Polk County authorities said the stolen junk food included Doritos, slurpees and gummies, all of which totaled $37.60.<\/p>\n
Five teen basketball players from the D.C. area and their coach were arrested in Florida for \u201cconspiring to steal merchandise\u201d from a 7-Eleven, according to the Polk County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
The teens traveled to Davenport, Florida, as members of the \u201cRun It Up\u201d travel basketball program that\u2019s part of the Amateur Athletic Union. The group was participating in the Puma NXTPro basketball tournament.<\/p>\n
The teenagers and their coach were staying at a vacation rental unit located less than a mile from a 7-Eleven store at 3141 Ronald Reagan Parkway in Davenport.<\/p>\n
The Sheriff\u2019s Office said the teens \u201cconcealed\u201d a variety of merchandise on Thursday that included Doritos, gummies, Starburst Minis, a Big Mama sausage, lemonade, and grape and orange Slurpees. The incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m.<\/p>\n
In total, the items cost $37.60.<\/p>\n
Maryland coach gets roped in<\/p>\n
The group quickly fled the store after being confronted by a 7-Eleven clerk. However, authorities were able to locate three of the five teens near the entrance of their rental unit.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office said the teens were seen putting the stolen goods inside a backpack that was then hidden in a nearby bush.<\/p>\n
A detective later made contact with the team\u2019s coach, Malik Abdul Harvey, 27, of Bryans Road, Maryland, to see if he could identify the remaining two suspects from security footage.<\/p>\n
Harvey is employed by the Department of Juvenile Services at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center. The basketball trip was not associated with that position.<\/p>\n
Authorities said the coach admitted to lying about not knowing the two teens after the pair had been located by investigators and admitted that Harvey was their coach. Harvey said he\u2019d lied in order to protect the teenagers.<\/p>\n
Charges filed in the case<\/p>\n
Of the five teens, two were 17 and three were 16 years of age. Authorities said four were from D.C. while one member of the group hailed from Prince George\u2019s County.<\/p>\n
Each teen was charged with:<\/p>\n
Conspiracy to commit retail theft
\nTampering with evidence
\nPetit theft
\nViolation of the county curfew ordinance for juveniles.<\/p>\n
As for Harvey, who was also arrested, he was charged with:<\/p>\n
Child neglect
\nContributing to the delinquency of a minor
\nAccessory after the fact
\nResisting without violence<\/p>\n
\u201cWe welcome anyone who wants to visit or stay in Polk County on vacation. But people need to realize that while you might be able to get away with crimes and foolishness where you live, it won\u2019t fly around here,\u201d said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you steal in Polk County, we\u2019re going to send you home with a commemorative mug shot from the Polk County Jail.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office told WTOP news partner 7News<\/a> that the department wants to charge the teenagers as adults in the case. That decision is up to the State Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n