BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Two people were arrested after an unlicensed driver led Florida Highway Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase while a child and teen were in the backseat, an arrest affidavit said.
It happened shortly after noon Sunday at the intersection of State Road 50 (Cortez Boulevard) and Braewood Street in Brooksville. An FHP trooper said he was working in the area when he saw a 2022 Dodge Challenger speeding down State Road 50, going more than 75 mph in a 50-mph zone.
The trooper reported he immediately followed the speeding car and conducted a traffic stop in the median break near Lockhart Road. Before approaching the car, the trooper said he searched the car's license plate, learning the car appeared registered to a holding company. However, the trooper said he noticed the rear window was darkly tinted and that the tint had been applied to the outside of the car.
From his PA system in his cruiser, the trooper said he instructed the driver, later identified as 28-year-old Brandon Johnson, to lower the driver's side window, turn off the car and put the keys on the roof. Rather than comply, Johnson reportedly sped off westbound on State Road 50.
From there, the trooper said Johnson led him on a high-speed chase and "continued in a reckless manner at high speeds" for about 7 miles to the area in front of Everglades Equipment on Cortez Boulevard near Jasmine Drive. At that time, another FHP trooper unsuccessfully tried a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the car.
While the PIT maneuver didn't work, it did redirect Johnson to drive eastbound on State Road 50.
The chase continued for about 4 more miles until Johnson reportedly lost control of the Challenger and crashed at the southeast corner of State Road 50 and County Road 541 (Spring Lake Highway). The car continued across the raised curb/grass median and crashed into another car.
No injuries were reported.
Once the Challenger was stopped, the trooper was able to identify Johnson as the driver and learned the 28-year-old did not have a driver's license and had never gotten one.
The affidavit says the trooper identified a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy in the backseat of the Challenger. Florida Department of Children and Families was notified and troopers said a child abuse investigation has been launched.
Drugs, gun, alcohol found inside car after high-speed chase
When troopers searched the Challenger, they said they found .7 grams of cocaine wrapped inside a $1 on the driver's side floor. Two separate bags containing cocaine — 9.9 grams in one and 2.2 grams in the other — were found inside a backpack in the trunk. More than 13 grams of marijuana were also found on the driver's side of the car.
The front passenger in the Challenger, identified as 31-year-old William Glover, was reportedly on probation/supervised release at the time of the chase. Glover reportedly has been convicted of multiple felonies.
When searching the passenger side of the car, troopers said they found a loaded gun with a 30-round magazine, a red backpack with close to 30 grams of marijuana in a bag and a digital scale with white powder residue on it. Additionally, an opened, half-empty 1.75-liter bottle of 1800 Tequila was also found in the passenger side of the car.
Both Glover and Johnson were subsequently arrested and taken to the Hernando County Detention Center. Both face charges related to drug possession and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.