A man is in custody facing federal felony charges after the Secret Service accused him of aiming a laser pointer at Marine One with President Donald Trump on board.

Authorities say Jacob Samuel Winkler faces one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft on Sept. 20, according to a criminal complaint filed on Sept. 22. Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal crime and a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, if convicted.

Winkler was arrested sometime on Sept. 20 near the White House by U.S. Secret Service Officer Diego Santiago, who wrote the charging document. Santiago said he was monitoring the area as the helicopter was taking off from the south grounds of White House with President Trump on board.

Santiago said he noticed Winkler, walking shirtless on a nearby street, "talking to himself and being loud," the complaint said. The document does not state the exact time the Secret Service officer noticed the suspect. On Sept. 20, Trump attended the American Cornerstone Institute's Founder's Dinner, held at the Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. The president also played golf at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, earlier in the day.

Suspect: 'I apologize to Donald Trump,' after arrest

Santiago said that when he shone a flashlight at Winkler, the suspect responded by aiming a red laser pointer at the officer’s eyes and briefly disoriented him, the complaint said. Santiago said that when he moved closer to Winkler, the suspect looked up and pointed the beam at Marine One, as the helicopter had just taken off and was still overhead.

Santiago said he knew that was "a danger to Marine One" and everyone on board.

"(Winkler’s) conduct posed a risk of flash blindness and pilot disorientation, especially during low-level flight near other helicopters (U.S. Park Police, U.S. Marine Corps) and the Washington Monument. This placed Marine One at risk of an airborne collision," Santiago said in the affidavit.

Santiago said he quickly detained Winkler, removed the laser pointer, and placed the suspect under arrest, the document said. Investigators said Winker was also carrying a three-inch-long fixed-blade knife.

As Winkler was being handcuffed, he got on his knees and repeatedly said, "I should apologize to Donald Trump," and "I apologize to Donald Trump," according to the charging document. Winkler also told police he did not know he couldn’t point the laser at Marine One. The suspect said he "points the laser at all kinds of things," including stop signs, the document said.

It is not known when Winkler could make his first appearance in federal court or if he has retained a lawyer.

Laser strikes can potentially incapacitate pilots and put thousands of people at risk, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said that more than 12,000 such strikes were reported by pilots in 2024.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man faces charges after laser pointed at Marine One with President Trump onboard

Reporting by Terry Collins, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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