Drunk driver fires shots on I-95, stopped by PIT maneuver

A 34-year-old Palm Coast man allegedly fired seven shots from a handgun while driving drunk on Interstate 95 early Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2025, before a St. Johns County deputy executed a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop.

The incident unfolded near mile marker 323 in northern St. Johns County, where witnesses reported seeing a northbound sedan driving erratically and hearing gunfire coming from the car. According to an arrest report released Thursday, the suspect, identified as Joseph Ortiz, was later spotted by a deputy traveling at just 30 mph and swerving between the left and center lanes.

The deputy activated emergency lights and siren. Ortiz initially appeared to comply by changing lanes, but then moved back into the left lane and continued rolling at a slow speed. The deputy then performed a PIT maneuver, making contact with the rear of Ortiz’s vehicle to force it to a controlled stop.

Deputies said Ortiz tensed his body, turned away, and repeatedly refused verbal commands while they handcuffed, searched, and placed him in a patrol cruiser.

A loaded Ruger Max-9 9mm handgun was found on the driver’s-side floorboard, according to the report. Deputies also recovered a spent shell casing. Ortiz was wearing a holster that fit the weapon.

A red plastic straw containing white residue was found in Ortiz’s pocket and later tested presumptively positive for cocaine. The arresting deputy reported smelling alcohol on Ortiz’s breath, noting he had slurred speech, difficulty maintaining balance, and trouble keeping his eyes open.

Ortiz now faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting without violence, cocaine possession, possession of drug equipment, driving under the influence, and refusing a DUI test. Notably, no firearms charge was listed in the arrest report, which has raised questions among legal observers.

“The absence of a firearms charge could be because the state needs to prove intent to use the weapon in a threatening manner, or because the shooting occurred while the vehicle was moving and the evidence of intent was not immediately clear,” said Mark Thompson, a former prosecutor now practicing criminal defense in Jacksonville. “Often, if the gun was not pointed at anyone, charges like reckless discharge of a firearm are not filed until further investigation.”

Thompson added that DUI and fleeing charges carry significant penalties in Florida, especially when combined with weapon possession.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the PIT maneuver was executed safely, with no injuries reported. “Our deputies are trained to use this technique only when the risk of letting a suspect continue outweighs the maneuver’s risks,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lisa Gonzales in a statement. “In this case, continuing to drive at 30 mph while firing a weapon posed a clear danger to other motorists.”

The incident is part of a broader pattern of concerning behavior on Florida highways. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been 137 reported cases of people firing weapons from vehicles on interstates in the past 12 months, a 15% increase from the previous year.

“This is a wake-up call for all drivers,” said Dr. Emily Rojas, a traffic safety researcher at the University of Florida. “The combination of impaired driving and firearm discharge is a recipe for catastrophe. Law enforcement’s use of the PIT maneuver here likely prevented a potential tragedy.”

Ortiz is being held at the St. Johns County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 16. No attorney was listed for Ortiz in the arrest report, and attempts to reach family members were unsuccessful.

The investigation remains open, and deputies are reviewing dashcam footage from the patrol cruiser to determine if any additional charges — including reckless discharge of a firearm — are warranted. The sheriff’s office also urges anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

This case highlights the persistent dangers of drunk driving and the challenges law enforcement faces when suspects combine impaired driving with weapon use. The PIT maneuver, while effective, remains a last-resort tactic that requires split-second judgment.

For now, Ortiz faces a long list of charges that could result in years of prison time if convicted. His refusal to submit to a DUI test will also trigger an automatic driver’s license suspension under Florida’s implied consent law.

The community of Palm Coast, a city of about 90,000 in Flagler County, has been shaken by the incident. “We don’t see this kind of thing often in our area,” said Palm Coast resident Annette Hurley, who was driving on I-95 near the same mile marker earlier that morning. “It’s scary to think someone could be shooting while driving.”

As the legal process unfolds, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of safe driving and the severe consequences of impaired behavior behind the wheel.