Sarasota Police officers arrested Dina Wilson, 61, of Fort Myers, after witnesses said she pointed a gun at a 16-year-old girl and drove her to an area business just before 10 p.m. on May 4, 2022.
Wilson is being held at the Sarasota County Jail and is facing False Imprisonment charges.
The victim told Sarasota Police officers she drove to Lido Beach to watch the sunset. The victim told officers as she opened her trunk, Wilson approached her to ask for jumper cables. When the victim said she did not have any, she said Wilson asked a couple nearby.
The couple also said they did not have jumper cables. The victim said Wilson pulled a small gun from her right side and held it where the victim could see it. Wilson told the victim to drive her to her car at South Lido Beach.
After arriving at South Lido Beach, Wilson got out of the victim’s car and left the passenger door open. She dug around her car and got back into the victim’s car. Wilson told the victim to take her to get food. The victim took Wilson to a convenience store in the 1000 block of North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
When Wilson went inside, the victim sent text messages to her friend telling her she was being forced to drive Wilson around while being threatened with a gun. The friend called 911. The victim updated her friend to say they were heading back to the Lido Beach area.
A Sarasota Police officer was already inside South Lido Park after locking the entry gate for the night. Additional officers shared the victim was driving a gray SUV. Moments later, a gray SUV pulled into South Lido Park through the exit gate and drove quickly towards the officer’s patrol car.
The officer drove towards the SUV, stopped the vehicle, and ordered Wilson out of the passenger door. The officer placed Wilson in handcuffs and secured her in the back of a patrol car. Wilson was taken to Sarasota Police Headquarters to be interviewed by detectives.
After interviews with Sarasota Police detectives, Wilson was placed under arrest and is facing charges of False Imprisonment for forcing the 16-year-old victim to drive her to locations against her will by the threat of a gun.
Detectives believe this was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. Wilson is being held at the Sarasota County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
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