Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with attempted manslaughter

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A Florida sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on an attempted-manslaughter charge.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s office said in a news release that Deputy Timothy Virden was arrested Friday. The release said more details would be released at an afternoon news conference.

On Dec. 30, Virden arrested 26-year-old Dylan Tompkins-Holmes on an obstruction of justice charge.

At the time of the arrest, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Virden had stopped Tompkins-Holmes’ girlfriend for a suspected DUI. He says Tompkins-Holmes told her not to cooperate and ignored warnings from deputies to stop interfering.

Thompkins-Holmes was handcuffed and put into a patrol car. The sheriff says Virden attempted to help him when he complained about being uncomfortable. He said Tompkins-Holmes tried to grab the deputy’s gun and the two struggled. Virden shot Tompkins-Holmes twice.