The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has created the Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund, to assist the family of Deputy Magli, who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 17.
This fund is open for all donations and serves as the officially recognized fund for the Magli family, according to the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office.
Those interested in donating are asked to visit any SunTrust banking location to contribute. Checks also can be sent to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Division made payable to the memorial.
The deputy, who was 30, is survived by his wife, two young children, parents and other family members, according to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who held a news conference on the day of the deputy’s death.
Gualtieri has since announced plans for a funeral service on Feb. 23, at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz. Immediately after the funeral, a special ceremony is planned, including a 21-gun salute, a riderless horse, a last call and a fly-over. After that, a law enforcement procession was planned to lead Deputy Magli from the church to Trinity Memorial Gardens, at 12609 Memorial Drive in Trinity.
All of those events were set to take place after The Laker/Lutz News went to press on Feb. 22.
Gualtieri detailed the events leading up to Magli’s death, during a Feb. 17 news conference.
A call came in at 4:25 p.m., about a driver passed out in a white pickup truck at Forelock Road and East Lake Road, the sheriff said.
The man was unresponsive, so the paramedics broke the window — and the driver took off.
Initially, an attempt was made to make a traffic stop, but the driver fled, the sheriff said.
“He was swerving all over the road, weaving, driving at a high rate of speed, engaged in very, very dangerous and extremely reckless driving,” Gualtieri added.
Magli was preparing to deploy stop sticks — which are devices used to deflate tires.
The driver lost control of the pickup truck, which flipped over and violently slammed into Magli and his cruiser, the sheriff said. Magli was pinned under the cruiser and succumbed to his injuries.
Deputy Magli had been with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office since 2013 and was assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau.
The suspect, 33-year-old Robert Allen Holzaepfel, has been arrested on numerous charges, including first degree felony murder, DUI manslaughter, driving while license suspended or revoked and other charges, according to the sheriff’s office’s website.
If you would like to help
The Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund is the official memorial fund for the Magli family. Those interested in donating are asked to visit any SunTrust banking location or send checks to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Affairs Bureau made payable to the memorial.
Published February 24, 2021
