Man Indicted in Federal Court for Allegedly Aiming Laser Pointer at Chicago Police Helicopter

CHICAGO - A man has been indicted in federal court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Chicago Police Department helicopter.

IGNACIN RAMOS, 36, of Chicago, knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at the CPD helicopter on Aug. 11, 2026, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment charges Ramos with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.

Ramos pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Thursday in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Price Shugrue.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge in the indictment is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.