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Crime & Safety

Tampa Man Accused Of DUI After Nearly Hitting Pasco Deputy

The incident took place in Lutz.

A 39-year-old Tampa man was arrested early March 1, on a drunken driving charge, accused of nearly striking a Pasco Sheriff deputy’s cruiser.

Cpl. Robert Medina had just turned west onto State Road 54 from U.S. 41 in Land O' Lakes when a silver 2007 Chevy pickup almost struck him about 2 a.m., a report states.

Henry Vanpetten, of 4814 N. Highland Ave., was stopped at State Road 54 and Osprey Lane and a second deputy conducted a DUI investigation. The deputy noticed that Vanpetten’s eyes were glassy and blood shot and he smelled strongly of alcohol, a report states. He performed poorly on the walk-and-turn field sobriety test, the deputy noted, and refused to do others. Vanpetten also refused to do a breath test.

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He was arrested on a DUI charge and was released later the same day without being required to post bail.

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