Albuquerque Man Charged Federally for Pointing Laser at BCSO Helicopter

Albuquerque –

An Albuquerque man is facing federal charges after authorities say he repeatedly aimed a laser pointer at a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, striking the cockpit more than a dozen times.

According to public court documents, on October 7, 2025, Jorge Pinon Armendariz, 47, directed a green laser at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Metro 1 helicopter while it was assisting ground operations. The laser struck the aircraft multiple times, including repeated hits to the pilot’s eyes.

Using the helicopter’s onboard camera, the flight crew tracked the source of the laser to a vehicle in a McDonald’s drive-thru and later to a nearby home. Deputies responded to the residence, but Armendariz allegedly fled. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies identified Armendariz as the individual who repeatedly aimed the laser beam at Metro 1 that night.

At the time of the incident, Armendariz was already wanted on a state warrant for allegedly violating conditions of pretrial release in a separate case involving receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

Federal officials say the case highlights a growing and dangerous trend of people targeting aircraft with laser pointers. The Federal Aviation Administration reports that New Mexico ranked second in the nation for laser incidents per capita in 2024 and 2025, behind only Washington, D.C.

Armendariz is federally charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 39A. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Armendariz faces up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jena Ritchey is prosecuting the case. 

Officials warn that aiming a laser at an aircraft is not only illegal but poses a significant risk to pilots, crew members, and passengers. Even brief exposure can temporarily blind or disorient a pilot during critical phases of flight.

In a separate incident, on February 15, 2026, Metro 1 assisted Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a large group of Polaris RZRs in the mesa area near 118th St and Avalon Rd NW. One individual was reportedly firing a gun and allegedly was seen shining a green laser at incoming commercial flights, including Southwest Airlines and American Airlines aircraft.

Deputies coordinated a stop of at least one Polaris RZR vehicle, and several individuals were detained. The Metro 1 pilot advised BCSO deputies to search for a laser device, though authorities believe a weapon or laser may have been discarded before the stop.

We reached out to BCSO shortly after this incident to see if anyone was charged and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). We also asked if video of the incident from Metro 1 was available. According to the Sheriff’s Office PIO, a summons was ultimately issued, and no arrests were made in connection with the February incident.