Overnight Pinellas Police Operation Results In 256 Charges And Citations

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Michael Förtsch on Unsplash

Over this past weekend, reckless drivers were out in force but so was the police. From 7:00 p.m. on the night of Friday, July 12, to 5:00 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, July 13, seven different agencies got together for a driving under the influence (DUI) wolf pack operation across Pinellas County. 

The combined efforts of the Florida Highway Patrol, St. Petersburg Police Department, Clearwater Police Department, Pinellas Park Police Department, Largo Police Department, Tarpon Springs Police Department, and Treasure Island Police Department resulted in 21 criminal charges and 235 citations for a grand total of 256 charges and citations that were tallied as follows:

Criminal Charges:
DUIs - 12
Misdemeanor Drug Charges - 1
Felony Drug Charges - 1
Driving With a Suspended or Revoked License Arrests - 3
Other Misdemeanor Arrests - 4

Citations:
Driving With a Suspended or Revoked License - 17
Driving Without Insurance - 7
Speeding Tickets - 67
Seat Belt - 2
Child Restraint - 2
Violation of Driver’s License Restriction - 1
Open Container - 1
Non-Moving Violations - 60
Moving Violations - 66
DUI Citations - 12 

This particular wolf pack operation was dedicated to Dustin Horne and his family, as on October 29, 2018, Horne was hit head-on in Myakka City on State Road 64 by an impaired driver, Brandon Blalock, who was under the influence of alcohol and in possession of marijuana. Horne’s truck flipped several times, resulting in his death. Blalock pleaded no contest to three charges and was sentenced to eight years for DUI Manslaughter. 

Horne left behind a family, including a young son, who wants to ensure that his memory lives on. So, his family is committed to using his story in hopes of saving the lives of others. 

In line with the Horne family’s aspirations, this 10-hour operation was reportedly put into motion as part of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s (PCSO's) continued dedication to reducing the property damages, injuries, and deaths due to crashes caused by impaired drivers. The goal was also to help educate the general public and inspire more awareness about the effects of operating a vehicle while under the influence of any chemical or controlled substances from drugs to alcohol. 

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office wishes to remind everyone that DUIs are preventable violent crimes. In a statement, the PCSO said that there “are many alternative options to prevent impaired driving crashes. This is one crime that has no intended target, and every innocent driver on our roadways could easily become the next victim.”

Article by Ema Tibbetts