Report: Threat Forces Deputies To Open Fire on Seffner Man

Four Hillsboorugh County Sheriff's Office deputies opened fire on a Seffner man after he reportedly pointed a gun at a deputy.

No deputies were injured and the man, Craig Douglas Vilsack, 54, was transported to a local hospital, according to a report on the Sunday night, July 22, incident from Debbie Carter, a sheriff's office spokesperson.

According to her report, deputies arrived at the Paradise Village Mobile Home Park at around 6:15 p.m. to discover what a neighbor had earlier reported, that Valsick was "sitting on his front porch drinking alcohol and pointing a gun to his head."

Carter said deputies "began a rapport" with Valsick, who after about 30 minutes "got up and was waving the gun around."

At the side of the mobile home, one of the deputies who had been talking to Valsick asked him to drop the gun, Carter said.

Valsick reportedly pointed the gun in the deputy's direction, "at which time four deputies that were on the scene fired shots," Carter said.

The address for the incident was listed as 9305 Victoria Lane in Seffner.

Carter noted that the deputies would be placed on administrative leave with pay pending an administrative review, as is standard procedure for deputies  involved in a shooting.

The deputies were identified as Sgt. Teddy Lynn, 48, who started with the sheriff's office in February 1990, and Deputy Kathering Gabel, 27, who joined the force in January 2009. Also, deputies Jeremy Goff, 25, and William Irwin, 27, who each joined the force in May 2011.