Hundreds Line Roads To Pay Their Respects To Fallen Deputy

Largo FL

18 February, 2021

1:22 PM

Description

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Hundreds of residents, law enforcement officers, firefighters and community leaders lined Ulmerton Road and U.S. 19 to pay their respects to a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy who lost his life in the line of duty. On Thursday, the body of Deputy Michael J. Magli was taken from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office to the Thomas B. Dobies Funeral Home in Holiday. "February 17th, 2021, will forever be our darkest day," wrote the sheriff's office on its Facebook page following the procession. "The outpouring of love for Deputy Magli and his family is overwhelming. What we saw today brought some light to the darkness. Thank you. Please continue to keep Deputy Magli, his family and our PCSO family in your thoughts and prayers. " The sheriff's office posted a video of the procession on Facebook and Twitter showing those gathered along the procession. February 17th, 2021 will forever be our darkest day. The outpouring of love for Deputy Magli and his family is overwhelming. What we saw today brought some light to the darkness. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/fv61He3dKs— Pinellas SO (@SheriffPinellas) February 19, 2021 Meanwhile, residents have been dropping off flowers and cards at a temporary memorial at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office administration building at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Final funeral arrangements for the deputy have not been announced. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said 33-year-old Robert Allen Holzaepfel had a blood-alcohol level .230 percent when he struck and killed Magli on Wednesday. Under Florida law, a driver can be declared legally drunk with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent. Detectives are requesting the public's assistance to locate people whose vehicles were damaged during Holzaepfel's attempt to evade deputies on East Lake Road north of Forelock Road and on Keystone Road and Woodfield Boulevard between 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. Additionally, investigators are seeking video footage that captured the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective J. Syers at 727-582-6215 or [email protected]. For those who wish to offer Magli's family financial support, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has created the Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund. The fund is open for all donations and will serve as the officially recognized fund for the Magli family. Those interested in donating are asked to visit any SunTrust bank location to contribute. Checks can be mailed to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Fiscal Affairs Bureau made payable to the Memorial for Michael J. Magli, P.O. Drawer 2500, Largo, FL 33779-2500. The deputy was killed while trying to stop Holzaepfel's 2002 white Ford F150 pickup truck. Around 4:15 p.m., Holzaepfel, who is homeless, was found passed out behind the wheel of his pickup at the intersection of Forelock Road and East Lake Road in unincorporated Tarpon Springs Rescue crews broke out a window to assist Holzaepfel. Holzaepfel then awoke and fled the scene, driving recklessly north on East Lake Road and east on Keystone Road, trying to evade deputies. According to investigators, Magli was traveling north on East Lake Road and stopped in the median to place stop sticks, a tire deflation device, to stop the pickup truck. Magli was standing outside his sheriff's SUV when Holzaepfel entered the median and lost control of his truck. The pickup truck flipped over and collided with Magli and his patrol vehicle. Magli was pinned under his patrol vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. Holzaepfel was not hurt in the crash. He has been charged with first-degree murder, DUI manslaughter, driving while his license was suspended, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and aggravated fleeing and eluding police officers. Magli is survived by his wife, two children and his parents. He had been with the sheriff's office since 2013. See related story: Deputy Killed After Being Struck By Driver Under Pursuit