Florida Father Arrested for DUI, Child Neglect After Passing Out at Gas Pump with Unsecured Guns

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reports that Patrick Voegtly, a 26-year-old man, was arrested after deputies found him passed out in the driver's seat of his pickup truck at a Shell gas station in Plant City, Florida. The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. on Thursday and involved Voegtly's 5-year-old son sitting alone in the backseat while unsecured firearms were nearby.

Voegtly is accused of child neglect, improper exhibition of a firearm, and driving under the influence (DUI). Deputies responded to the scene after receiving reports of an individual passed out behind the wheel. Upon arrival, they discovered Voegtly slumped over in his truck with a loaded gun on his hip and another under the seat. When approached, Voegtly reportedly told deputies, "He's just sleeping," referring to his son. Body camera footage showed the deputy realizing the danger posed by the unsecured firearms before attempting to wake Voegtly.

Voegtly was ordered to exit the vehicle but resisted arrest, with the boy crying in the background. The suspect was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail. Testing revealed his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized the reckless nature of Voegtly's actions, noting that leaving a child unattended in a vehicle with firearms present posed a serious safety risk.

"This reckless decision could have ended in tragedy," Chronister said in a statement. "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." Voegtly was released on bond over the weekend and currently has no scheduled court date.