Chatfield Man Convicted for Aiming Laser at Mayo One Helicopter

Chatfield, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man accused of “aggressively” targeting a Mayo One helicopter with a laser has been convicted of a gross misdemeanor charge.

Court documents indicate the incident occurred in the early hours of October 10 of last year as the medical helicopter was returning to Rochester. The criminal complaint against 44-year-old Steven Clifford Johnson says the crew noticed the light from a green laser shining into the aircraft as it was just east of Chatfield, traveling at around 120 mph at an altitude of 1,800 feet.

Helicopter Crew Reports Aggressive Laser Targeting

The court document states that the Mayo One crew was able to track the source of the laser beam and illuminated a small mobile home or trailer using the helicopter’s spotlight. The pilot told investigators that “most people will stop using the laser after the searchlight is on them, but the person operating this green laser did not stop and was very aggressive.” The flight nurse on the aircraft also told investigators that in her nine years as a flight nurse, this was the most aggressively her helicopter had been targeted.

Investigation Leads Officers to Trailer Near Chatfield

According to the criminal complaint, a Chatfield police officer responded to the property identified by the Mayo One crew and utilized a night observation device to locate the source of the laser beam. The officer stated it was coming from the rear window of a trailer.

Johnson was identified as the occupant of the residence. Court documents say he told law enforcement that he was “shined” first by the helicopter crew and only shined back with a laser in retaliation. It was also reported that the rural Chatfield man told a Fillmore County deputy he was unsure whether the helicopter had gunmen on board.

Case Settled Through Plea Agreement

He was charged with a gross misdemeanor count of aiming and discharging a laser at an aircraft. Johnson entered an Alford plea to the charge today in Fillmore County Court. The plea means he does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.

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Johnson was given a stayed one-year jail sentence and was placed on probation for one year. He was also ordered to pay a $150 fine.

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