A man was taken into custody on a federal criminal charge in Washington, D.C., after reportedly aiming a red laser pointer at Marine One as it flew overhead carrying President Donald Trump.
According to the Associated Press, Jacob Samuel Winkler has been charged with directing a laser pointer’s beam at an aircraft, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
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Secret Service Officer Diego Santiago was on patrol near the White House on Saturday, securing the presidential helicopter’s flight route, when he noticed Winkler, who was shirtless and loudly talking to himself, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.
When the cop used a flashlight to get a better look, Winkler fired a laser at Santiago’s face, temporarily confusing him. According to the criminal complaint, Winkler pointed the beam at the low-flying Marine One, which was departing the White House with the President.
“Upon approach, [Winkler] looked up, oriented the same red laser pointer at the direction of Marine One and activated the red laser beam,” as noted in the criminal complaint.
The maneuver created a “danger” to both Marine One and everyone on the helicopter. According to the criminal complaint, it increased the risk of flash blindness and pilot confusion, as well as putting Marine One at risk of collision.
Winkler was quickly handcuffed and allegedly made words such as “I should apologize to Donald Trump” and “I apologize to Donald Trump,” according to the lawsuit.
Investigators took Winkler’s red laser pointer as evidence, along with a three-inch fixed-blade knife.
Winkler eventually waived his Miranda rights, claiming he didn’t realize it was illegal to point the laser at Marine One.
“He said he points the laser at all kinds of things, such as stop signs,” as noted in the complaint.
Online court papers do not disclose Winkler’s age and hometown, nor do they indicate whether he has legal representation.
