Preamble: Patrick Voegtly, a 26-year-old man from Wimauma, was found passed out in his truck at a Shell station in Plant City, Florida, with his five-year-old son in the backseat. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded, discovered signs of impairment and firearms, and took Voegtly into custody while the child was removed to safety. Sheriff Chad Chronister commented on the danger of the situation and the quick intervention by deputies.
Late on a Thursday evening in Plant City, deputies answered a call about someone down at a Shell gas station and found a truck parked at a pump with its driver apparently unconscious. Patrick Voegtly, 26, was slumped over the wheel, and his young son was in the backseat, crying loudly enough that deputies could hear him. The child told officers, “He’s just sleeping.” That line of defense did not match the scene deputies observed.
Officers noticed clear signs that Voegtly was impaired, including glassy eyes and slurred speech, and he refused to perform field sobriety exercises when asked. A breath test later showed a blood alcohol content well over the legal limit, more than twice what is allowed for driving. Deputies also found weapons: a handgun visible inside the vehicle and a second firearm recovered from Voegtly’s pocket during his detention.
Because the child was present in the vehicle, the case moved beyond a routine DUI stop into a child welfare and weapons matter. Authorities charged Voegtly with driving under the influence with a BAC over 0.15, child neglect, and improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon or firearm. The presence of both a young child and firearms inside a vehicle where the driver is impaired raised immediate concerns for everyone on scene.
Sheriff Chad Chronister addressed the seriousness of the incident directly, saying, “This reckless decision could have ended in tragedy. 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.” That public statement underlines how quickly a bad choice can put innocent people at risk.
The child was removed from the truck by deputies and taken to safety while officers processed the scene and handled Voegtly’s arrest. Investigators documented the location and the items inside the vehicle and followed standard procedures for DUI arrests involving minors and firearms. Those procedures typically involve notifying child protective services and coordinating with prosecutors about the added charges that come with endangering a child.
Neighbors and witnesses at the gas station reported seeing the truck parked by a pump with the driver not moving, which led someone to call 911. That call likely prevented a far worse outcome, because an impaired driver with a young passenger can quickly lead to an accident or worse. Local law enforcement officials stress the importance of reporting obvious signs of impairment when people see them in public places.
As the case moves through the Hillsborough County legal system, Voegtly faces multiple charges that reflect both the impaired driving and the risk posed to his son and the public. The involvement of firearms adds another layer to the criminal allegations and could influence how prosecutors pursue the matter. This article was written using information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
