MIDDLE RIVER, MD—Police in Baltimore County have taken a 50-year-old man into custody after he pointed a laser at a police helicopter last month.

At around 9:45 p.m. on December 19, 2024, members of the Baltimore County Police Department’s Aviation Unit encountered multiple laser strikes while flying eastbound along Eastern Avenue toward Martin State Airport.

Using the onboard imaging system, officers identified the location of the strikes and alerted patrol officers. When patrol officers arrived in the 800-block of Rosedale Avenue, they found 50-year-old Anthony R. Wolff, who was subsequently charged with recklessly engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to the officers.

Just two days prior to Baltimore County’s incident, the Federal Aviation Administration reported a substantial uptick in laser strikes. Authorities remind residents that laser strikes can incapacitate a pilot.

Intentionally aiming lasers at aircraft poses a serious safety threat and is also a violation of federal law. In 2023, the FAA received 13,304 reports of laser strikes.

Photo via Baltimore County Police Department