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Port Angeles man arrested on suspicion of laser pointer strike on Coast Guard helicopter

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PORT ANGELES, Wash. — A 33-year-old Port Angeles man was arrested Monday morning in connection with a 2016 laser pointer strike on Coast Guard helicopter, U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announced.

Randall Muck was indicted by a grand jury last week and was charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and making false statements to government agents.

Officials said Muck is expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Tacoma Monday.

According to the indictment, Muck is suspected of pointing the laser beam at a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter as it was descending on the evening of Sept. 26.

“Laser light can cause temporary loss of vision and force an air crew to abort its mission. In this incident, no one suffered permanent damage, but the crew had to return to base and be assessed medically before returning to duty,” an official with Moran’s office wrote in a news release.

The indictment also alleges that Muck made false statements to government agents on May 3, 2018, when he said he did not see the helicopter in the sky on the night of Sept. 26, 2016.

Officials said both counts are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

KIRO 7 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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