Several youth football players have been arrested in Davenport, Fla., after they stole over $2,000 worth of sporting equipment from Dicks Sporting Goods only hours before their football tournament championship game.
According to ABC News, the eight teenagers aged 14-15 play for the United Thoroughbreds team in Olney, Penn. The team had traveled to Florida for a tournament when the youths took an Uber to the local Dicks Sporting Goods, and, working in teams of two, stuffed 47 pieces of merchandise into their pockets and under their clothing. The stolen items totaled $2,296.07.
Law enforcement met the youths as they exited the store and detained them. The football players called the United Thoroughbreds’ offensive coach, Raekwon Bynes for assistance.
“I got a phone call simultaneously saying that, 'Hey coach, can you come get us from Dick Sporting Goods?' And when I got there, that's when I found out everything that was going on," Bynes told NBC 10 Philadelphia.
The teens have been charged with retail theft over $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft, both felonies. They were released to their coaches but will need to return to Florida for court proceedings.
As a result of the arrest, the eight players — who had no prior criminal record — missed the football tournament championship game and the United Thoroughbreds lost to the Cocoa Tigers.
Said Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd at a press conference, “I don't know if these were starters or not, but I can tell you that we were finishers. We arrested them. They stole, and they stole, and they stole, and they stole, and they stole.”
Even Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis chimed in on the incident, posting on X, “They picked the wrong state — and the wrong county.”
The teenagers have been removed from the team, and they are awaiting a Florida court date.
