Case status
Charges
DUI with a blood or breath alcohol level of .15 or higher, involving serious bodily injury (felony)
Bond
$15,000; released the same day, per WPBF and WQCS
Case number
Not confirmed from court records
Next court date
Arraignment Dec. 9 (per CBS12, Treasure Coast Today).
Status
Charged. Turned himself in Oct. 26. On unpaid administrative leave. No conviction.

Vero Beach, Florida · Crash March 1, 2026 · SLCSO statement dated Oct. 26, 2026 · Arraignment set for Dec. 9

What the record confirms

According to a statement from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Detective Tyler A. Horstman was involved in an off-duty crash in early March 2026 while driving an agency vehicle in Vero Beach. The Vero Beach Police Department is the lead investigating agency.

The sheriff's office says it was notified Sept. 9 that Horstman's blood alcohol concentration was .246. Florida's legal limit is .08. He was placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 15.

A felony arrest warrant was issued Oct. 26, 2026. The sheriff's office says Horstman turned himself in at the Indian River County Jail and was moved to unpaid administrative leave. WPBF and WQCS report he was released that evening on $15,000 bond.

The sheriff's office says its internal investigation is on hold until the criminal case is resolved.

What the arrest report says

According to Horstman's arrest report, as reported by CBS12 and Treasure Coast Today, the crash happened at about 11:25 p.m. on March 1 at Beachland Boulevard and A1A in Vero Beach. Horstman was off duty and driving an unmarked sheriff's office pickup truck when he struck an SUV carrying a woman and an infant.

Vero Beach police say Horstman was driving 63 mph in a 35 mph zone. Police also say Horstman entered the intersection on a green light and the other driver entered against a red light.

Both drivers were hurt and taken to a hospital. The report says the woman suffered a traumatic brain injury and the infant was alert and responsive. CBS12 reports the infant was not injured. Their names have not been released.

Horstman was booked into the Indian River County Jail at 4:59 p.m. on Oct. 26 and posted $15,000 bond at 6:24 p.m., according to both outlets. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 9.

What the sheriff says

Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro Jr. said the agency's duty to enforce the law includes following it, and that deputies are held to the standards the community expects.

The sheriff's office statement did not describe how the crash happened. Those details come from the arrest report.

Highlighted excerpt

St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro Jr., Oct. 26, 2026, as reported by WQCS and WPTV: "The men and women of this agency work every day to earn the trust of our community, and we will continue to hold ourselves to the standards that trust requires."

What the defense says

No public statement from Horstman or an attorney for him has been found. He has not been convicted of any crime and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Police say the other driver entered the intersection against a red light. Who caused the crash, and whether impairment played a role, is for the court to decide.

What isn't public yet

The arrest report itself has not been posted publicly. The case number and the Dec. 9 arraignment date have not yet been confirmed from Indian River County court records. Whether Horstman has entered a plea or hired an attorney is not known.

Sources

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