The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is putting the spotlight back on Deputy Michael J. Magli, making it crystal clear they see his death as a deliberate act of protection, not a tragic twist of fate. Magli was killed in 2021 while trying to stop a pickup that deputies said was barreling erratically through northern Pinellas County, and the renewed tribute is once again drawing eyes to the East Lake Road stretch that now carries his name.
In a post on X on Tuesday, the agency pushed back on the idea that Magli was simply unlucky. “Some will say that Michael was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I say nonsense,” the post read, urging residents to remember his sacrifice. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office shared the message along with images marking the anniversary of his death.
What Happened
On Feb. 17, 2021, investigators say Magli positioned his cruiser in the median of East Lake Road near Forelock Road and stepped out to deploy stop sticks, the tire‑deflation devices meant to end dangerous pursuits. The pickup he was trying to stop lost control and slammed into him. According to a press release from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Magli was pinned beneath his patrol vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Charges And Court Status
The driver, identified as 33‑year‑old Robert Allen Holzaepfel, was arrested and later charged with first‑degree felony murder, DUI manslaughter and related counts, according to law enforcement and local reporting. FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported that investigators recorded a blood‑alcohol reading of roughly .23 for Holzaepfel.
Community Response And Memorials
Magli’s death prompted a large outpouring of support from Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies and residents, and state lawmakers later moved to name a portion of East Lake Road in his honor. Coverage of the road dedication and the Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund has been chronicled by community reporting from The Laker/Lutz News.
Officer Safety And National Context
The sheriff’s office remembrance also highlights a painful truth in modern policing: standing on the roadside with spike strips is one of the most dangerous jobs in the business. Similar incidents have unfolded elsewhere, including a March 2025 case in Louisiana in which a deputy was killed while deploying tire‑deflation devices, as reported by the Associated Press…