Alabama man accused of shining laser at military aircraft
Published 3:44 pm Friday, October 9, 2020
An Alabama man accused of shining a laser at a military aircraft was arrested following a foot chase in a wooded area near an airfield, authorities said.
The arrest happened Tuesday night after Dale County deputies were called to Cairns Army Airfield about a person shining the laser and a high-powered spotlight into the cockpit of the aircraft, news outlets reported. The suspect pointed the laser as the aircraft was “in the traffic pattern” outside the airfield, said Dale County Chief Deputy Mason Bynum.
When the sheriff’s office brought their own helicopter to search for the suspect, a bright spotlight was also pointed at their aircraft. The crew located the suspect, Jacob Moseley, by a house near the airfield and that’s when the chase ensued.
A tactical flight officer who jumped out of the helicopter was ultimately able to catch Moseley, who was charged with obstructing governmental operations and booked into the Dale County Jail. It was not clear if Moseley has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
The case has been referred to federal authorities for further investigation.
Cairns Army Airfield is in Fort Rucker, a U.S. Army post located about 93 miles (150 kilometers) southeast of Montgomery.