A Land O 'Lakes man is facing charges after deputies said he was drunk during a Labor Day weekend boating accident that left his brother dead.
Jeffrey J. Griffin, 31, was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of BUI (boating under the influence) manslaughter.
According to the Pasco Sheriff's Office, Griffin was driving a boat shortly before midnight on Sept. 1 on the Cotee River. Two people - Denelle Walicke and Joshua Griffin - were with him at the time.
Walicke told deputies that there was an impact and that she blacked out. Investigators said they later determined the 22-foot Boston Whaler crashed into channel marker 10A.
Walicke said that when she came to, Griffin was in the water, trying to get 29-year-old Joshua Griffin out of the water. They brought Griffin to shore, and emergency personnel declared him dead. The Medical Examiner determined he died from blunt trauma.
Investigators said they conducted a blood draw on Jeffrey Griffin shortly before 3 a.m. and that the results indicated his blood alcohol content was 0.093. The state of Florida presumes intoxication at 0.08.
Griffin was booked into the Pasco County Jail. He has since been released on $10,000 bond.
FWC officials described Griffin as extremely cooperative during the investigation.
The Griffin family has a long history of political involvement in Pasco County. Joshua Griffin unsuccessfully ran for the Pasco County Commission back in 2012.