PLANT CITY, Fla. – A Wimuama man faces multiple charges after deputies found him passed out behind the wheel of a running car with his 5-year-old child in the backseat and two loaded handguns in his possession.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies rushed to the Shell gas station at 1665 Branch Forbes Road at 7:57 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026, following a 911 call about an unresponsive person.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered 26-year-old Patrick Voegtly unconscious in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked directly next to a gas pump. From the backseat, his 5-year-old child spoke to the arriving deputies, saying, “He’s just sleeping.”
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While assessing the situation, deputies spotted a handgun sitting in plain view inside the vehicle. After removing Voegtly from the car and detaining him, a search revealed a second handgun concealed in his pocket.
Investigators noted that Voegtly showed clear signs of heavy intoxication, including slurred speech and glassy eyes. While he refused to participate in standard field sobriety exercises, he did submit to a breathalyzer test. The results showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) more than double Florida’s legal limit of 0.08%.
“This reckless decision could have ended in tragedy,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement following the arrest. “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.”
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Voegtly was booked into jail on charges of Driving Under the Influence (with a BAC over 0.15), Child Neglect, and Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon or Firearm.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Public Affairs Office noted that the investigation remains active and will provide further updates as they become available.
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