RIVERVIEW, Fla. – A dangerous late-night laser attack on a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) helicopter conducting surveillance over Riverview resulted in the swift arrest of a 58-year-old man.
Just after midnight on Saturday, June 14, 2025, an HCSO helicopter was repeatedly struck by a powerful green laser beam. The reckless act temporarily impaired the flight crew’s visibility and created a serious safety hazard.
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Deputies on the ground were able to track the origin of the laser to a mobile home located on the 10000 block of Johanna Avenue. There, they located and arrested James Cardamone, 58, in connection with the incident. Cardamone faces charges of Misuse of a Laser Lighting Device.
Authorities also recovered the laser device believed to have been used in the attack.
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