Deputy's SUV Fired At In 'Road Rage' Incident In Riverview: Sheriff

RIVERVIEW, FL — Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives have arrested a man accused of shooting at a deputy in a road rage incident, according to a news release.

On Wednesday at 6:03 p.m., Deputy Daniel Henry was leaving the sheriff's office's Practical Training Site at the end of a day of training, driving north on Balm Riverview Road, when he encountered a dark green 2007 Saturn sedan, said the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office said the Saturn was driving slow on the dark, two-lane road, and began "brake checking" the deputy aggressively. In an attempt to not engage with the driver, the deputy began to legally pass the vehicle in a passing lane.

According to the sheriff's report, the driver of the Saturn held a firearm out his car window and shot at the deputy's vehicle, striking it once between the back passenger door and the wheel. Henry was not hurt. As he pulled over to the side of the road, he was able to get a look at the driver and give a description of the car.

A short time later, another deputy located the green Saturn, followed it from a distance and then stopped the driver at a home in the 10,000 block of McMullen Road, said the sheriff's report. Inside the car was 49-year-old Tracy Swint of Riverview and his wife.

After interviews with detectives, the sheriff's office said Swint confessed to shooting at the deputy in a fit of road rage, but denies knowing that the vehicle was a marked Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office SUV when he shot at 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.”

Henry has been with the sheriff's office since Oct. 23, 2016.

The passenger in the vehicle is not facing charges at this time. Swint is facing charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and shooting into an occupied vehicle, both felonies.