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Arrests made in aircraft laser incident





LANCASTER – Dennis Smoke, 45, of Blacklick Eastern Road, Liberty Township and Levi Milstead, 19, of Lowell, Ohio, were arrested Tuesday, Sept. 14.

The two allegedly pointed a laser light at an American Eagle commercial airliner inbound to Port Columbus at about 10:15 p.m. An inbound Chautauqua flight also reported being lasered. A Columbus Police Department helicopter reported to the area of Blacklick Eastern Road and Cherry Lane. The helicopter was also lasered. The police helicopter followed a vehicle from that area to I-70 and Ohio 310 where the vehicle was stopped. Five persons were taken into custody and two were arrested.

Smoke and Milstead are each charged with two counts of pointing a laser at an aircraft which is a 2nd degree felony, punishable by up to eight years in jail and a $15,000 fine. They are also charged with one count of possession of criminal tools which is a 5th degree felony, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Both were being held in jail on a $50,000 cash bond.


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