A deputy from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and an officer from the Largo Police Department assisted in both the apprehension and medical needs of a driver that struck a deputy’s vehicle. The incident occurred in the southbound lanes of Seminole Boulevard just south of 16th Avenue SW at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
The deputy was stopped, with his lights activated, in the southbound lanes of Seminole Boulevard behind a minor vehicle crash in the roadway. Justin Gill, age 38 of Seminole, was operating a GMC Terrain southbound on Seminole Boulevard and struck the deputy’s parked Tahoe.
Gill’s vehicle was still accelerating against the PCSO vehicle and neither the deputy nor the LPD officer were able to remove Gill from the vehicle. LPD blocked in the vehicle to prevent Gill from leaving the scene. The windows on both sides of the Terrain were breached in order to remove Gill from the vehicle.
According to the arrest affidavit, shortly after the crash, Gill overdosed in his vehicle and had to be removed. Law enforcement began CPR on Gill and administered 3 doses of Narcan nasal spray prior to arrival by paramedics from Largo Fire Rescue. He was transported to HCA Florida Largo Hospital for further medical evaluation. According to the deputy, Gill admitted to using Xanax and Dilaudid prior to the crash and believed that the Dilaudid was laced with Fentanyl.
During a search of his backpack, a small plastic case containing a clear plastic bag was found inside the front pocket. Inside the bag was a white powdery substance which presumptively tested positive for Fentanyl. Also located in the front pouch was a silver spoon with a white powdery substance on it and three needles.
Investigators say that Gill did not have a prescription for the Dilaudid and bought it on the street. He was placed under arrest and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges of Driving under the Influence, Possession of a controlled substance, and Possession of drug paraphernalia.
Results of a serum toxicology test are pending.