Crime
Florida Man Found Passed Out at Gas Pump With Child, 2 Guns and a BAC Twice the Limit
A Florida man is facing multiple charges after deputies reportedly found him unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle with his young child sitting in the backseat and firearms inside the car.
According to CBS affiliate WPEC, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a Shell gas station in Plant City, Florida, on Thursday, May 14, after receiving a “person-down” call involving a driver who appeared unresponsive near a gas pump.
When authorities arrived at the station on Branch Forbes Road, they discovered 26-year-old Patrick Voegtly unconscious inside a parked vehicle. Per the outlet, Voegtly’s 5-year-old child was seated in the backseat while a loaded firearm was visible inside the car.
Deputies were eventually able to wake Voegtly and take him into custody. As reported by WPEC, officers also discovered a second firearm in his pocket and observed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and glassy eyes, according to WPEC. Authorities later determined that Voegtly’s blood alcohol content measured more than twice Florida’s legal driving limit of 0.08, according to the publication.
Body camera footage released following the arrest captured an emotional exchange involving the child. While deputies assessed the situation, the 5-year-old told officers his father was “just sleeping” according to the outlet.
Voegtly now faces several charges connected to the incident, including DUI with a BAC over 0.15, Child Neglect and Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon or Firearm, per the report.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister criticized the incident in a statement, saying the combination of impaired driving, firearms and a child passenger demonstrated reckless disregard for public safety, according to WPEC.
The incident also highlights ongoing concerns surrounding impaired driving and child safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving remains a preventable cause of 32 deaths every day across the United States.
