Florida Dad Charged With DUI After Passing Out In Truck With 5-Year-Old Son Inside

A Florida father is facing charges for allegedly passing out drunk in his vehicle at a gas station with his 5-year-old child inside, authorities said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded shortly before 8 p.m. on May 14 to a report of a person down at a Shell gas station in Plant City. They arrived to find the suspect passed out in the driver’s seat of a truck parked next to a gas pump, while his 5-year-old son was in the backseat.

Body-worn camera video shared by the sheriff’s office shows the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Patrick Voegtly, seemingly sleeping in the driver’s seat with his door open.

The child in the backseat told deputies, “he’s just sleeping.” Deputies spotted a firearm in plain view, and appear in the video to remove it from the vehicle before waking Voegtly. As he was being detained, deputies allegedly found a second handgun in his pocket.

Deputies observed signs of impairment, but Voegtly refused to perform field sobriety exercises. He provided a breath sample, however, and registered a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, the sheriff’s office said.

Voegtly was arrested and charged with DUI over 0.15, child neglect, and improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon or firearm.

“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.”