North Vernon Teen Charged for Pointing Laser

North Vernon Teen Charged for Pointing Laser

18 year old Clint L. Williams, Jr. of  North Vernon, is being charged with criminal recklessness after pointing a laser at a police helicopter.

In early June at approximately 3:00 a.m. an Indiana State Police sergeant and helicopter pilot, Rick Cool and Tpr. Tim Cummins were flying back to Indianapolis after a late night aerial search in Clark County.  While flying over Jennings County Sgt. Cool noticed a green light on the door of the helicopter.  Sgt. Cool, suspecting the light to be light from a fixed wing aircraft, took evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision and the light disappeared.  Shortly thereafter the green light reappeared in the cockpit.  Sgt. Cool then suspected the light to be a laser light coming from the ground and began a circular search of the area and obtained a GPS reading.  Troopers and Jennings County deputies on the ground began a ground search for the suspect but to no avail.

Detective Roger Drew of the Indiana State Police began a joint investigation with Special Agent Jeremy Michaels of the FBI Indianapolis office.  The investigation led to a suspect, 18 year old Clint L. Williams, Jr. of  North Vernon. 

Williams was arrested at his home without incident Thursday. He is currently being held in the Jennings County Jail facing one count of Criminal Recklessness, a Class B Misdemeanor. A Class B Misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of up to180 days in jail and a $1000 fine.  Charged federally, Williams could be facing two to five years in federal prison with the two year mandatory minimum.

Police say it is important for the public to realize that pointing a laser at a person or a vehicle is extremely dangerous; however pointing a laser at an aircraft can be catastrophic. For this reason, incidents such as this are taken various seriously by law enforcement and if caught, perpetrators can expect to be prosecuted.