Florida man Tracy Alan Swint, 49, of Riverview, is in the Hillsborough County Jail after he shot into the marked patrol car of a Hillsborough County deputy during a fit of road rage.
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On December 7th, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Hillsborough County Deputy Daniel Henry was driving northbound on Balm Riverview Road after a department training day when he came upon a dark green 2007 Saturn sedan driving slowly on the two-lane road. The vehicle began “brake checking” the deputy aggressively.
Deputy Henry, to not engage with the Saturn’s driver, began to pass the vehicle once he could do so safely in a passing zone. As Henry passed the Saturn, the driver pointed a firearm out his window and shot at the deputy’s vehicle, striking it once between the back passenger door and the wheel.
Deputy Henry was not injured. He pulled over and was able to get a look at the driver. A description of the vehicle was sent out to other units.
A short time later, another deputy responding to the area was able to locate the Saturn. The deputy stopped the driver at a residence on the 10,000 block of McMullen Road. Inside the vehicle, deputies found the driver, 49-year-old Tracy Swint of Riverview, along with his wife in the passenger seat.
After interviews with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives, Swint confessed to shooting at the deputy in a fit of road rage but used the defense that he didn’t know that the vehicle was a marked Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office SUV when he shot at it.
Pro tip Tracy, it’s called a marked patrol vehicle for a reason. The reason being it’s marked Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in big letters all over it!
“Deputies are placed in harm’s way every day, and to be shot at while driving is simply inexplicable,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I am thankful our deputy, nor any other motorists, were injured. I commend the quick work of our deputies and aviation pilots, who worked diligently to apprehend this shooter, and did so without further incident.”
While the passenger in the vehicle is not facing charges, Tracy Swint was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail charged with open carrying of a weapon, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. His bond was set at $22,750.
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