TACOMA, WA — Randall Muck, the 33-year-old Port Angeles man who in September 2016 found himself in hot water for a “laser pointer strike” on a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, was arrested Monday and charged in connection to the laser pointer incident. If convicted, Muck could spend five years in prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Muck on Sept. 26, 2016, aimed a laser pointer beam at a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter as it was descending from the sky.
No one on board was hurt, but after the helicopter was hit by the laser beam the crew was forced to return to base to be medically assessed before they were allowed to return to duty, U.S. Attorney’s officials said. In the interim, Coast Guard crews from both Oregon and Whidbey Island were tasked with covering the Port Angeles area of responsibility.
As authorities investigated the incident, they identified Muck as a suspect. Muck was questioned on May 3, 2018.
During questioning from the FBI Muck allegedly lied, telling agents he didn’t see the Coast Guard helicopter when he aimed his laser pointer into night sky in 2016.
A grand jury last week reportedly issued an indictment for Muck, officially charging him with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and making false statements to government agents. Both charges are punishable with up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI and U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Services are handling the case.
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