COLUMBUS, Ind. — Authorities said that pointing a laser at aircraft not only landed an Indiana man in jail but led to police discovering he was in possession of meth.
Now the man faces thousands of dollars in fines for breaking federal law plus serious jail time on drug charges.
According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called out to the Columbus Municipal Airport on several occasions over the last week on reports of a green laser being shined at aircraft.
Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime.
Deputies searching for the man behind the laser initially came up empty until a deputy driving down US 31, approximately 20 minutes from the airport, observed a green laser being pointed at his patrol car. The laser was emitting from a black car, the sheriff’s department said.
Christopher Clem, 49, of Columbus was identified as the driver of the black car. The sheriff’s department said during their investigation two green laser devices were found in Clem’s vehicle along with meth, crushed prescription pills and a handgun.
Clem allegedly confessed to deputies that he had been the one pointing lasers at aircraft, the sheriff’s department said.
Clem was arrested on preliminary charges of pointing a laser at a public safety official, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and dealing in a controlled substance.
The sheriff’s department also notified the U.S. Air Marshalls along with the Federal Aviation Administration who will investigate Clem at a federal level.
According to the FAA, pointing a laser at aircraft can lead to the perpetrator being fined up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple violations. Perpetrators can also face criminal and civil prosecution.