Full Notification

DATE/TIME: August 4, 2020              8:20 p.m.
 
INCIDENT:  Point Laser at Aircraft/Penal Code Section 247.5
 
LOCATION: 1292 E 38^th Street, San Bernardino
 
SUSPECT: Daniel TovarMartinez, 29 years old, resident of San Bernardino
 
VICTIM:      Deputies Doug Brimmer, Dave Negron and Corey Lawrence
 
 
SUMMARY:
On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at approximately 8:20 p.m. while conducting an area check for a stolen vehicle, a San Bernardino County Sheriff's helicopter was struck with a green, high-powered, laser beam.  The crew was flying in the foothill area north of 40^th Street and Conejo Drive, in the county area of San Bernardino when they were struck numerous times by the laser.  On one of the strikes, the helicopter pilot was struck.
 
The Tactical Flight Officers were able to quickly locate the origin of the laser by utilizing the Forward Looking Infrared; or FLIR. Once on scene, the flight officers located a subject, later identified as TovarMartinez, in the rear yard of a residence with another subject. San Bernardino Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and were directed to the residence and contacted the two subjects.  San Bernardino Sheriff's deputies detained TovarMartinez and quickly located the laser.  TovarMartinez admitted to pointing the laser at the helicopter, knowing it was a police helicopter and also pointing the laser at the same helicopter the night prior, during a hoist operation in the area.
 
TovarMartinez was arrested and booked into the Central Detention Center under PC247.5 and is being held on $25,000 bail.
 
Numerous campaigns have been launched to discourage laser strikes on aircraft through public service announcements, billboards and press releases.  The Federal Aviation Administration announced that they too, may impose civil penalties up to $11,000 for pointing a laser at an aircraft.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation also announced the ability to bring criminal charges for pointing a laser at an aircraft , with penalties of up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 
 
If anyone has information about a laser strike or witness someone pointing a laser at an aircraft, call 911.              
 
Refer:               Deputy Doug Brimmer
                        Deputy Dave Negron
                        Deputy Corey Lawrence
                        Deputy Bernabe Ortiz
 
Station:            San Bernardino County Sheriff's- Aviation Unit
                        San Bernardino County Sheriff's-Central Station
 
Phone No.       909-252-4100
 
Case No.         012001992
 
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department