The Hernando County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit was involved in two weekend arrests.
- Alec Dodge charged with pointing laser at helicopter
- Collin James Daniel hit several cars, pushed man, deputies say
- Both men were taken into custody
One man was charged with pointing a green laser at the helicopter, and another is accused of driving a vehicle while nearly four times the blood-alcohol limit.
The helicopter was flying early Sunday in the area of Interstate 75 and Cortez Boulevard when a laser was shined multiple times at the copter.
Chief Pilot Cpl. Scott Schulz and Deputy Roy McLaughlin were able to locate the suspect at the intersection of Braewood and Glenwood streets, and they directed deputies to him.
The suspect, Alec Dodge, 27, said he was using the laser to play with his dog and wasn't aware it was illegal to shine it at the helicopter.
He was charged with misuse of a laser lighting device and carrying a concealed firearm for which he didn't have a permit, authorities said.
In a separate incident, the helicopter was returning to its hanger when it received a call about an erratic driver in Spring Hill.
Witnesses said Collin James Daniel, 24, was driving through Hibiscus Springs and hitting mailboxes and other vehicles in or near the roadway.
He later exited the vehicle and got into an altercation with a man, pushing him and then fleeing on foot, deputies said.
Using an infrared camera, the helicopter saw Daniel between two air conditioning units, and deputies took him into custody.
He had a blood-alcohol level of .316 percent, according to the Sheriff's Office. The case has been turned over to the Florida Highway Patrol.