A trip to Florida for a national championship turned into a fumble for a youth football team from Philadelphia this weekend, leaving eight teenagers in handcuffs and their teammates being short-handed for the game.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office took into custody eight members of the “United Thoroughbreds,” a traveling youth football team, early Saturday morning. The teenagers, ages 14 to 15, were charged with felonies after deputies said they coordinated to steal over $2,200 worth of merchandise from a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Posner Plaza.
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According to the arrest report, the group did not simply grab items and flee; they had a playbook. Deputies say the teens were divided into two squads. One 15-year-old purchased a small item at the front register to get a legitimate store bag. He then met the rest of the team in the aisles, where they allegedly loaded the bag—and a separate backpack—with high-end gear.
The haul wasn’t inexpensive. Nike Tech Fleece joggers, windrunners, and hoodies were among the items recovered, as well as numerous pieces of football equipment. The list included particular, in-demand items such as “Jolly Rancher” and “Warheads”-flavored mouthguards, chrome back plates, and turf tape. The entire value of the theft was confirmed to be $2,296.07.
When store managers observed the group concealing the merchandise, they alerted authorities. Deputies were waiting for three of the teenagers who attempted to walk out past the points of sale. The remaining five were detained inside the store.
Sheriff Grady Judd, known for sending direct messages to criminals, expressed disappointment with the situation given the reason the teens were in town.
These juveniles were not from Polk County, they came here from out of state for a football tournament, and instead of representing their team with pride, they chose to commit a crime,” Sheriff Judd stated. “Let this be clear: it doesn’t matter if you’re from here or visiting, if you break the law in Polk County, you will be arrested and held accountable.”
The consequences were immediate. The team was in town for the Prolific Nationals and was scheduled to play in a championship game later that Saturday.
Instead, the eight players were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and charged with retail theft over $750 (F3) and conspiracy to commit retail theft (F3). Because of their arrests, they were unable to participate in the scheduled championship game.
Raekwon Bynes, the team’s 29-year-old coach, went to the scene to help identify the players. Authorities confirmed that none of the teens had a prior criminal record in Philadelphia.
