Man Gets Arrested for Aiming Laser at Trump’s Marine One
(MENAFN) A man was detained in Washington DC for allegedly directing a red laser pointer at Marine One, the helicopter transporting US President Donald Trump.
According to a criminal complaint signed by Secret Service Officer Diego Santiago and made available on the DC District Court website on Monday, the episode took place on Saturday evening as Trump left the White House for a private dinner.
Santiago, who was monitoring the flight path, identified the suspect as 33-year-old Jacob Samuel Winkler from Washington DC.
Winkler was reportedly “shirtless, talking to himself and being loud” on Constitution Avenue, northeast of the White House.
Due to poor visibility, Santiago illuminated Winkler with a flashlight. In response, Winkler allegedly aimed a red laser at the officer, briefly disorienting him, before directing the beam at Marine One as it passed overhead.
The affidavit noted that Winkler’s conduct “posed a risk of flash blindness and pilot disorientation, especially during low-level flight near other helicopters and the Washington Monument,” adding that it “placed Marine One at risk of an airborne collision.”
Winkler was arrested and charged with aiming a laser at an aircraft, a felony that carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Authorities are investigating whether his actions were intentional or negligent. Winkler later claimed he was unaware that pointing a laser at an aircraft was illegal, stating that he frequently points the laser at “all kinds of things” and expressed a desire to “apologize to Donald Trump.”
According to a criminal complaint signed by Secret Service Officer Diego Santiago and made available on the DC District Court website on Monday, the episode took place on Saturday evening as Trump left the White House for a private dinner.
Santiago, who was monitoring the flight path, identified the suspect as 33-year-old Jacob Samuel Winkler from Washington DC.
Winkler was reportedly “shirtless, talking to himself and being loud” on Constitution Avenue, northeast of the White House.
Due to poor visibility, Santiago illuminated Winkler with a flashlight. In response, Winkler allegedly aimed a red laser at the officer, briefly disorienting him, before directing the beam at Marine One as it passed overhead.
The affidavit noted that Winkler’s conduct “posed a risk of flash blindness and pilot disorientation, especially during low-level flight near other helicopters and the Washington Monument,” adding that it “placed Marine One at risk of an airborne collision.”
Winkler was arrested and charged with aiming a laser at an aircraft, a felony that carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Authorities are investigating whether his actions were intentional or negligent. Winkler later claimed he was unaware that pointing a laser at an aircraft was illegal, stating that he frequently points the laser at “all kinds of things” and expressed a desire to “apologize to Donald Trump.”
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