Investigations

On December 18, 2018, Michael McIntyre was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Seattle, Washington, to 8 months’ imprisonment, 3 years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. In July 2018, he pleaded guilty to knowingly aiming the beam of a laser pointer at a King County Washington Sheriff’s Office helicopter and its flight path.

 

On March 13, 2018, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reported that someone was pointing an unauthorized green laser at commercial aircraft. A King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, looking for the source of the laser, was also hit, and the pilot had to make evasive maneuvers. Sheriff’s deputies identified McIntyre as the alleged pointer of the laser.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the King County Sheriff’s Department.