On May 14, 2026, at 7:57 p.m., the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Shell gas station located at 1665 Branch Forbes Road in Plant City regarding a person-down call.
When deputies arrived, they found Patrick Voegtly, 26, passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked beside a gas pump.
His 5-year-old child was seated in the backseat and could be heard telling deputies, “He’s just sleeping.”
Deputies also observed a handgun in plain view inside the vehicle. As deputies detained Voegtly, they discovered a second handgun in his pocket.
During the investigation, deputies noted Voegtly had indications of impairment, including glassy eyes and slurred speech. He refused to perform field sobriety exercises, but provided a breath sample which was more than twice the legal BAC limit of .08.
“This reckless decision could have ended in tragedy,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Driving under the influence is dangerous enough, but doing so with a child in the vehicle while armed shows a complete disregard for the safety of others. Thankfully, deputies intervened before anyone was seriously hurt.”
Voegtly was arrested, and his charges include:
- Driving Under the Influence (Over 0.15)
- Child Neglect
- Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon or Firearm
This is an active investigation, and any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.
