(FL)(02-17-2021) Pinellas sheriff’s deputy struck & killed trying to stop drunk driver
Florida Law Enforcement
A Pinellas Sheriff’s deputy was killed Wednesday afternoon, February 17th, as he was trying to stop a drunk driver who was leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit on East Lake Road, according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
Deputy Michael Magli, 30, died after he was struck by a pickup truck that spun out in the median of East Lake Road near Forelock Road in north Pinellas County. Magli had parked his patrol cruiser in the median of the road to retrieve and deploy stop sticks - a device used to deflate the tires on a vehicle, when he was struck by the driver that deputies were pursuing.
That driver was arrested by deputies Wednesday night. Gualtieri said the 33-year-old driver was driving under the influence and on a suspended license at the time of the crash. He was also on probation and has 16 prior felony convictions, the sheriff said.