Man arrested for using lasers to strike Baltimore County police helicopter

BALTIMORE - A man has been arrested after using lasers to strike a Baltimore County Police Department helicopter in December.

BCoPD's Aviation Unit members were struck by multiple lasers on Eastern Avenue while flying to Martin State Airport on December 19, 2024, at 9:45 p.m.

Using an onboard imaging system, officers identified where the strikes came from and made patrol officers aware of the situation. 

At the 800 block of Rosedale Avenue, police found 50-year-old Anthony R. Wolff.

Wolff was charged with, "recklessly engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious injuries to the officers," according to a press release from BCoPD.

The release noted that two days prior, the Federal Aviation Administration reported a "substantial" uptick in laser strikes. 

"When laser beams are aimed at any piloted aircraft, whether military or commercial, what might seem like a tiny beam on the ground can blind aircrew, potentially causing a midair collision or other incident. In 2023 alone, the Federal Aviation Administration (or FAA) received more than 13,000 reports of laser strikes," according to the FBI.

Intentionally aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime.  

To learn more about laser safety click here.