On Monday night, July 20, Orlando resident Brandon Idris Wilson, 35, was arrested after deputies say he turned a Pine Hills stretch into a high-risk chase with a minor in the car and nearly hit a pedestrian. According to deputies, the pursuit came to an end in a Walgreens parking lot near North Lane and North Pine Hills Road, where Wilson was taken into custody. He faces multiple charges, including DUI with a minor, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and resisting an officer without violence.
Deputies: Chase Ended at Walgreens Parking Lot
A deputy first spotted Wilson speeding along North Pine Hills Road before he allegedly began driving erratically and trying to dodge law enforcement, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies say the pursuit came dangerously close to a pedestrian and finally stopped when the vehicle pulled into the Walgreens lot at the intersection of North Lane and North Pine Hills Road. Wilson later provided a breath sample at a DUI center, and body-camera footage from the incident is available for review, as reported by WFTV.
Pine Hills Safety Concerns
North Pine Hills Road and its nearby business corridor have been on county planners' to-fix list for pedestrian and bicycle safety issues for years. Orange County’s Pine Hills Road Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Study and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District have pushed for crosswalks, better lighting and traffic-calming measures to cut down on close calls and crashes. With busy shopping centers and transit stops along the corridor, people on foot often cross where traffic is moving fast, a risk flagged in county documents, according to Orange County.
Charges and What They Could Mean
Wilson faces charges that trigger enhanced penalties under Florida law when a minor is inside the vehicle. Florida Statute 316.193 increases fines and potential jail time for DUIs involving anyone under 18. For first-time offenders, fines start at $1,000, with possible jail time of up to nine months and mandatory ignition-interlock devices after conviction. The statute also requires substance-abuse education and monthly reporting probation for DUI convictions.
Wilson was taken into custody and booked after the stop, and he faces the DUI-with-minor and related charges, per WFTV. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active, and anyone with information was asked to contact deputies.
