The city of Newberry appointed Deputy Fire Chief Jason Lyman as Interim Fire Chief on Monday following former Fire Chief Mike Vogel’s arrest on driving under the influence charges and his resignation this week. 

Police arrested Vogel, 59, in Ocala early Sunday morning for driving an organ donation truck while intoxicated. Vogel was released a few hours later after posting a $1,000 bond and placed on administrative leave during the investigation.  

Newberry’s Interim City Manager Dallas Lee selected Lyman as Interim Fire Chief the next day after Vogel resigned. 

“Our fire department is a resilient team of professionals who are committed to continuing to serve our community with the dedication and excellence it is known for,” said Lee in an email to Mainstreet. 

Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe said he had no comment when contacted by Mainstreet. 

Lyman’s new appointment comes less than two weeks after his first day of work at the Newberry Fire Department on Feb. 10, when Vogel introduced him to the Newberry City Commission during a regular meeting. 

“He comes with a ton of experience and I’m looking forward to what he brings to the organization and department,” Vogel said of Lyman at the meeting. 

Lyman and his family relocated to Newberry from the Florida Keys, where he served as operations chief at the Islamorada Fire Department.  

“It’s truly an honor to join a department with such a strong dedication to service,” Lyman said during the Newberry City Commission meeting. “I look forward to working alongside Chief Vogel and the men and women of Newberry Fire Rescue and all of you to continue providing the highest level of service and protection to the community.” 

On Feb. 23, Ocala police officer Christopher Russo arrested Vogel around 1:15 a.m. after officers responded to a call regarding a drunk driver in the HCA Florida Ocala Hospital parking lot.  

Vogel was found sitting inside a parked Chevrolet Tahoe with organ transportation company LifeQuest’s name printed on the side. Russo described Vogel as having “slurred speech, glassy eyes, [and] flush skin,” and smelling of alcohol when he spoke.

According to the arrest report, officers found five full 50-milliliter bottles of Vodka in the foliage behind the LifeQuest vehicle Vogel was sitting in, as well as four empty bottles of the same Vodka close by.  

Russo arrested Vogel after he declined to perform sobriety exercises. Vogel also declined to give a breath test at the jail.   

“Although time will prove my innocence, I have chosen to resign,” said Vogel in a statement to WCJB TV20 after bonding out of jail. 

Vogel served as Newberry Fire Chief since June 2022 and racked up over 30 years of fire experience at the time of his resignation.  

He started his career in 1993 as a volunteer firefighter in Texas, before pursuing it full-time a few years later. Vogel spent four years as Alachua County Assistant Fire Chief heading up training, hiring, promotions, policy review, discipline, health and safety, ISO, Fire Prevention and Investigations.  

Vogel did not respond to Mainstreet for comment.