Drunk Driver Hit Deputy Investigating Another Drunk Driver, Officials Say

TAMPA, FL — A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy investigating an alleged drunk driving case Sunday night got two arrests for the price of one. His cruiser took a hit in the process though.

According to the sheriff’s office, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2012 BMW at Dale Mabry Highway North and North Village Drive in the Carrollwood area around 10:31 p.m. When deputies came in contact with that driver, they noticed signs of impairment, kicking off an investigation, an email from the agency said.

As deputies worked to determine if the BMW’s driver, Michael Probst, 36, was impaired, a 2005 Dodge sedan “side-swiped a marked patrol vehicle,” the email said. After hitting the cruiser, the driver of the Dodge, Todd Casey, 49, kept on going on Dale Mabry.

Deputies were able to catch up with Casey at Dale Mabry’s intersection with Fletcher Avenue West. Once he was pulled over, deputies say they noticed Casey “emitted an odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath as he spoke, his eyes were red and glassy, and his speech was slurred.”

Casey provided breath samples that came back as .181 and .196, the sheriff’s office noted.

He was charged with DUI with property damage and driving under the influence over 0.15. He was also cited for failing to follow Florida’s Move Over Law.

As for Probst, the sheriff’s office said, he was also charged with DUI. Blood alcohol samples in his case came back at .114 and .134, the email noted.

Florida motorists are considered impaired with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 or higher.

Booking photos of Todd Casey, left, and Michael Probst courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office