuffed, Winkler repeatedly mentioned wanting to apologize to the US president.
The court document does not specify whether anyone on the helicopter noticed the laser.
However, The officer noted that Winkler’s actions could have momentarily blinded or disoriented a pilot, potentially endangering Marine One and increasing the likelihood of a mid-air collision with other aircraft, as per US Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
“This behavior jeopardizes Marine One and everyone onboard,” Pirro stated. “If you engage in such actions, you will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Winkler admitted to investigators that he had pointed the laser “at various objects, such as stop signs,” without realizing that he was not allowed to aim it at Marine One, as per the affidavit.
Investigators also found a small knife in his possession, the officer reported.
