A Harlingen man was formally charged after allegedly pointing a laser at a helicopter and shooting at it with a BB gun, records show.

Pedro Cortina Jr. was arraigned on Wednesday on a charge of illuminating an aircraft with a laser pointer, impairing the operator, records show. His bond was set at $5,000.

The Texas Department of Public Safety previously identified Cortina as the man who pointed a laser at one of their helicopters.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Laser pointed at DPS helicopter, Harlingen man in custody

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Channel 5 News, a DPS helicopter reported that a laser was pointed at them, and that the aircraft was being shot at by a firearm Wednesday at around 1:16 a.m. in Harlingen.

After receiving the location of the laser, DPS troopers on the ground arrived at a home on the 520 block of Taft Avenue where they found Cortina, who admitted to pointing the laser at the helicopter, the affidavit stated.

“[Cortina] thought it was a drone,” the affidavit stated, noting that Cortina had the laser pointer on him when authorities showed up at his home.

According to the affidavit, Cortina denied shooting at the aircraft, but a BB gun was found in a vehicle in his property.

DPS previously identified Cortina as a convicted felon who was on parole.