LARGO, Fla. — A 13-year-old faces a third-degree felony charge after he allegedly flashed a green light at a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office helicopter early Friday morning in Largo.
Video taken at about 12:30 a.m. Friday from the helicopter in question shows the moment a green light shines from somewhere around 7th Street Northwest and 11th Avenue in Largo.
The helicopter continued to follow where the light was coming from as its pilot directed grounded deputy patrols to it.
Eventually, deputies found the 13-year-old who admitted to shining the device toward the helicopter. They found a flare gun with a mounted laser after searching the teen, deputies said. He reportedly told deputies he shined the light at the helicopter because “he was bored.”
The teen was arrested and charged with felony misuse of a laser lighting device. He was transported to the Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center thereafter. The investigation is ongoing.