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Woman accused of pointing laser at PBSO helicopter

Posted at 11:58 AM, Jun 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-22 06:27:54-04

A green laser lit up the cockpit of a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office helicopter several times and temporarily blinded the pilot and co-pilot early Thursday morning, the sheriff's office said.

The chopper was on patrol due to a power outage in the city.

The pilot determined the laser was coming from 10th Ave. South and South M Street.

The pilot received medical attention, but did not appear to have any immediate injuries, the sheriff's office said.   

When road patrol deputies arrived at the intersection they began questioning a man who admitted he owned a laser but singled out a woman whom he said was pointing it.

The woman, identified as 33-year-old Jacqueline Robledo of Lake Worth, admitted shining the laser into the air, according to a probable cause affidavit.

She saw the helicopter before shining the light and admitted that she knew the laser could temporarily blind someone, the report stated.

The sheriff's office arrested Robledo for misuse of a laser lighting device. Her bond was set at $3,000.

PBSO notified the FAA, NTSB and the FBI.