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Hillsborough Sheriff’s Street Crimes Deputy Busted For DUI After Refusing Sobriety Tests

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A member of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit is off the clock and behind bars after deputies pulled him over and arrested him for driving under the influence late Saturday night.

Richard Michael Garcia, 32, was arrested just before midnight on May 30, 2026, in Citrus Park. According to investigators, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Garcia’s vehicle near the intersection of Gunn Highway and Normandie Road at approximately 11:34 p.m.

During the interaction, deputies on the scene noted visible signs of impairment. Garcia refused to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises and subsequently refused to provide a breath sample to determine his blood-alcohol content.

Records show Garcia was booked on two charges: Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Testing.

Garcia has been employed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office since November 2020. He is currently assigned to the District I Street Crimes Unit. Following the arrest, agency officials placed Garcia on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.

READ: One Dead, Two Airlifted After Head-On Collision In St. Petersburg

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