Tuckerton Man Charged After Pointing Laser At Helicopter: Police

TUCKERTON, NJ — A 32-year-old Tuckerton man faces charges for pointing a laser at a New Jersey State Police helicopter in Bass River Township, State Police said.

Jordan Prutzman was charged on May 5 with interference with transportation and released pending a future court date.

At 10:42 p.m. on May 5, troopers from the Troop "C" Tuckerton Station and the State Police Aviation Unit were assisting Toms River police with locating a missing person, police said.

During their search, aviation troopers were searching the area from a helicopter and saw someone pointing a laser at their aircraft. Trooper I Michael Jiampetti and Trooper I Brian Harper immediately identified a suspect on the ground who was in the area where the laser came from, police said.

The person entered a vehicle and fled the scene. Troopers Jiampetti and Harper told troopers on the ground about the suspect’s location as they spotted the vehicle driving onto the Garden State Parkway, police said.

Trooper Matthew Hamilton saw the suspect's vehicle traveling in the northbound lanes and conducted a motor vehicle stop at milepost 61 in Eagleswood Township. During the stop, Jordan Prutzman admitted to pointing a laser at the aircraft and was arrested without incident, according to police.

Federal charges are pending in the investigation.

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